What reference works should I consult before creating a fantasy world?

Depends. Are you actually trying to ground your fantasy world in a certain time period or just trying to throw something together? Because you don't really need anything in the latter case. Otherwise it would depend on the level of accuracy you want and the time period you're shooting for.

>>54144841

What if I wanted to take Ancient Greece and remade it as a sci-fi setting--with each polity being its own planet, moon-base, or space station?

>>54144872
Well I would suggest reading at least one collection of greek mythology (they vary so much that it doesn't really matter which), probably the illiad and odyssey, and some historical sources on the different city states. I can't help you much with the specifics on that last one, I can't think of any of the top of my head but it's not a huge area of knowledge for me.

>>54144631
DnD, so you know what NOT to do.

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>>54144631
The Internet allows you to never consult any book if you prefer. With some searching, you can find all the material you need in it. Start with wikipedia and check its links for in-depth info.

Youtube channels provide some expertise, plus audio and visual inspiration that the above can't provide.

Although I personally loathe it, TV Tropes is useful to find out themes, cliches and ideas that you might adapt or not, or just get a grip on overall fantasy.

See >>54144872. I suggest...
http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/index.php
... for (hard) sci-fi and...
http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/kingdoms.html
...for Troy Era kingdoms...
http://www.livius.org/category/hellenistic/
http://www.livius.org/country/greece/
...for Classical Greece...
http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/
...for looks and Sea Peoples IN SPACE!...
http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/fabulous-tribes.html
...for possible aliens...
http://www.navistory.com/pages/antiquity.php
...to convert into spaceships...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEHPfMIyLfc&feature=youtu.be
https://pastebin.com/DtKQ6iQt
>Greek Fantasy Tips and Resources
...because those may be useful.

I'm not advocating that you don't read a book or visit a museum, but unless you want a very deep and very throughout setting the internet will do.

>>54144631
First lay down your setting, after the groundwork is done you can research. Don't overshadow the individual character of your creation.

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>>54144872
I'd suggest taking a look at Hellas, it's pretty much what you just described.

>>54144872
1. look up a college website for western civilization 1
2. get the book
3. skip to greece