Five SFF books in which art matters

C.L. Polk's debut novel is Witchmark. At Tor.com she tagged five SFF "stories where art matters—to the story, to its society, and to its character," including:

Carnival by Elizabeth Bear

Bear’s super spy SF novel begins with two operatives reuniting after many years to deliver a shipment of stolen artwork to a matriarchal colony planet after years of diplomatic tension—but really they are there to get intelligence for old earth’s government. Don’t walk into this book expecting good vs. evil or any simple, reductive morality—everyone possesses virtues beside their flaws. Come for the art reclamation, stay for the culture building, which won’t be anything like you expect.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue