The Ultimate Top 10 Fantasy Book Must Reads

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  • Опубликовано: 20 дек 2024

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  • @danh945
    @danh945 Год назад +218

    Belgariad series by David Eddings - classic farmboy vs dark lord, but deals with love (family / romantic / self).
    MYTH series by Robert Asprin - excellent and original comedy fantasy.
    Magic Kingdom for sale by Terry Brooks - reluctant hero from modern world thrust into fantasy setting.
    Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey - top draw high fantasy.
    Redwall by Brian Jacques - classic fantasy stories where the characters are anthropomorphised animals, aimed at kids but great for adults.

    • @doncharrette6977
      @doncharrette6977 Год назад +10

      I just wrote that silk is da man

    • @stevewambach7637
      @stevewambach7637 Год назад +2

      I tried really hard to get into Dragon Riders of Pern...... the world building was cool and the characters were interesting but the story......... WAS SO BORING. I got to book 5 and just couldnt go on. It would prob make a better movie or TV series then books (and i never say that)

    • @seanbogan7230
      @seanbogan7230 Год назад +6

      Yeah, I can't take any top 10 list seriously if it doesn't have some of the titles you mentioned in the list. Brooks' Shannarra, Ursula K. LeGuin, Katherine Kurtz's Deryni Chronicles, Michael Moorcock's Elric Saga would be others.

    • @KnuthMaestro
      @KnuthMaestro Год назад +6

      I am so surprised Redwall didn't make the list. I also love the Belgariad and I think it's getting recognized more and more!

    • @blueshattrick
      @blueshattrick Год назад +1

      I really enjoyed the MYTH series... as a kid.
      BUUUUTT... going back to it many years later - yeah, it's pretty rough! Not nearly as good as I remembered. So maybe just appropriate for pre-teens

  • @yorobman1
    @yorobman1 Год назад +587

    My favorite fantasy author is Raymond E Feist. His Magician saga, Riftwar saga and other works are so well crafted!

    • @iamsuperman10
      @iamsuperman10 Год назад +19

      100% agree. Talon of the Silver Hawk was my introduction to his work and boy howdy did I immediately go shopping for more. Feist is so good.

    • @jaffaholland4039
      @jaffaholland4039 Год назад +12

      Best writer ever

    • @SSquirrel1976
      @SSquirrel1976 Год назад +14

      Came here to make this comment

    • @boilinwater69
      @boilinwater69 Год назад +16

      "There is no magic!"

    • @montgomery59
      @montgomery59 Год назад +23

      Plus the Empire series taken over by Janny Wurts.

  • @michaelmilbrath2096
    @michaelmilbrath2096 Год назад +9

    Guy Gavriel Kay, Eric Flint, Jim Butcher, Rothfuss, Modesitt, Mercedes Lackey, Patricia McKillup, Patricia Keneally to name a few!

  • @namedropper1975
    @namedropper1975 Год назад +163

    Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn has always been my favorite fantasy series.

    • @disgruntled_jedi
      @disgruntled_jedi Год назад +10

      My jaw dropped when this one was omitted. Even George RR Martin references inspiration from this series in interviews. Stone of Farewell is one of the best books I’ve read!!

    • @deankittelson2798
      @deankittelson2798 Год назад +9

      For real. Tad Williams anything. All his books are amazing

    • @timm8860
      @timm8860 Год назад

      I thought they were excellent, Robert Jordan or Brando level of world building and writing. Even more so for Otherland

    • @markmarchenko
      @markmarchenko Год назад +6

      Exactly, should be included here instead of Rothfuss' books

    • @neilvita3230
      @neilvita3230 5 месяцев назад

      I found that one kinda boring I was sad

  • @PaulGaffney-c8m
    @PaulGaffney-c8m Год назад +149

    Micheal Moorcock cannot be left off of this list, Elric, Corum etc classic fantasy at its best

    • @markh4473
      @markh4473 Год назад +23

      Michael Moorcock and Roger Zelazny never get the recognition they deserve

    • @iluvpugstoo
      @iluvpugstoo Год назад +11

      Aye ! Hear hear ! and I agree ! Moorcock was hands down one of the best British Science Fantasy / Sword and Sorcery Authors ever. He raised the bar for writing quality across several genres. Also love The Eternal Champion and Count Brass.

    • @willtricks9432
      @willtricks9432 Год назад

      My first thought, read so much as a youth but now out of "Fashion".

    • @Meanne77
      @Meanne77 Год назад

      Yeah, i came to see if Zelazny was listed and of course once again he was forgotten :( thanks for your comment@@markh4473

    • @willtricks9432
      @willtricks9432 Год назад

      @@darrenyorston Not read that yet, thanks for the suggestion.

  • @KeytarArgonian
    @KeytarArgonian Год назад +200

    Not just The Lord of the Rings, but the entire Legendarium. The Silmarillion, Fall of Gondolin, Unfinished Tales, Beren and Luthien and Fall of Numenor are all fantastic too.

    • @albertito77
      @albertito77 Год назад +9

      I think you can safely count the entire fantasy "universe" of an author

    • @noonehere0987
      @noonehere0987 Год назад +5

      I agree, but Lord of the Rings is the standout story of them all. Beren and Luthien, for example, is one of my favorite stories (as told in the Silmarillion, I'm not as big of a fan of variants where Beren isn't a human), but it's still just a story. LotR is a huge epic, where when you break down the parts and how the thing functions on a technical level... it's clearly something beyond the rest, because the rest also serve as a foundation that lets the world as told in LotR feel completely alive without having to read the rest.

    • @saketbakshi4235
      @saketbakshi4235 Год назад

      Beren and Luthien TwT

    • @IlovetheNBA
      @IlovetheNBA 11 месяцев назад +1

      Do you think someone should read the Unfinished Tales, Fall of Gondolin and others before reading the Silmarillion?

    • @KeytarArgonian
      @KeytarArgonian 11 месяцев назад +3

      @@IlovetheNBA I actually think it’s better the other way around. Silmarillion for the overarching story and then dive into the individual story, that’s how I read them though so may be biased.

  • @jeffswarm2527
    @jeffswarm2527 Год назад +48

    I am old, I know very few of these. I suggest The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson.

    • @samuelfriday8447
      @samuelfriday8447 12 дней назад +1

      I have read the wounded land, it has a really complicated language structure, might almost be considered dense, but it's a great story with even better world building, I will be reading the second book soon

    • @paulthomassen5007
      @paulthomassen5007 6 дней назад +1

      I agree, it's better than everything on this list

  • @radiantav
    @radiantav Год назад +49

    Raymond Feist’s books were what drove me into epic fantasy. Super approachable, easy to follow, great for teenager me. Later read Jenny Wurts which is complete opposite of approachable due to archaic terms and language she uses but still an interesting world.

  • @zok1492
    @zok1492 Год назад +171

    40 years ago I enjoyed the some of The Shannara series by Terry Brooks, and Dragon Riders of Pern series by The McCaffreys.

    • @TheCrow938
      @TheCrow938 Год назад +8

      Terry Brooks and the Shannara series is my favorite series. So many good books and such amazing world building.

    • @limegecko5673
      @limegecko5673 Год назад +2

      I read Shannara some years ago and it wasn’t my favourite tbh, but I definitely see it as an important earlier contribution to the Fantasy genre.

    • @clintonstrampel1403
      @clintonstrampel1403 Год назад +3

      The Shannara series is like 35 books long now and I found it got better as it went along

    • @sylvanaire
      @sylvanaire Год назад +6

      I discovered the Dragonriders of Pern series in college & go so wrapped up in the stories I actually skipped class to keep reading, lol. I just finished re-reading the whole series on audiobook last month, really top notch story telling!

    • @secretagent86
      @secretagent86 Год назад +7

      Dragonriders of pern were great young adult books

  • @nicholasreceveur1134
    @nicholasreceveur1134 Год назад +177

    Absolutely. I’d put Ursula le Guin in there; the original A Wizard of Earthsea trilogy might be short by epic standards, but read it again and you will realize that the prose might seem simple, but it’s deep (Jenny Wurts is the reverse IMO). Also, I’d say the original Thomas Covenant Unbeliever trilogy hits like an emotional steam train.

    • @lindax911
      @lindax911 Год назад +1

      The First Chronicles of Thos. Covenant were excellent. Couldn't really get into the 2d set.

    • @Gazbeard
      @Gazbeard Год назад +4

      Major upvote for mentioning the Thomas Covenant Chronicles.
      p.s. - it's a trilogy of trilogies (9 books) ... Lord of the Rings was only 3 books.

    • @nono7105
      @nono7105 Год назад +2

      Ah, the reluctant hero, and white gold wielder. Loved it. I also love Stephen Donaldson's other works. The Gap series is excellent, Mordant's Need is great, and his short stories are just brilliant.

    • @steelmongoose4956
      @steelmongoose4956 11 месяцев назад

      LeGuin is one of the most lyrical writers I’ve ever encountered. Even when I don’t her narrative direction (which only happens occasionally), the prose itself is simply beautiful.

    • @RaiderFanDanTheMan
      @RaiderFanDanTheMan 7 месяцев назад

      The word for world is forrest was great

  • @10thcharacter36
    @10thcharacter36 Год назад +10

    Dragonriders of Pern is my favorite. I read the books that existed twice before the author Anne McCaffrey passed away. After that I think it was her son, not so much. BUT, there are many books before her passing that I loved.

  • @lordthundyr894
    @lordthundyr894 Год назад +77

    If you want something a bit more "old skool": Feist's Riftwar Saga (the first 3 books), anything by Janny Wurtz (especially the Servant of the Empire series she co-wrote with Feist), and Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy. For "fantasy, but not high fantasy", Neil Gaiman's got your back.

    • @althelas
      @althelas Год назад +3

      Oh gosh, the Kelewan Saga is my favourite part of all the Riftwar books. Janny and Raymond created a masterpiece. As much as I love Kelewan and the original Riftwar series, the later entries are mediocre at best. I agree with the first 3 books though, they are amazing.

    • @lordthundyr894
      @lordthundyr894 Год назад +2

      @@althelas Agree! Feist (co)wrote 6 fantastic books (Riftwar and Empire). The rest are just bog standard, unfortunately. I think this is only natural - it's pretty hard to keep coming up with new ideas, characters and plots when you've already examined a world in detail (as with Midkemia/Kelewan). I find I just get bored of longer series' as well for the same reason - Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind etc. All start out with a bang but by book 5 or 6 all the lustre is gone.

    • @althelas
      @althelas Год назад +2

      @@lordthundyr894 i had the same problem with Outlander. The first 3 books were amazing, but then they felt drawn out. I own them but never felt the urge to read further, maybe one day I'll do. Dragonlance has the same problems and as you've said, it is a common problem and I often think that authors should tell their editors to f**k off when they want more of the same world. It can't be very fullfilling for an author to rehash the same world over and over again, just for the sake of making more money from the same old things. I hope Naomi Novik finished the Temeraire stories with the last book (haven't bought it yet) because she too suffers from the same thing, while I have to admit her premise for Temeraire was very unique when the first book came out.

    • @kimhorton6109
      @kimhorton6109 Год назад +5

      I went thru a period of frantic reading by Robin Hobb. Great author.

    • @shawn6669
      @shawn6669 Год назад

      The Riftwar books are just a bad ripoff of M.A.R Barkers "Tekumel" world.

  • @Iso20227
    @Iso20227 Год назад +111

    I highly recommend the Belgariad series.
    Fantasy books are really good, I love them, and the Belgariad got me started on that.
    Guess what.
    Farm boy who gets thrust into the unknown under the threat of a dark enemy.
    Despite the common trope, it’s such a good book.
    Book 1: Pawn of Prophesy
    Book 2: Queen of Sorcery
    Book 3: Magician’s Gambit
    Book 4: Castle of Wizardry
    Book 5: Enchanter’s Endgame

    • @ClarenceObert
      @ClarenceObert Год назад +9

      Also by the same author (and his wife), the Elder Gods series, the Mallorean Series and the Elenium (my favorite) Series. It seems like most of these "top 10" fantasy lists only lists recent books, with the exception of LoTR. So many great ones (older) out there. From Zalazny's Amber series, Ann McCaffery's Dragon Rider series, Feist's Riftwar series (30 books in all), to Terry Brooks Shannara series most lists leave these off. Not putting down the newer fantasy series, but to leave some of these authors off these lists, shows that the commentators aren't really immersed in the fantasy realm IMO.

    • @Iso20227
      @Iso20227 Год назад +5

      @@ClarenceObert I haven’t read the Elenium yet, and I’ve only read half of the Mallorean.
      I plan on finishing them soon.

    • @ClarenceObert
      @ClarenceObert Год назад +4

      @@Iso20227 I highly encourage you to read the Elenium. It's even more entertaining with the banter between the characters than Belgarath/Silk was. Thanks for the reply

    • @andreww4751
      @andreww4751 Год назад

      Also Elric of Melnibone@@ClarenceObert

    • @andreww4751
      @andreww4751 Год назад

      I appreciate your comment and will check those out@@ClarenceObert

  • @elric58
    @elric58 Год назад +38

    The Chronicles of Amber (Roger Zelazny), The Elric of Melnibone series (Michael Moorcock), Dragon Riders of Pern (Anne McCaffery)

    • @Moldyvort
      @Moldyvort Год назад +1

      Amber isn't on this list? Well, no need to even let the ads finish.

    • @kevbrown3760
      @kevbrown3760 Год назад

      Oof, I still cringe today at the fact I actually read that.
      A bunch of obnoxious over privileged princes galavanting across the kingdom. Not one likable character. Only snobs.
      Edit: about Amber

    • @elric58
      @elric58 Год назад

      @@kevbrown3760 Interesting take. I've read through all the books at least twice and never got that vibe from it at all.

    • @kevbrown3760
      @kevbrown3760 Год назад +2

      @elric58 actually, what I find interesting is you listed Amber, AND Elric. I love Moorcocks work.
      I'm a huge fan of Elric.
      More often when I hear hot takes on Elric it's "that series only appeals to teenage boys". To which I go, that's my age when I started.
      Anyway, best when "bestfantasybooks" website had an active forum, there were a few debates on Amber, and Elric. For either, amongst those with an opinion, the majority hated either. And amongst those defending one, there was zero overlap with the other. Ie, those few that loved Amber, either hated or had no opinion on Elric. Those that loved Elric, either hated or had no opinion on Amber.
      This is all purely anecdotal, as is my opinion, and your opinion.
      I just thought it was interesting.
      In the end, we can agree on Elric, and a passion for reading.
      Cheers.

    • @malindarayallen
      @malindarayallen Год назад +1

      Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey

  • @jimmitchell694
    @jimmitchell694 Год назад +63

    OK, great list. However, my all-time favorite fantasy series is the Dragonriders of Pern ny Anne McCaffery.

    • @silverdye7424
      @silverdye7424 Год назад

      Agreed Dragon Risers is my favorite of all time

    • @bronwynbeistle8317
      @bronwynbeistle8317 Год назад +3

      She thought her series was science fiction, not fantasy.

    • @eddietaylor5677
      @eddietaylor5677 Год назад

      Finally! I’ve been scrolling down just hunting for someone who mentions McCaffery.

    • @tankicat
      @tankicat Год назад +3

      Dragonriders of Pern is science fiction not fantasy, even the "dragons" are bio-engineered by the original colonists to be that way.

    • @silverdye7424
      @silverdye7424 Год назад +1

      While I agree it is Science Fiction, The Fire Lizards that dragons are bio engineered from are Fantasy. So, in my Opinion there an element of fantasy to the series

  • @benjiwork4795
    @benjiwork4795 Год назад +78

    Glen Cook’s The Tales of the Black Company never gets the recognition it deserves.

    • @apmartini70
      @apmartini70 Год назад +5

      I’m with you on that.

    • @thelawrencewoods2871
      @thelawrencewoods2871 Год назад +13

      I always describe the Black Company as "Imagine you're reading about a combat medic in Vietnam from his perspective, but it's in the Lord of The Rings type world. And the guys you're reading about work for Sauron." I know it's much more than that but that is basically what it feels like at first. And I'm all for it.

    • @sampetrie340
      @sampetrie340 Год назад +4

      @@thelawrencewoods2871I had a friend describe it as a group of lawful neutral officers in charge of evil mercenaries working in the service of an epically evil master who is fighting against an even more evil monster.

    • @HeeroAvaren
      @HeeroAvaren 6 месяцев назад +5

      Glenn Cook is criminally underrated.

    • @michaelmurphy748
      @michaelmurphy748 6 месяцев назад +2

      I could not get into the black company but I loved "Garret PI" series.

  • @terryfloyd3505
    @terryfloyd3505 Год назад +54

    Piers Anthonys Incarnations of Immortality and the Xanth series are my favorites. Black Company is underappreciated as well. The Necroscope series maybe should be there as well although its maybe more fantasy/horror

    • @jsedbe0624
      @jsedbe0624 Год назад +1

      The Black Company is one of my favorites, even if you shouldn’t get too attached to most of the main characters.
      As I have gotten older, the last section of the entire series resonates with me more and more.

    • @baccydemon3489
      @baccydemon3489 Год назад +3

      Anthonys Apprentice Adept series was his best I think but the others are good also

    • @KJ-of6lf
      @KJ-of6lf Год назад +1

      Loved the Anthony books, and Necroscope is just plain amazing.

    • @d.wayneharbison8691
      @d.wayneharbison8691 Год назад

      @@jsedbe0624 I much prefer The Garret Papers to The Black Company.

    • @gregchappell6462
      @gregchappell6462 10 месяцев назад +2

      I love the Xanth series! One of my very first series I ever picked up, way back in 1988.

  • @markwilkes4318
    @markwilkes4318 Год назад +375

    I don't understand why R.A.Salvatore never gets any credit. Drizzt Do'Urden is one of the best characters ever written. His description of sword fighting is the best I've ever read and I've read a lot. I know it's DnD based but he brings the world to life and his character development is world class.

    • @bronwynecg
      @bronwynecg Год назад +7

      Even though I've heard of the series for decades (it was way too intimidating) I've just recently started reading it and OMG I got sucked right in 😁 I don't know why I was so nervous about it! (The printing errors could use a bit of fixing but overall it's very enjoyable so far....)

    • @tugboatsvideoemporium6476
      @tugboatsvideoemporium6476 Год назад +6

      I always felt like his characters were just too damn over powered which made me read them with skepticism. I knew his main characters would survive and so I felt like I knew how situations would turn out before I completed the chapter. I don't have a strong position here, it's just how i felt while reading his work.

    • @joshuatempleton9556
      @joshuatempleton9556 Год назад +10

      @@tugboatsvideoemporium6476 except all the main characters die some more than once lol

    • @damodeevan3306
      @damodeevan3306 Год назад +14

      It's for kids how pretentious are you I am 50 years old read the Lord of the rings at age 9 and have read all kinds of fantasy and Salvatore is as good as any

    • @joshuatempleton9556
      @joshuatempleton9556 Год назад +12

      @@susiederkins6612 forgotten realms is not for kids, i started reading drizzit in my late teens in the 90s and i am 43 and still read them.

  • @ashpete21
    @ashpete21 Год назад +38

    Conan the Barbarian, Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia make all the historical lists. I enjoyed The Hedge Knight books very much as well

    • @KeytarArgonian
      @KeytarArgonian Год назад +3

      I love the Conan stories, I have this huge tome called the complete chronicles of Conan. I read it cover to cover its brilliant.

    • @jeffreytimmons9544
      @jeffreytimmons9544 11 месяцев назад +1

      All three would be in my list as well. Narnia is burdened by its Christian allegory; so many fantasy enthusiasts find that offputting.

    • @Tharia1981
      @Tharia1981 2 месяца назад +1

      I love Harry Potter and I am so upset that these great books are not mentioned any more. I mean, 2 unfinished series are mentioned here, series that will probably never ever be finished, but Harry Potter isn't. And I think terms from Harry Potter are the most used by people, like muggles, for example.

  • @willtricks9432
    @willtricks9432 Год назад +14

    Ursula Le Guin, Anne McCaffery, Moorcock, Tad Williams, Jack Vance, Fritz Leiber. Are on my list. Thanks for your insight

    • @TheLeebo1962
      @TheLeebo1962 6 месяцев назад

      Wasn't Leiber a sci-fi writer?

  • @sherribugd3799
    @sherribugd3799 Год назад +163

    I have always loved the Dragonlance Chronicles. There are a ton of books by other authors in the works, as well as additions by the original authors, but if you stick with the original 3 it’s excellent.

    • @apmartini70
      @apmartini70 Год назад +6

      My favorites. I wish they would make a movie trilogy of the first three books, but I am also aware that it would probably be written by, directed by, and acted by people who never read the source material and wouldn’t bother trying to bring it to life. It would be something else.

    • @wakaralightcloud3628
      @wakaralightcloud3628 Год назад +12

      Raistlin .... love his character and is my #1 fantasy recommendation.

    • @joshuatempleton9556
      @joshuatempleton9556 Год назад +2

      read them all over the years, can't wait for new dragonlance to come out.

    • @joshuatempleton9556
      @joshuatempleton9556 Год назад +2

      @@apmartini70 they are making a tv series out of dragonlance, it's going to be an original story written by an actor that has played dragonlance for 30 years.

    • @davidbonar5190
      @davidbonar5190 Год назад +3

      the original 3 plus the lost chronicles, filling in the gaps :)

  • @waynepurcell6058
    @waynepurcell6058 Год назад +20

    Dragon Riders of Pern and The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. I know some people hate the Thomas Covenant series, but I never really understood why myself.

    • @mwells219
      @mwells219 6 месяцев назад

      I think it has something to do with the rape....

    • @A11Father
      @A11Father 6 месяцев назад

      @@mwells219 Yes. The protagonist was a horrible human being. Made it hard to care about the story. Wonderful world building though.

    • @bcatcool
      @bcatcool 5 месяцев назад

      Maybe my heart was hard.. my friends and I read the first 6 Thomas C. Heart breaking conflicts. Crazy fantasy.

    • @waynepurcell6058
      @waynepurcell6058 5 месяцев назад

      @@mwells219 Yeah but at the time that happened it was an absolute Miricale that he could feel any touch again on top of the fact he thought he was in a dream/ delusion for God knows how long. He never thought it was real when it happened. It wasn't like he was some serial rapist or something. Jesus, give the guy a break.

  • @gunslingersymphony5015
    @gunslingersymphony5015 8 месяцев назад +41

    When people talk about epic fantasy, Sir Terry Pratchett tends to be overlooked. Some of my best memories are of rainy days, reading about the witches of the Ramtops. Thank you for mentioning Discworld.

    • @DS-cf1zc
      @DS-cf1zc 6 месяцев назад +2

      I loved the books, and thought he was one of the more funny, creative authors. I only wish for a few more.

    • @gunslingersymphony5015
      @gunslingersymphony5015 6 месяцев назад +2

      @@DS-cf1zc I think that, because he was so funny, he's not often given the credit he deserves as an epic world builder and character creator. He was so good at both that the universe he built stood as a character in its own right, shaping the very human people he imagined up with which to populate it.
      He brought epic fantasy home for many of us in much the same way Douglas Adams did for science fiction, making it accessible to those with no patience for long passages about a fictional world history. I definitely also wish there could be more.

    • @cindilouwho8681
      @cindilouwho8681 6 месяцев назад +1

      My ex introduced me to Terry Pratchett, good dude after all.

    • @jumhed994
      @jumhed994 4 месяца назад

      Not really 'epic' though is it?

    • @gunslingersymphony5015
      @gunslingersymphony5015 4 месяца назад

      @@jumhed994 How is it not epic?

  • @jeremyspencer1505
    @jeremyspencer1505 Год назад +34

    The Drenai Series by the late David Gemmell is my favourite ever. If you like Joe Abercrombie you will like Gemmell - great fight description, less grim dark, but more heart.

    • @cpedersenatgmailcom
      @cpedersenatgmailcom 6 месяцев назад

      Druss is an archetype on the same level as Old Logan

    • @jackieking1522
      @jackieking1522 6 месяцев назад +2

      I have memory fade and have had to read the comments down to here hoping to recover David Gemmell's name. Thank you and now I'll try to have a late life reacquire of them. They were terrific.

  • @jmeslo
    @jmeslo Год назад +32

    Tolkien will always be my most favorite of all time, but credit for so much of what we now have as fantasy, in many genres, can trace some bit of influence to Frank Herbert and Dune. It’s quite an extensively detailed world and character series. I don’t know if this isn’t quite the same as the fantasy theme you are listing, it might totally be considered sci-fi only, but I thought I could throw it out there. Thank you for the reading ideas.

    • @perrydixon344
      @perrydixon344 Год назад +2

      i wholeheartedly agree... Dune is a masterwork that is only rivaled by WoT.

