Haha! All Michael needs is a smiley face spraypainted onto a tree, and he'd be almost hitting Steve's current "Mr Toad-style Quadrangle Of Interests"... Haha
“The two greatest swordsmen ever to be in this or any other universe of fact or fiction, more skillful masters of the blade even than Cyrano de Bergerac, Scar Gordon, Conan, John Carter, D’Artagnan, Brandich Daha, and Anra Devadoris. Two comrades to the death and black comedians for all eternity, lusty, brawling, wine-bibbing, imaginative, romantic, earthy, thievish, sardonic, humorous, forever seeking adventure across the wide world, fated forever to encounter the most deadly of enemies, the most fell of foes, the most délectable of girls, and the most dire of sorcerers and supernatural beasts and other personnages“
The Prydain Chronicles, The Belgariad, Memory, Sorrow & Thorn, Legend/ Drenai, the Deverry Cycle, Earthsea and The Riftwar Saga including the Empire Trilogy!! I plan on reading Elric & Drizzt next. I have been alternating between classic and modern.
It's always encouraging to see the Gormenghast series get additional attention from another pro in the book tube community!! Viriconium is an experience to match as well.
This is a great project. I didn't know that some key titles would be re-reads for you, although I should have guessed - but it will be interesting to see what you think of these great novels now, with fresh perspective, and all the details revisited. Some other ideas: Wizard of the Pigeons, by Megan Lindholm The Beast Trilogy, by Robert Stallman Witch World, by Andre Norton Glory Road, by Robert A. Heinlein War for the Oaks, by Emma Bull Nifft the Lean, by Michael Shea The Glittering Plain, by William Morris The Atlan Series, by Jane Gaskell Little, Big, by John Crowley The Gandalara Cycle, by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydon The Ship of Ishtar, by A. Merritt
That’s a great fantasy TBR. A bunch on there I should probably read/reread. And I’m one of those thumbs down people on Thomas Covenant…..although I read it decades ago. I may very well have a different opinion on it now!
It's a hard read, that's hard to recommend. But it's historically really important to fantasy- for a long run it was the second best-selling fantasy after Tolkien.
Smack in the early 80s is the start of the Rift war Saga. Publishers split the first book into 2 making the trilogy 4 books. The world building and the stakes of the conflict are so well done. Also loved the Iron Tower trilogy. It is a love letter to and virtually a retelling of the LOTR but done with such heart, I can recommend to any fantasy lover as long as they know what they are getting into.
Poul Anderson's other fantasy novel "Three Hearts and Three Lions" is also great. It's not as dark as Broken Sword but it has a ton of mythological/folkloric elements.
Love this! I started a reread of the Faffhd and Grey Mouser books last year but haven’t got that far yet, but I love them. I also loved Mythago Wood when I read it as a teenager. I have Broken Sword on my immediate TBR as I almost read it a few times recently, I need to read some Conan stuff now….but yeah looking forward to seeing you go through these.
Here's a few more classic fantasy authors and books you might want to check out True classics * Algernon Blackwood: The Trod, The Willows (short stories), The Human Chord, The Centaur (novels) * George MacDonald: Phantastes * Arthur Machen: The White People, The Great God Pan, N * H. Rider Haggard: She, Ayesha (classic 'Lost World' fantasies, She has been made into a movie a couple of times) Literary classics * Hope Mirrlees: Lud-in-the-Mist (classic fantasy, and well worth a read) * Charles Williams: All Hallows' Eve, Many Dimensions (Williams was a friend of both C. S. Lewis and Tolkien, and wrote a whole series of supernatural thrillers) * Sylvia Townsend Warner: Kingdoms of Elfin (short story collection. Her fairies are of the more amoral, even sinister, variety) * Evangeline Walton: Prince of Annwn (based on Welsh myth) Children's stuff (but still worth a read) * Alan Garner: Elidor * T. H. White: Mistress Masham's Repose * E. Nesbit: The Enchanted Castle, Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet (the last three are a series) * Susan Cooper: The Dark Is Rising (made into a truly dreadful film) Weird Tales like fantasy (if you know what I mean) * A. Merritt: Burn, Witch, Burn! (filmed as 'The Devil-Doll' in 1936), Seven Footprints to Satan, * Fletcher Pratt: The Blue Star * C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne: The Lost Continent * Kenneth Morris: The Dragon Path (short stories) More light hearted classic fantasy * Lord Dunsany: My Talks with Dean Spanley (a great fantasy novel about dogs and reincarnation) * Thorne Smith: Turnabout, The Glorious Pool, The Night Life of the Gods (all great comic fantasy novels), The Passionate Witch (made into a movie, and the inspiration for the TV series 'Bewitched'), The Jovial Ghosts (filmed as 'Topper' starring Cary Grant) * James Branch Cabell: Jurgen * Richard Garnett: The Twilight of the Gods and Other Tales (short stories) Oh, and of course L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt's 'The Compleat Enchanter' and Ursula K Le Guin´s 'Earthsea' books IMHO the best fantasy series after Tolkien
Back in the 80s some time, I was at an sf convention! Gordon Dickson was there and he signed my copy of The Dragon and the George. We were discussing fantasy novels and he gave a whole-hearted recommend to Silverlock which was one of his favorites. You should also consider Gordy's Dragon Knight series of which Dragon and the George is the first book.
Steve Donoghue is absolutely right about The Once and Future King. You're going to love it. I should do this same project. I'd love to revisit these books.
As others have mentioned, Raymond Feist's "Riftwar Saga" is well worth a read. So is David Eddings' "Belgariad" series (and the follow-up "Malloreon" series to a slightly lesser extent). I have issues with Eddings output, but in the end consider them fun, comfy reads. As for Donaldson's Thomas Covenant books, the first two Chronicles hooked me on the fantasy genre back in the mid 1980s. I loved them then, and think no less of them now. On the other hand, I can't stand the much later written "Final Chronicles". And yes, I fully understand why many consider them "controversial". I earned long ago to be careful who I recommend them to. For what it's worth, those first two Chronicles became my mother's favorite books, along with "Gone With the Wind". She otherwise had no use for the fantasy genre, not even Tolkien.
"A Song Of Ice And Fire": I remember that series, I believe it's also known as "The Neverended Story", they made a good movie about it. Errr, I think I'm confused. Look Michael, if anyone can achieve the aim of reading all those Fantasy novels, it's you. In Michael we trust!
Stephen Donaldson is one of my favorites authors and I loved the Thomas Covenant series. If you don't want to commit to that 10 book series, he wrote a duology - Mordant's Need and a 5 book sci-fi series- The Gap Cycle. The Covenant and Gap books are pretty dark at times, Mordant's Need is a fun fairy-tale like series. All excellent reads. Guy Gavriel Kay is mentioned a lot on booktube and is highly recommended by many. I haven't read his novels yet but they are on my TBR.....
I MUST SECOND, AND THIRD THIS!! As a Moorcock fan it's hard for me to say this, but, if you've never read it you should put Mythago Wood ahead of re-reading Elric. Just the first one (for now.) Possibly the Dying Earth books as well. No. I can't believe I just said that.
A series from the 80's that I read and really liked is the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster. There are several hilarious incidents in them that I think you'd like. All but the last 2 were written in the 80's.
Great list! I need to read a lot of those as well. I've really enjoyed William Morris' work. He was incredibly influential for many great fantasy writers. Also, Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy is my favorite for Arthurian fantasy. Tell the entire story from the perspective of Merlin and it is a page turner!
Lin Carter's book A Look Behind the LOTR led me to Morris and I've loved him, ever since...so, yes! And yes, too..The Merlin books by Mary Stewart were excellent and exceptional.
Gotta get some Poul Anderson in you. Obviously there's Three Hearts and Three Lions and The Broken Sword, but A Midsummer's Tempest and Hrolf Kraki's Saga are also great. Honestly, Poul Anderson might have been a better fantasy writer than a Sci Fi writer.
All those are really classics. If I had to recomend some more classics worthy of such a list I would add: Michael Ende´s Neverending Story and Momo. Tonke Dragt´s Letter for the King Hope Mirrless´s Lud in the Mist Zelazny´s Lord of Light Jack Vance´s Lyonesse trilogy (Dying Earth is fantastic, the Cugel saga particularly, but Lyonesse might be a strong candidate for his best work in my opinion and it is as traditional a fantasy and yet as vancean as you can get) Ursula K Le Guin´s original earthsea trilogy (the latter are post 90s, but the original trilogy works as a finished story) Peter S Beagle´s The Last Unicorn Richard Adams´s Watership Down (Is this considered fantasy? I do, but I dont know the consensus...) William Goldman´s The Princess Bride James Thurber´s 13 Clocks (sweet and short and wonderful) Alan Garner´s Weirdstone of Brisingamen
That's a really solid list! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of those books. The one work I'd add (and it's a short, easy read) is The Face In the Frost by John Bellairs. One of my favorite classic fantasy standalones.
All of these are on my shelf, each a certified classic, and most TBR but I have read The Pastel City, which was good, and The Dying Earth, which was amazing and disturbing. BTW, the makers of DnD were inspired by Vance and invented the wizard Vecna, an anagram, for their game. Two books I would recommend are The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, a dream of a story, and Phantastes by George MacDonald, a story of a dream
(Biography of the Life of Manuel, by James Branch Cabell), (Lanark: A Life in Four Books, by Alasdair Gray), (Little, Big, by John Crowley), (The Land of Laughs, by Jonathan Carroll). Your list is very very good straight 4s and 5s all the way across.
Great choices - some I read too long ago but Ford and Silverlock I've never got to. I recommend Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees, as being both awesome and influential
I’m planning to start Witch Wood by John Buchan this week, originally published in 1927. The back of the book says it was selected by Michael Moorcock as one of the 100 best fantasy books!
What a list! I happen to be partway through Viriconium on audio, but I need to find a print copy. The writing is so poetic that I have trouble following on audio. It is just wonderful and worth more concentration in my opinion. Also, I did a reread of _Once in Future King_ a couple of years ago. Magnificent! Make sure to read _The Book of Merlin_, it might be the best part.
Aw literate Texan ..it was wonderful..Whilst Covenant was a hard to like character,there were some fantastic characters and stories within the two series..The Giants,the Bloodguard..lord Mhoram..all wonderful
@@deselby6669 I'm glad you enjoyed it. Not my cup of tea, though. I actually read it relatively recently, but it was a DNF. That was a fun era for fantasy books, though, wasn't it?
Michael, that is a great list! I've read many of them and mean to read some of the rest. Of the ones I read, I most recommend The Worm Ouroboros and The Once and Future King. Of the ones I mean to read, I'm most interested in The Dragon Waiting and Mythago Wood. And maybe The King of Elfland's Daughter. I admire your dedication in determining to read all of Elric and all of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. I loved both those series, but still have not finished either of them. I liked Gormenghast, but really had no desire to read the other books in the series. I was a big collector of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series when those were being published. You might check out the Wikipedia page for that series sometime (if you haven't already). Two of my favorites were by James Branch Cabell, who I never hear mentioned on BookTube. The books were Figures of Earth and The Silver Stallion. I also really enjoyed The Wood Beyond The World by William Morris and Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz. Thanks for getting me started on classic fantasy again! My wallet is feeling lighter already! Edit: When I started my comment, there were 0 comments. When I finished, there were 21!
I just recently read The Dying Earth (just that one story), and it being in the distant future with flying cars (in one part) made it seem sci-fantasy to me. Great list!
Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Sorry Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. It has it all, wizards, witches, aging Barbarian, Death, the Guards. There is a few of these books.
Love this reading project Michael! I really need to complete the Gormenghast novels, although I struggled with Titus Groan as a teen, was just so strange. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is one of my favorite series of all time. I recommend Magician by Raymond E Feist.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is, for some bizarre reason, a controversial one. For my money, it is an absolute gem of a work. Donaldson approached the hero story with a darker eye and turned some tropes on their heads. To correct, it is 2 trilogies and a tetralogy. To be fair, you COULD stop with the opening trilogy, but I think you’d miss out on some of his great work found in the second trilogy. And you could stop there. Unless you really want to see how he resolves it all with the tetralogy.
@@cmmosher8035 This is quite true. But then again, his backstory builds that character and so you know going in that this is a man who is broken. Generally readers like their broken people to be fixed and redeemed. Donaldson does a great job of NOT giving them that but even so delivering a character who is compelling and follows his own growth arc. But again, some people aren't into the flawed hero as much as they're into the noble hero. Ultimately it comes down to personal preferences. I'm open to all of them, and I'm glad I explored The Land alongside Covenant and his crew.
I’ve been meaning fun to get to Eddison and Peake, myself. Elric, F&GM, The King of Elfland’s Daughter are great! Dying Earth is one I want to reread. It’s science-fantasy, I love it. The Dragon Waiting is a good one. I still need to read Lord Foul’s Bane too and I need to read the sequel to Mythago Wood.
Wonderful reading plans! I think I mentioned my own intent to read Elric this year, finish Amber, and I also have 4 more Fafhrd & Grey Mouser books to knock out. I think I should be able to do all three of those this year, although they will all be first-time reads for me!
An amazing and probably unassailable list- especially including some of the suggestions mentioned here in the comments like Lud in the Mist, Silverlock, Nift the Lean, Well at World's End, that Ah-May- Zing but hella long list from dacre1000 , but most of all. . . Mythago Wood. . . . (It rhymes with Zhivago)
Hey, Mike! Recommendations: -- "The Witcher" Cycle by Andrzej Sapkowski beginning with "The Last Wish" -- "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" Trilogy by Tad Williams beginning with "The Dragonbone Chair" -- The Drenai Saga by David Gemmell beginning chronologically with "Waylander" or "Legend" by order of publication -- The Prydain Chronicles Quintet by Lloyd Alexander beginning with "The Book of Three" -- The Sarantine Mosaic Duology by Guy Gavriel-Kay beginning with "Sailing to Sarantium" -- "Slaine" comics written by Pat Mills, illustrated by Glenn Fabry and Simon Bisley, and published by 2000AD -- "Urshurak" by Jerry Nichols and the Hildebrandt Bros.
"just let me know and I'll add it to the list." That's going to be quite the list! But if you insist on challenge: Howl's Moving Castle Dragonlance Chronicles (and beyond if you wish) Discworld (though the series gets more modern as you go) The Never Ending Story The Dark is Rising quintet The Phantom Tollboth Chronicles of Prydain The Last Unicorn The Wizard of Earthsea The Chronicles of Narnia The Space Trilogy (Lewis) Peter Pan The OZ books The Jungle Books Pinocchio Major works of George Macdonald Gulliver's Travels Adventures of Baron Münchhausen And some of the other longer Fairy Tale (or short collections) works you never got to but want to. And all the great epics ala Homer, Ovid, Mallory, Anonymous etc. Do you have all these, or must they wait till after the 500 read what you own?
That's a really good list. I think with one or two exceptions I've read them all and they're all worth the time. Mythago Wood in particular just blew my mind. I enjoyed Thomas Covenant, but it's easy to see why people despise the series - the guy's the most repulsive main character I think I've ever read, and not repulsive in the "he's an anti-hero" sense. Worth the read. Some books I definitely think are also worth checking out given your picks, if you haven't read them/can't remember them because it's been a while: - Michael Moorcock - Hawkmoon 1-4 and Count Brass 1-3 (seriously don't know why it's called Chronicles of Count Brass, it's literally Hawkmoon 5-7) - Hope Mirlees - Lud-In-The-Mist - Anne McCaffrey - Dragonriders of Pern - Tim Powers - The Drawing of the Dark - Gabriel Garcia Marquez - One Hundred Years of Solitude
I never saw the point of the archaic style of Ouroboros. It's probably a perfectly good story, but that (and the infernally silly system of nomenclature) put me off. I suspect I should give it another go, cos it's about 20-odd years since I last did. Dying Earth is actually a SF/fantasy mix, though it's a lot heavier on the latter. It's not really until you get to the last story that you realise it's more than just a fantasy book. I don't know if the other books in the series lean more on the SF. This is a tremendous-looking project, I've got a lot of these waiting for me as well (though I want to knock over a few Horror May-hem titles before doing any of these). My own knowledge of classic fantasy is a bit thin, so I could do with expanding it. If you'll forgive me for expanding your list, I recommend The Circus of Dr Lao by Charles G. Finney. If you've ever seen the film version (7 Faces of Dr Lao), the book is not really like that; the film (perhaps understandably) has an actual plot which the book doesn't. Great piece of high strangeness.
Yeah, they are kids' books and yeah, they are simple, but you could zip through the Septimus Heap series, (Angie Sage), in no time. They are cuter than hell. (Red and purple for the Lodge; it looks like a fantasy house.)
Great list, and nothing I would contravene. I strongly add my voice to Feist’s _Riftwar Saga_ and if you like it, you might enjoy his collaboration with Janny Wurts on the _Empire Trilogy_ My one humble submission would be any of Barbara Hambly’s works but probably start with the Darwath series.
I'm not sure if this is regarded as Classic Fantasy or not, and I apologize if it's been mentioned elsewhere. You should try reading Saberhagen's Book of Swords and The Lost Swords series. I enjoyed them, and I think you might as well. The premise is that there were twelve swords forged by the gods, and each had a special ability, like the sword of Mercy, which had the ability to heal all wounds, or Farslayer, which could kill from afar. Other swords are Coinspinner, Townsaver, etc. These swords fall into the hands of humans who aren't meant to wield them but use them according to their own agendas. Really fascinating stories. You might also want to try the Lyonesse series by Jack Vance. An adult fantasy series that makes its own path.
I think you could add: "Sheepfarmer's Daughter" by Elizabeth Moon, "The misplaced legion" by Hanry Turtledove and "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" by Patricia Anne McKillip
If you're looking for more books to add to your reading list, take a look at 100 Must Read Fantasy Novels (Stephen Andrews & Nick Rennison) and Fantasy: The 100 Best Books (Michael Moorcock & James Cawthorn). There's very little overlap between the two - Moorcock is so opinionated and eclectic that his list includes many books no one talks about any more. One recommendation from me: The Riddlemaster Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip. Finally, have you read Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant? I liked it as a kid, but now I remember nothing about it. But I had friends who thought it was the best fantasy they'd read, though this was back in the 80s.
Oh well, yet more books to add to my ever growing tbr ... sigh 😥🙈... but I will at least have alot of books to look forwards to. Ehm... when I get to them 😆
Omg if that's where you live, it's beautiful!. I also love the colours! I have the dying earth still on my tbr as well. So if you want to do a buddy read.. let me know ;)
Lots of series on here that I want to read as well Michael. Gormenghast is high on my list, and so is Elric. I didn’t see Death Gate Cycle on here. Have you read that one?
Sounds like a great reading project. I read The Once and Future King in high school and really enjoyed it. I've also read some of the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser books and am curious to hear your thoughts on those.
Great list. I remember the Elric books and the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books as uneven, though I do consider myself a fan of both. Gormenghast is amazing. One of Peake's editors was actually Graham Greene from what I understand. Dying Earth is fantasy set in the far future. There are some SF elements if I remember but the balance was on fantasy. I did not like Lord Foul's Bane and was really disappointed in it. Weird thing I encountered some fan of it online who thought it was better than Tolkien. He said it was more grown up. Because it had rape in it. Maybe if I read it now I would like it, but I don't think having rape in it makes it "grown up."
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser is one series I have jumped into this year via my Audible subscription. The narrations great but the only issue anyone has is the narrator makes Fafhrds accent American and everyone else has an English accent to some degree!?
For T H White I would like again, if I may, to recommend you start with the original full-length version of _The Sword in the Stone_ if you can get it, rather than the shorter, slightly different version that is included in _The Once and Future King._ It is a really terrific stand alone fantasy in its own right. And you can mix and match, it's perfectly fine to read the original _Sword in the Stone_ and then parts 2, 3 and 4 of _The Once and Future King._ If you then finish with the posthumous _The Book of Merlin_ you will, I think, have the full story as White wanted it. And if you then go back to the revised version of _The Sword in the Stone,_ to see what was different, you will find some bits duplicated that were originally in _The Book of Merlin_ and which White then inserted into the revised version of the earlier book after he couldn't get the Merlin book published. I hope that makes sense.
I too am wondering, it looks as though they might both be at the scenic ranch. . . Or am I being fooled by memory and Eisenstein's persistence of vision?
I was thrown off by The Worm Ouroboros too in my teens. I really liked the first trilogy of Thomas Covenant. Donaldson reinvents want it means to be a hero because Covenant is so dislikable .
In the few months that i follow your chance, you've added a ton on my TBR, so let me return that favour. I can't reckommend highly enough the Caine series by Matthew Woodring Stover. It's science fiction, but it's also fantasy, with magic and gods and all. Its a description of what the world could be if capitalism goes wild. It's the story of an underdog against all odds. Most of all, with Caine, it has the most badass protagonist since Conan, i shit you not. That guy goes right up close and personal against much stronger foes, unyielding and relentless. Please, for all that is good in this world, give this series a look. Oh, and by the way, don't let the bad art work on the cover of the first book, heroes die, put you down. That terrible cover is the reason i didn't read this for years. And what have i missed. It's catapulted easy to my all time favourites, and imo has blown much better known series out of the water.....
You might should give "The Dragonbone Chair" quadrologie a try. The author eludes me at the moment, but I just need to check my book collection to find out. Just a thought tho.
It’s the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy by Tad Williams. Most think it’s a 4 book series because the third volume, To Green Angel Tower, had to be split into two books for the mass market paperback because it was too big to hold within one spine. He has since continued the series with a novelette and then a sequel trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard.
I thought 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant' was an excellent though sometimes frustrating trilogy that didn't need any sequels. I read it when it came out, when I was a teenager. The second trilogy was a big letdown and I've heard the third one is just plain bad.
"The First Last Unicorn" is hard to find but an even better choice. He changed the book radically from its original idea and this edition has both the traditional version as well as annotations and the parts that were changed. Is the author recommended copy.
Hooray, finally you have at least one good selection: The Chronicles of TC (it's THE trilogy worth reading, the others less so). It's hated because it's for adults, there's no dragons or crappy little elves. Apart from that the list sucks 🤣🤣 A Fire Upon the Deep should make the list, it's scifi AND fantasy - didn't see that coming did you?
This one video has a) your 45th reading project, b) a sasquatch clearly visible at the tree line, and c) CHEMTRAILS!
Haha! All Michael needs is a smiley face spraypainted onto a tree, and he'd be almost hitting Steve's current "Mr Toad-style Quadrangle Of Interests"... Haha
Contrails.
But Sasquatch, yes, absolutely.
Michael..Have an admirable mention for Harry Turtledoves Videssos Cycle...not to be neglected..!!
“The two greatest swordsmen ever to be in this or any other universe of fact or fiction, more skillful masters of the blade even than Cyrano de Bergerac, Scar Gordon, Conan, John Carter, D’Artagnan, Brandich Daha, and Anra Devadoris. Two comrades to the death and black comedians for all eternity, lusty, brawling, wine-bibbing, imaginative, romantic, earthy, thievish, sardonic, humorous, forever seeking adventure across the wide world, fated forever to encounter the most deadly of enemies, the most fell of foes, the most délectable of girls, and the most dire of sorcerers and supernatural beasts and other personnages“
Ok...who is going to make the video "The MKV Reading Project Iceberg"?
VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS by David Lindsay, various stories by Clark-Ashton Smith.
I read Lord Fouls Bane in college 40 years ago but even though I finished it I never really got into it either
...The Illearth War ( the 2nd book in the series) is incredible with Lord Mhoram coming to the fore in epic fashion..Fantastic..!
Magician series Raymond E Feist especially the first three in the series (Magician, Darkness at Sethanon and Silverthorne)
The Prydain Chronicles, The Belgariad, Memory, Sorrow & Thorn, Legend/ Drenai, the Deverry Cycle, Earthsea and The Riftwar Saga including the Empire Trilogy!! I plan on reading Elric & Drizzt next. I have been alternating between classic and modern.
Prydain Chronicles definitely!
It's always encouraging to see the Gormenghast series get additional attention from another pro in the book tube community!! Viriconium is an experience to match as well.
This is a great project. I didn't know that some key titles would be re-reads for you, although I should have guessed - but it will be interesting to see what you think of these great novels now, with fresh perspective, and all the details revisited.
Some other ideas:
Wizard of the Pigeons, by Megan Lindholm
The Beast Trilogy, by Robert Stallman
Witch World, by Andre Norton
Glory Road, by Robert A. Heinlein
War for the Oaks, by Emma Bull
Nifft the Lean, by Michael Shea
The Glittering Plain, by William Morris
The Atlan Series, by Jane Gaskell
Little, Big, by John Crowley
The Gandalara Cycle, by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydon
The Ship of Ishtar, by A. Merritt
That’s a great fantasy TBR. A bunch on there I should probably read/reread. And I’m one of those thumbs down people on Thomas Covenant…..although I read it decades ago. I may very well have a different opinion on it now!
It's a hard read, that's hard to recommend. But it's historically really important to fantasy- for a long run it was the second best-selling fantasy after Tolkien.
Smack in the early 80s is the start of the Rift war Saga. Publishers split the first book into 2 making the trilogy 4 books. The world building and the stakes of the conflict are so well done.
Also loved the Iron Tower trilogy. It is a love letter to and virtually a retelling of the LOTR but done with such heart, I can recommend to any fantasy lover as long as they know what they are getting into.
Poul Anderson's other fantasy novel "Three Hearts and Three Lions" is also great. It's not as dark as Broken Sword but it has a ton of mythological/folkloric elements.
I actually enjoyed this one more than The Broken Sword. I think it pairs well with Wood Beyond the World by William Morris.
Anderson's other other fantasy novel, Hrolf Kraki's Saga, is also pretty great!
Man, you've got more projects going on than the NASA. Just, you have better ones...
Highly doubtful I would be much of a reader if it was not for the twain!
Gormenghast is amazing, so different from most other fantasy books. I've only read the first two, loved both
Love this! I started a reread of the Faffhd and Grey Mouser books last year but haven’t got that far yet, but I love them. I also loved Mythago Wood when I read it as a teenager. I have Broken Sword on my immediate TBR as I almost read it a few times recently, I need to read some Conan stuff now….but yeah looking forward to seeing you go through these.
Here's a few more classic fantasy authors and books you might want to check out
True classics
* Algernon Blackwood: The Trod, The Willows (short stories), The Human Chord, The Centaur (novels)
* George MacDonald: Phantastes
* Arthur Machen: The White People, The Great God Pan, N
* H. Rider Haggard: She, Ayesha (classic 'Lost World' fantasies, She has been made into a movie a couple of times)
Literary classics
* Hope Mirrlees: Lud-in-the-Mist (classic fantasy, and well worth a read)
* Charles Williams: All Hallows' Eve, Many Dimensions (Williams was a friend of both C. S. Lewis and Tolkien, and wrote a whole series of supernatural thrillers)
* Sylvia Townsend Warner: Kingdoms of Elfin (short story collection. Her fairies are of the more amoral, even sinister, variety)
* Evangeline Walton: Prince of Annwn (based on Welsh myth)
Children's stuff (but still worth a read)
* Alan Garner: Elidor
* T. H. White: Mistress Masham's Repose
* E. Nesbit: The Enchanted Castle, Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet (the last three are a series)
* Susan Cooper: The Dark Is Rising (made into a truly dreadful film)
Weird Tales like fantasy (if you know what I mean)
* A. Merritt: Burn, Witch, Burn! (filmed as 'The Devil-Doll' in 1936), Seven Footprints to Satan,
* Fletcher Pratt: The Blue Star
* C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne: The Lost Continent
* Kenneth Morris: The Dragon Path (short stories)
More light hearted classic fantasy
* Lord Dunsany: My Talks with Dean Spanley (a great fantasy novel about dogs and reincarnation)
* Thorne Smith: Turnabout, The Glorious Pool, The Night Life of the Gods (all great comic fantasy novels), The Passionate Witch (made into a movie, and the inspiration for the TV series 'Bewitched'), The Jovial Ghosts (filmed as 'Topper' starring Cary Grant)
* James Branch Cabell: Jurgen
* Richard Garnett: The Twilight of the Gods and Other Tales (short stories)
Oh, and of course L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt's 'The Compleat Enchanter' and Ursula K Le Guin´s 'Earthsea' books IMHO the best fantasy series after Tolkien
Back in the 80s some time, I was at an sf convention! Gordon Dickson was there and he signed my copy of The Dragon and the George. We were discussing fantasy novels and he gave a whole-hearted recommend to Silverlock which was one of his favorites. You should also consider Gordy's Dragon Knight series of which Dragon and the George is the first book.
Roger's substitute: Lady in Clay. I like it!
I recommend At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald.
If you haven't read Michael Shea's Nifft the Lean, you really truly don't want to miss it. World Fantasy Award winning sword and sorcery.
Your definitely in for a treat with Jack Vance’s Dying Earth .
Steve Donoghue is absolutely right about The Once and Future King. You're going to love it. I should do this same project. I'd love to revisit these books.
As others have mentioned, Raymond Feist's "Riftwar Saga" is well worth a read. So is David Eddings' "Belgariad" series (and the follow-up "Malloreon" series to a slightly lesser extent). I have issues with Eddings output, but in the end consider them fun, comfy reads. As for Donaldson's Thomas Covenant books, the first two Chronicles hooked me on the fantasy genre back in the mid 1980s. I loved them then, and think no less of them now. On the other hand, I can't stand the much later written "Final Chronicles". And yes, I fully understand why many consider them "controversial". I earned long ago to be careful who I recommend them to. For what it's worth, those first two Chronicles became my mother's favorite books, along with "Gone With the Wind". She otherwise had no use for the fantasy genre, not even Tolkien.
I read the Donaldson when I was in College! Incredible! (And he makes use of his father's medical specialty in creating the main character!)
"A Song Of Ice And Fire": I remember that series, I believe it's also known as "The Neverended Story", they made a good movie about it. Errr, I think I'm confused.
Look Michael, if anyone can achieve the aim of reading all those Fantasy novels, it's you. In Michael we trust!
Stephen Donaldson is one of my favorites authors and I loved the Thomas Covenant series. If you don't want to commit to that 10 book series, he wrote a duology - Mordant's Need and a 5 book sci-fi series- The Gap Cycle. The Covenant and Gap books are pretty dark at times, Mordant's Need is a fun fairy-tale like series. All excellent reads. Guy Gavriel Kay is mentioned a lot on booktube and is highly recommended by many. I haven't read his novels yet but they are on my TBR.....
You know the first three books of Thomas covenant were designed as a trilogy and are perfectly serviceable as a stopping point there. . .
Dammit Man! Mythago is sliding further and further to the back of your tbr-arrest its momentum forthwith! It’s awesome, you’ll love it 😁
I MUST SECOND, AND THIRD THIS!!
As a Moorcock fan it's hard for me to say this, but, if you've never read it you should put Mythago Wood ahead of re-reading Elric. Just the first one (for now.)
Possibly the Dying Earth books as well.
No. I can't believe I just said that.
A series from the 80's that I read and really liked is the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster. There are several hilarious incidents in them that I think you'd like. All but the last 2 were written in the 80's.
Spell singer is supposed to be a hidden gem of a series, at least the first three or four books
Witch World by Andre Norton. I’ll be following this “project” very closely…
Great list! I need to read a lot of those as well. I've really enjoyed William Morris' work. He was incredibly influential for many great fantasy writers. Also, Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy is my favorite for Arthurian fantasy. Tell the entire story from the perspective of Merlin and it is a page turner!
Can second William Morris
Lin Carter's book A Look Behind the LOTR led me to Morris and I've loved him, ever since...so, yes! And yes, too..The Merlin books by Mary Stewart were excellent and exceptional.
Gotta get some Poul Anderson in you. Obviously there's Three Hearts and Three Lions and The Broken Sword, but A Midsummer's Tempest and Hrolf Kraki's Saga are also great. Honestly, Poul Anderson might have been a better fantasy writer than a Sci Fi writer.
All those are really classics. If I had to recomend some more classics worthy of such a list I would add:
Michael Ende´s Neverending Story and Momo.
Tonke Dragt´s Letter for the King
Hope Mirrless´s Lud in the Mist
Zelazny´s Lord of Light
Jack Vance´s Lyonesse trilogy (Dying Earth is fantastic, the Cugel saga particularly, but Lyonesse might be a strong candidate for his best work in my opinion and it is as traditional a fantasy and yet as vancean as you can get)
Ursula K Le Guin´s original earthsea trilogy (the latter are post 90s, but the original trilogy works as a finished story)
Peter S Beagle´s The Last Unicorn
Richard Adams´s Watership Down (Is this considered fantasy? I do, but I dont know the consensus...)
William Goldman´s The Princess Bride
James Thurber´s 13 Clocks (sweet and short and wonderful)
Alan Garner´s Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Wow.
That's a pretty definitive list added to Michaels!!!
You have saved me the trouble of posting so much- l thank you!
Uhh... some excellen recomandations there indeed
These are all on my list but if I never make it into a project then I can procrastinate guilt-free
Mythago Wood was good fun. I've read 3 or 4 books in the series. It's fascinating.
I just finished Enchanted Pilgrimage by Clifford D. Simak. It was really enjoyable. A quest fantasy with a twist. The characters are fun.
That's a really solid list! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of those books. The one work I'd add (and it's a short, easy read) is The Face In the Frost by John Bellairs. One of my favorite classic fantasy standalones.
I'm enjoying the differing settings lately for your videos!
All of these are on my shelf, each a certified classic, and most TBR but I have read The Pastel City, which was good, and The Dying Earth, which was amazing and disturbing. BTW, the makers of DnD were inspired by Vance and invented the wizard Vecna, an anagram, for their game. Two books I would recommend are The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, a dream of a story, and Phantastes by George MacDonald, a story of a dream
Oh man. I read The Last Unicorn and A fine and Private Place, by Beagle, sooo long ago. Definitely time for a re-read. Thanks for bringing it up.
Mists of avalon
Love this book!
I try to let art speak for itself but I can't overlook the crimes of the author. This is irrevocably tainted for me.
@@mrmicro22I always felt like that book was the biggest crime by the author
Why am I starting to sing Ado Annie's song, "I'm just a girl who can't say no" from Oklahoma?
(Biography of the Life of Manuel, by James Branch Cabell), (Lanark: A Life in Four Books, by Alasdair Gray), (Little, Big, by John Crowley), (The Land of Laughs, by Jonathan Carroll). Your list is very very good straight 4s and 5s all the way across.
Yours is pretty interesting, it's so hard to find Alastair grey books here!
Now this is a reading project I can get behind 😎. 5 of these books are on my TBR too!
Great choices - some I read too long ago but Ford and Silverlock I've never got to. I recommend Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees, as being both awesome and influential
I’m planning to start Witch Wood by John Buchan this week, originally published in 1927. The back of the book says it was selected by Michael Moorcock as one of the 100 best fantasy books!
'The Dragon Waiting' sounds right up my street. Alternate History set during the Wars of the Roses? Yes please.
What a list! I happen to be partway through Viriconium on audio, but I need to find a print copy. The writing is so poetic that I have trouble following on audio. It is just wonderful and worth more concentration in my opinion. Also, I did a reread of _Once in Future King_ a couple of years ago. Magnificent! Make sure to read _The Book of Merlin_, it might be the best part.
The only book by Jack Vance I ever read was "Bad Ronald", which was disturbing and horrific! 👍
The Books of Earthsea by Ursula k. Le Guin. I have it but put it on hold because of the physical size of the book. Impractical to read in bed.
I won't be revisiting Stephen R. Donaldson. Ick.
Aw literate Texan ..it was wonderful..Whilst Covenant was a hard to like character,there were some fantastic characters and stories within the two series..The Giants,the Bloodguard..lord Mhoram..all wonderful
@@deselby6669 I'm glad you enjoyed it. Not my cup of tea, though. I actually read it relatively recently, but it was a DNF. That was a fun era for fantasy books, though, wasn't it?
@@LiterateTexan..Well said indeed..Lounging with books for a decade or two..,back when you had 3 score and 10 in the mix😅
Michael, that is a great list! I've read many of them and mean to read some of the rest. Of the ones I read, I most recommend The Worm Ouroboros and The Once and Future King. Of the ones I mean to read, I'm most interested in The Dragon Waiting and Mythago Wood. And maybe The King of Elfland's Daughter. I admire your dedication in determining to read all of Elric and all of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. I loved both those series, but still have not finished either of them. I liked Gormenghast, but really had no desire to read the other books in the series.
I was a big collector of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series when those were being published. You might check out the Wikipedia page for that series sometime (if you haven't already). Two of my favorites were by James Branch Cabell, who I never hear mentioned on BookTube. The books were Figures of Earth and The Silver Stallion. I also really enjoyed The Wood Beyond The World by William Morris and Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz. Thanks for getting me started on classic fantasy again! My wallet is feeling lighter already!
Edit: When I started my comment, there were 0 comments. When I finished, there were 21!
I feel your pain!
I just recently read The Dying Earth (just that one story), and it being in the distant future with flying cars (in one part) made it seem sci-fantasy to me. Great list!
Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Sorry Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. It has it all, wizards, witches, aging Barbarian, Death, the Guards. There is a few of these books.
Love this reading project Michael! I really need to complete the Gormenghast novels, although I struggled with Titus Groan as a teen, was just so strange. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is one of my favorite series of all time. I recommend Magician by Raymond E Feist.
That looks like a great list!
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is, for some bizarre reason, a controversial one. For my money, it is an absolute gem of a work. Donaldson approached the hero story with a darker eye and turned some tropes on their heads. To correct, it is 2 trilogies and a tetralogy. To be fair, you COULD stop with the opening trilogy, but I think you’d miss out on some of his great work found in the second trilogy. And you could stop there. Unless you really want to see how he resolves it all with the tetralogy.
To be fair, Covenant isn't the most likeable character which isn't the norm for older fantasy.
@@cmmosher8035 This is quite true. But then again, his backstory builds that character and so you know going in that this is a man who is broken. Generally readers like their broken people to be fixed and redeemed. Donaldson does a great job of NOT giving them that but even so delivering a character who is compelling and follows his own growth arc.
But again, some people aren't into the flawed hero as much as they're into the noble hero. Ultimately it comes down to personal preferences. I'm open to all of them, and I'm glad I explored The Land alongside Covenant and his crew.
Lankhmarch!
I think we all shall read those books from your list! I think your list of classic fantasy is already definitive.
Wow, I've read every one of these. Thanks for making me feel well read today!
I’ve been meaning fun to get to Eddison and Peake, myself. Elric, F&GM, The King of Elfland’s Daughter are great! Dying Earth is one I want to reread. It’s science-fantasy, I love it. The Dragon Waiting is a good one. I still need to read Lord Foul’s Bane too and I need to read the sequel to Mythago Wood.
Wonderful reading plans! I think I mentioned my own intent to read Elric this year, finish Amber, and I also have 4 more Fafhrd & Grey Mouser books to knock out. I think I should be able to do all three of those this year, although they will all be first-time reads for me!
An amazing and probably unassailable list- especially including some of the suggestions mentioned here in the comments like Lud in the Mist, Silverlock, Nift the Lean, Well at World's End, that Ah-May- Zing but hella long list from dacre1000 , but most of all. . .
Mythago Wood.
.
.
.
(It rhymes with Zhivago)
I really enjoyed The Once and Future King and The King Of Elfland's Daughter. Enough that I've re-read both.
Hey, Mike! Recommendations:
-- "The Witcher" Cycle by Andrzej Sapkowski beginning with "The Last Wish"
-- "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" Trilogy by Tad Williams beginning with "The Dragonbone Chair"
-- The Drenai Saga by David Gemmell beginning chronologically with "Waylander" or "Legend" by order of publication
-- The Prydain Chronicles Quintet by Lloyd Alexander beginning with "The Book of Three"
-- The Sarantine Mosaic Duology by Guy Gavriel-Kay beginning with "Sailing to Sarantium"
-- "Slaine" comics written by Pat Mills, illustrated by Glenn Fabry and Simon Bisley, and published by 2000AD
-- "Urshurak" by Jerry Nichols and the Hildebrandt Bros.
But he already said he was going to reread Elric. . .
"just let me know and I'll add it to the list." That's going to be quite the list!
But if you insist on challenge:
Howl's Moving Castle
Dragonlance Chronicles (and beyond if you wish)
Discworld (though the series gets more modern as you go)
The Never Ending Story
The Dark is Rising quintet
The Phantom Tollboth
Chronicles of Prydain
The Last Unicorn
The Wizard of Earthsea
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Space Trilogy (Lewis)
Peter Pan
The OZ books
The Jungle Books
Pinocchio
Major works of George Macdonald
Gulliver's Travels
Adventures of Baron Münchhausen
And some of the other longer Fairy Tale (or short collections) works you never got to but want to.
And all the great epics ala Homer, Ovid, Mallory, Anonymous etc.
Do you have all these, or must they wait till after the 500 read what you own?
Many must wait, I’m afraid.
That's a really good list. I think with one or two exceptions I've read them all and they're all worth the time. Mythago Wood in particular just blew my mind.
I enjoyed Thomas Covenant, but it's easy to see why people despise the series - the guy's the most repulsive main character I think I've ever read, and not repulsive in the "he's an anti-hero" sense. Worth the read.
Some books I definitely think are also worth checking out given your picks, if you haven't read them/can't remember them because it's been a while:
- Michael Moorcock - Hawkmoon 1-4 and Count Brass 1-3 (seriously don't know why it's called Chronicles of Count Brass, it's literally Hawkmoon 5-7)
- Hope Mirlees - Lud-In-The-Mist
- Anne McCaffrey - Dragonriders of Pern
- Tim Powers - The Drawing of the Dark
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez - One Hundred Years of Solitude
"Ariosto" by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro really made a big impression on me back when I was in college. It is a stand-alone.
Yarbro is great and under-read. . .
I never saw the point of the archaic style of Ouroboros. It's probably a perfectly good story, but that (and the infernally silly system of nomenclature) put me off. I suspect I should give it another go, cos it's about 20-odd years since I last did.
Dying Earth is actually a SF/fantasy mix, though it's a lot heavier on the latter. It's not really until you get to the last story that you realise it's more than just a fantasy book. I don't know if the other books in the series lean more on the SF.
This is a tremendous-looking project, I've got a lot of these waiting for me as well (though I want to knock over a few Horror May-hem titles before doing any of these). My own knowledge of classic fantasy is a bit thin, so I could do with expanding it. If you'll forgive me for expanding your list, I recommend The Circus of Dr Lao by Charles G. Finney. If you've ever seen the film version (7 Faces of Dr Lao), the book is not really like that; the film (perhaps understandably) has an actual plot which the book doesn't. Great piece of high strangeness.
Yeah, they are kids' books and yeah, they are simple, but you could zip through the Septimus Heap series, (Angie Sage), in no time. They are cuter than hell.
(Red and purple for the Lodge; it looks like a fantasy house.)
Great list, and nothing I would contravene. I strongly add my voice to Feist’s _Riftwar Saga_ and if you like it, you might enjoy his collaboration with Janny Wurts on the _Empire Trilogy_
My one humble submission would be any of Barbara Hambly’s works but probably start with the Darwath series.
I'm not sure if this is regarded as Classic Fantasy or not, and I apologize if it's been mentioned elsewhere. You should try reading Saberhagen's Book of Swords and The Lost Swords series. I enjoyed them, and I think you might as well. The premise is that there were twelve swords forged by the gods, and each had a special ability, like the sword of Mercy, which had the ability to heal all wounds, or Farslayer, which could kill from afar. Other swords are Coinspinner, Townsaver, etc. These swords fall into the hands of humans who aren't meant to wield them but use them according to their own agendas. Really fascinating stories. You might also want to try the Lyonesse series by Jack Vance. An adult fantasy series that makes its own path.
I’m going to read the Sword series after I finish his Dracula books.
Nice! I think you'll like them.
I think you could add: "Sheepfarmer's Daughter" by Elizabeth Moon, "The misplaced legion" by Hanry Turtledove and "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" by Patricia Anne McKillip
If you're looking for more books to add to your reading list, take a look at 100 Must Read Fantasy Novels (Stephen Andrews & Nick Rennison) and Fantasy: The 100 Best Books (Michael Moorcock & James Cawthorn). There's very little overlap between the two - Moorcock is so opinionated and eclectic that his list includes many books no one talks about any more.
One recommendation from me: The Riddlemaster Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip.
Finally, have you read Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant? I liked it as a kid, but now I remember nothing about it. But I had friends who thought it was the best fantasy they'd read, though this was back in the 80s.
@colonelweird I actually read that Joy Chant recently! It doesn't hold up very well to be honest. Reads like an okay fusion of Narnia and LoTR.
I haven’t read Red Moon and Black Mountain. Not yet.
Oh well, yet more books to add to my ever growing tbr ... sigh 😥🙈... but I will at least have alot of books to look forwards to. Ehm... when I get to them 😆
Great selections all.
I want to read these too. 😂 Some of them maybe not, but a lot of them, yes. Have fun!
-T
Omg if that's where you live, it's beautiful!. I also love the colours!
I have the dying earth still on my tbr as well. So if you want to do a buddy read.. let me know ;)
Lots of series on here that I want to read as well Michael. Gormenghast is high on my list, and so is Elric. I didn’t see Death Gate Cycle on here. Have you read that one?
Sounds like a great reading project. I read The Once and Future King in high school and really enjoyed it. I've also read some of the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser books and am curious to hear your thoughts on those.
Great list. I remember the Elric books and the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books as uneven, though I do consider myself a fan of both.
Gormenghast is amazing. One of Peake's editors was actually Graham Greene from what I understand.
Dying Earth is fantasy set in the far future. There are some SF elements if I remember but the balance was on fantasy.
I did not like Lord Foul's Bane and was really disappointed in it. Weird thing I encountered some fan of it online who thought it was better than Tolkien. He said it was more grown up. Because it had rape in it. Maybe if I read it now I would like it, but I don't think having rape in it makes it "grown up."
Any books from the Ballentine Adult Fantasy series edited by Lin Carter are worth searching out and reading!
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser is one series I have jumped into this year via my Audible subscription. The narrations great but the only issue anyone has is the narrator makes Fafhrds accent American and everyone else has an English accent to some degree!?
For T H White I would like again, if I may, to recommend you start with the original full-length version of _The Sword in the Stone_ if you can get it, rather than the shorter, slightly different version that is included in _The Once and Future King._ It is a really terrific stand alone fantasy in its own right. And you can mix and match, it's perfectly fine to read the original _Sword in the Stone_ and then parts 2, 3 and 4 of _The Once and Future King._ If you then finish with the posthumous _The Book of Merlin_ you will, I think, have the full story as White wanted it. And if you then go back to the revised version of _The Sword in the Stone,_ to see what was different, you will find some bits duplicated that were originally in _The Book of Merlin_ and which White then inserted into the revised version of the earlier book after he couldn't get the Merlin book published.
I hope that makes sense.
Sword of Shannara I would find space for. Screams 80's.
70s
Read every book in the Ballantine Fantasy Series. I dare you.
But I don’t have them all!
How's doggy doing?
I too am wondering, it looks as though they might both be at the scenic ranch. . . Or am I being fooled by memory and Eisenstein's persistence of vision?
Doggy is doing very well.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Hooray!
More moonshine. Keep up the good work. 👍
Some great books on there. Read Mythago Wood first. You won't regret it. Honest.
Richard Sheehan does not look like he'd lie to you. I support him. Read the Holdstock like I said years ago.
Okay, you win! I’ll read it next!
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 And now you need to read the second book in the series, Lavondyss, which I thought was better in some ways.
Legend by David Gemmel? If you choose to expand your list.
Legend is a great book.
Um... what even is happening in the opening scene? I'm afraid to know!
I was thrown off by The Worm Ouroboros too in my teens. I really liked the first trilogy of Thomas Covenant. Donaldson reinvents want it means to be a hero because Covenant is so dislikable .
In the few months that i follow your chance, you've added a ton on my TBR, so let me return that favour. I can't reckommend highly enough the Caine series by Matthew Woodring Stover. It's science fiction, but it's also fantasy, with magic and gods and all. Its a description of what the world could be if capitalism goes wild. It's the story of an underdog against all odds. Most of all, with Caine, it has the most badass protagonist since Conan, i shit you not. That guy goes right up close and personal against much stronger foes, unyielding and relentless. Please, for all that is good in this world, give this series a look.
Oh, and by the way, don't let the bad art work on the cover of the first book, heroes die, put you down. That terrible cover is the reason i didn't read this for years. And what have i missed. It's catapulted easy to my all time favourites, and imo has blown much better known series out of the water.....
How about some Clark Ashton Smith?
CAS is always a good choice!
You might should give "The Dragonbone Chair" quadrologie a try.
The author eludes me at the moment, but I just need to check my book collection to find out.
Just a thought tho.
It’s the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy by Tad Williams. Most think it’s a 4 book series because the third volume, To Green Angel Tower, had to be split into two books for the mass market paperback because it was too big to hold within one spine. He has since continued the series with a novelette and then a sequel trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard.
@@NmDPlm31 Thanks for the clarification mate.
@@hawkeyepierce67 You bet, man.
Forgive me. I mean no trolling, but a four book series is a tetralogy.
@@salty-walt No offense taken.
You're right of course.
😊
I thought 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant' was an excellent though sometimes frustrating trilogy that didn't need any sequels. I read it when it came out, when I was a teenager. The second trilogy was a big letdown and I've heard the third one is just plain bad.
The Last Unicorn?
"The First Last Unicorn" is hard to find but an even better choice. He changed the book radically from its original idea and this edition has both the traditional version as well as annotations and the parts that were changed. Is the author recommended copy.
Hooray, finally you have at least one good selection: The Chronicles of TC (it's THE trilogy worth reading, the others less so). It's hated because it's for adults, there's no dragons or crappy little elves. Apart from that the list sucks 🤣🤣 A Fire Upon the Deep should make the list, it's scifi AND fantasy - didn't see that coming did you?
Once and Future King. Great. Basis for Disney's Sword in the Stone and musical Camelot. Thomas Covenant... couldn't get very far into it .sucked.
Bro- You forgot Book Of The New Sun by Gene Wolfe!!
Isn’t that science fiction?
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 I’d say both 😂 but if Dying Earth is in BOTNS definitely is too, can’t wait for your review someday!
Lud-in-the-Mist? Is that a classic?
I think it must qualify.