  • @busterandloulou
    @busterandloulou Год назад +17

    Short list of excellent fantasy book series not on your list but should be: Dragon riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, Myth adventures by Robert Asprin, any fantasy series by S. M. Stifling, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth…. Even the series Outlander is often labeled as fantasy fiction.

  • @paulhandberg7531
    @paulhandberg7531 Год назад +10

    Katherine Kurtz, Fred Saberhagen, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E Feist, Stephen R Donaldson, Terry Brooks, Piers Anthony, Patricia McKillip........ Oh, So Many to choose from!!! I would venture that these authors could replace at least 5 on your list. Also, Frank Herbert's Dune.

    • @cstiger4
      @cstiger4 7 месяцев назад

      Dune is technically Science Fiction. But yes. The world building there is probably the best of all Fantasy and SciFi Books.

    • @TheLeebo1962
      @TheLeebo1962 6 месяцев назад +1

      The Riddle Master series i read when i was a young man, and had forgotten them until you mentioned Mckillip. Tyvm.

  • @rhondadavis9191
    @rhondadavis9191 Год назад +9

    Let's not forget Philip `Jose Farmer and The Riverworld Series. My first taste of Farmer hooked me on fantasy. Love the Dragonlance series. Loved Dune.

    • @sampetrie340
      @sampetrie340 Год назад +3

      Glad to see Riverworld getting nominated.

    • @shawn6669
      @shawn6669 Год назад

      Riverworld is only nominally fantasy. It's more Scifi.

    • @perrydixon344
      @perrydixon344 Год назад +1

      Glad to see Dune being nominated

  • @pcfdenise3576
    @pcfdenise3576 Год назад +16

    Just reread the first three Thomas Covenants after several decades and they still grab me like they did back then. I also like JV Jones books - A Cavern of Black Ice etc. Good to see what else is out there. Sanderson is amazing - what an imagination!

    • @steelmongoose4956
      @steelmongoose4956 11 месяцев назад +1

      I’m just about to open up the Covenant books for the first time in about 30 years.

    • @pcfdenise3576
      @pcfdenise3576 11 месяцев назад +1

      I hope you enjoy them as much as I have done!

  • @NPPzGaming
    @NPPzGaming 9 месяцев назад +2

    Brent Weeks is a really good fantasy author, The Night Angel Trilogy was a fantastic story & The Lightbringer Series I'm currently reading on book 2 out of 5

  • @roberteckert9152
    @roberteckert9152 Год назад +25

    Great list and I will check some of those recommendations out! I would certainly have Raymond E. Feist, Magician and, particularly Rift War and Stephen R Donaldson, particularly, the first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant on my list.

  • @victoriabergesen6775
    @victoriabergesen6775 Год назад +50

    I notice that the most mentioned are often the most violent. I thing Eddings' Belgariad series is brilliant and I have lost track of how many times I have read it. Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is beautiful, with permeable layers of reality, again I have read it dozens of times. The Deryni Chronicles do read almost like a 15th century historical novel, but the political realities concern a struggle for power and control between the Deryni with "magic" powers and the humans.

    • @andreww4751
      @andreww4751 Год назад +1

      I have the first two in my to read list 😁

    • @stevetennispro
      @stevetennispro Год назад

      The Belgariad is great! IMO you won't be disappointed. The Redemption of Athalus is a stand alone book by Eddings, that is also a favorite of mine.@@andreww4751

    • @davidcoverdale722
      @davidcoverdale722 Год назад

      I have a soft spot for the Belgariad (and the Malorian) but I find a certain character so annoying (no guesses as to who she is) it puts me off giving it a top mark

  • @MRK48
    @MRK48 Год назад +4

    My top 5 authors & series are:
    1 - David Eddings - The Belgariad & The Mallorean series
    2 - Michael Moorcock - Elric, Corum and Hawkmoon series
    3 - Raymond Fiest - The Riftwar entire series
    4 - Anne McCaffrey - The Dragonriders of Pern series
    5 - Stephen Donaldson - The Thomas Covenant series
    I read R.R. Martin series, but he never finished it so I got read of those books. I have the Robert Jordan series and have read it 4 times so far. I have also read Tolkien. As for the rest of your top 10, I have heard of some of the authors, but I have not read any of their books. Looks like I have some homework.

    • @paulhandberg7531
      @paulhandberg7531 Год назад

      1,3,4 & 5 been reading and rereading for decades.

    • @MRK48
      @MRK48 Год назад

      @@paulhandberg7531 my mother and my brother both paid me $5.00 a piece to read the first 3 chapters of Pawn of the Prophecy. I have read, reread and listened to the series at least 14 times. I wish the powers that be would make that into a series.

  • @kevak1236
    @kevak1236 Год назад +11

    David Gemmel - Druss the Legend particularly.
    Absolute top pick is Raymond Feist with the Servant of the Empire trilogy.
    Reminded by someone else below - Codex Alera by Jim Butcher
    Legions of Videssos - Harry Turtledove (roman legion transplanted to a fantasy world)

    • @shawn6669
      @shawn6669 Год назад +2

      The Videssos books are awesome!

  • @LancePigford
    @LancePigford Год назад +24

    I would add the elric of menibone series as well they were my introduction to fanstasy books after reading conan the barbarian comics as a kid and the elric saga is just fantatstic.

    • @KeytarArgonian
      @KeytarArgonian Год назад +2

      Absolutely. I always found the Elric saga to be something of an Anti Lord of the Rings, but written almost the same year, where taking similar inspirations from Tolkien, he just didn’t make Elves bright and beautiful, he kept that tone really dark like they were in mythology.

  • @terry9819
    @terry9819 Год назад +71

    The Riftwar by Raymond E, Feist would be near the top of my list.

    • @boomzdaydevice
      @boomzdaydevice Год назад

      This is a series I've been meaning to go through for far too long!

    • @lizardman1303
      @lizardman1303 Год назад

      Pug gets me mad sometimes . But I guess u just have nerf him

  • @exhortationsofanartist8118
    @exhortationsofanartist8118 Год назад +14

    The shanara series by Terry Brooks and anything written by Patricia Mckillip.

  • @marccaron6008
    @marccaron6008 Год назад +100

    The Black Company's first trilogy by Glen Cook is in my top ten fantasy list.

    • @joshuatempleton9556
      @joshuatempleton9556 Год назад +6

      i just bought the omnibus. i love garret files and am finally ready to try my first grim dark series.

    • @mholsather
      @mholsather Год назад +3

      That is a fantastic series. I’ve probably read all of them at least a half dozen times.

    • @xhagast
      @xhagast Год назад +3

      Even the clearly inferior last books are pretty good.

    • @wetwrks
      @wetwrks Год назад +1

      Agreed. A top contender on my list as well.

    • @ryancastilla8509
      @ryancastilla8509 Год назад +1

      Shadows linger is an amazing book

  • @michaelstuermer3915
    @michaelstuermer3915 Год назад +10

    Here are a few series that I think would be worthy of the top 20. Barbara Hambly's Darwath trilogy, Jack L. Chalker's Soul Rider series and Dancing gods series and Piers Anthony with his Xanth series and Apprentice Adept series and Incarnations of Immortality series.

    • @XeniaCosmann-ro7vt
      @XeniaCosmann-ro7vt Год назад

      Barbara Hambley should be mentioned in this List

    • @cylelle376
      @cylelle376 7 месяцев назад

      I was looking to see if anyone mentioned Jack L. Chalker. Dancing Gods is so much fun. I'm also fond of the Well of Souls series which has a fascinating premise.

    • @dminard1
      @dminard1 5 месяцев назад

      Chalker's take on magic as technology really impressed me as a teenager

  • @GregSole
    @GregSole Год назад +15

    Nice list. Very glad to see Robin Hobb made the cut. Another personal favourite is Katherine Kerr and what starts as the Deverry series.

  • @lizstratton9689
    @lizstratton9689 Год назад +11

    Raymond E Feist Magician Saga and Mistress Trilogy. Anne Macaffery and the Dragons of Pern - awesome story line. David Edding's and the Belgarard/Mallorian series.

    • @tjaace6621
      @tjaace6621 Год назад

      Those are my top 3.
      Starting with Anne McCaffrey at #1.

  • @NevsBookChannel
    @NevsBookChannel Год назад +35

    Great list. I think the only change I’d suggest is Feist Riftwar saga

  • @alsosean
    @alsosean Год назад +46

    Another vote for Zelazny’s Nine Princes of Amber. Also, Moorcock’s Elric of Melnibone series which weaves into his other series’ of the Eternal Champion - the OG multiverse fantasy style.

    • @TheLeebo1962
      @TheLeebo1962 6 месяцев назад

      Well, all the Champions are actually one, just different facets of a die, so when they meet it's always interesting.

    • @Murph_.
      @Murph_. 6 месяцев назад

      Love both of these, and i've reread the Zelazny series multiple times. The way he starts the series has become a classic opening in many good books.

  • @Covenantt666
    @Covenantt666 Год назад +21

    An often forgotten and under-appreciated series is Katherine Kerr's Deverry Cycle (and more books) about a land, somewhere not really defined, settled by celts fleeing Gallia after the roman conquest. Its magic system, based on celtic traditions is one of the best I've come across and the story is truly epic in nature.

    • @Maria-uv9pd
      @Maria-uv9pd Год назад +1

      I absolutely devoured these books in high school! Thanks for reminding me.

    • @dhollongstreet4725
      @dhollongstreet4725 Год назад

      I found the first book, daggerspell to be very good until close to the end, and into the second book it just started to drag. I skipped the middle and went to the end. Did not even look for any more books by her.

    • @sylvanaire
      @sylvanaire Год назад +1

      I read quite a few of those books, and enjoyed them very much but towards the end, they got a little dark and depressing. I felt like there was no way there was going to be a happy ending, so I quit reading. I was big into happy endings in high school!

    • @JoeBravoNL
      @JoeBravoNL Год назад +3

      Absolutely agree, still highly regard it.

  • @baccydemon3489
    @baccydemon3489 Год назад +23

    Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile series , The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne and Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files would find a place on my list

    • @Goathill
      @Goathill Год назад

      I really enjoyed the first 3 books of The Iron Druid Chronicles the 4th is ok and after that the series really falls off a cliff, I could not even finish the series.

    • @LadyCat183
      @LadyCat183 7 месяцев назад

      Yes on Julian May, I was wondering why it did not make top ten on SciFi as well. Intervention was extraordinary

  • @Zander.and.lightning
    @Zander.and.lightning Год назад +5

    Oh so many series could be on this list. I enjoyed ...
    L.E Modesitt Jr - Magic of recluse series
    Terry Goodkind - Sword of truth series
    and Jim Butcher - Dresden series

  • @SezArrow
    @SezArrow Год назад +34

    Agree with alot of these - would also suggest some old favourites such as David Eddings, and the Dragonriders of Pern (a fantasy/sci-fi mix)?

    • @maryoriosorio144
      @maryoriosorio144 Год назад

      Chronicles of Belgarath and Mallorean have always been my top favorites though they are hardly included in this kind of tops.

  • @seamusesox8353
    @seamusesox8353 Год назад +13

    Good list, one or two I hadn't heard of but many I had - might pick up Abercrombie. Just a shoutout for Katharine Kerr - Deverry series - she has 3 or 4 short series of books, they are light reading but beautiful story telling, inspired by celtic lore and very different to anything I've read.

  • @nokindred
    @nokindred Год назад +2

    No mention of Magician by Feist, Dragonlance by Weis and Hickman, Eternal Champion by Moorcock, Amber Chronicles by Zelazny. With the exception of Wheel of Time and LotR, most of what you listed was fairly new. Yes, Game of Thrones came out in the 90s, but that series is not finished yet.

  • @wakaralightcloud3628
    @wakaralightcloud3628 Год назад +6

    1. Dragonlance (first 3 books)
    2. Lord of the Rings
    3. Xanth series
    4. Wheel of Time series
    5. Dark Tower series
    6. Dragons of Pern series
    7. Orcs / Stan Nicholls
    8. Dune series

    • @jawkojawko7094
      @jawkojawko7094 Год назад +1

      I would say Dune is Sci Fi though

    • @paulmartin2348
      @paulmartin2348 Год назад

      Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn

    • @noonehere0987
      @noonehere0987 Год назад

      Dark Twoer is amazing. It's one of the most unique fantasy series I've read, not just in the crazy world, but in how each book is so different than the rest.

  • @williamcapp448
    @williamcapp448 Год назад +75

    The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever are quite good. I have only read the first six books, but I consider them a treasure.

    • @Trowarr
      @Trowarr Год назад +4

      The world building is superb. Fantasy stories are mostly stories about black vs white, Lord Foul is vantablack which made Thomas Covenants unbelieving and passiveness in the greater part of book 1-3 so painful to read and a point Stephen Donaldson certainly hammered into the reader. Most Epic Fantasy stories follow "The Heroes Journey" , however in this case Thomas lack a mentor and "the refusal of the call" is taken to eleven.
      I can see how book 1-3 are not for everyone, however book 4-6 certainly is, Thomas return and this time he and Linden are certainly committed to the call from the very start. The ending was so good that I am still not tempted to read book 7-10.

    • @randydickison2304
      @randydickison2304 Год назад +4

      The first adult fantasy I ever read was The Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings, by Tolkien. I read it when I was eleven years old and every year for twenty-five years. I read a lot of fantasy and science fiction over the next two decades. Every other adult Fantasy I read for two decades was always somewhat disappointing until I read The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.

    • @Gazbeard
      @Gazbeard Год назад +4

      @@Trowarr The final trilogy is heavy reading - it's a bit like the middle book of Lord of the Rings in that it's a slog to get through.

    • @sampetrie340
      @sampetrie340 Год назад +4

      If frequently thinking back to a series that you read almost fourty years ago is a measure of it’s impact, the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant has to be among the greatest of all time.

    • @boki1693
      @boki1693 Год назад

      Right there with you my man!

  • @davecooper1200
    @davecooper1200 Год назад +3

    I have been reading SF and Fantasy novels since the early 1950's - yes I'm that old - and reading through these comments I would just like to add a series that nobody else seems to mention, The Morgaine Cycle by C J Cherryh, 4 books (The Gate of Ivrel, The Well of Shiuan, The Fires of Azeroth and Exile's Gate). I think they deserve a place on anybodies fantasy shelf, give them a look I don't think you'll be disappointed.

    • @JeantheSecond-ip7qm
      @JeantheSecond-ip7qm Год назад

      No one ever mentions C.J. Cherryh, which is sad because she’s brilliant! You have discerning tastes.

  • @frankrobinsjr.1719
    @frankrobinsjr.1719 Год назад +1

    The Darwath Trilogy by Barbara Hambly.
    The Iron Tower Trilogy, The Silver Call Duology, or anything from Mithgar by Dennis McKiernan.
    Chronicles of the Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson, or her Sword Dancer Saga.
    Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea Saga.
    Tara Harper's WolfWalker series.

  • @jonathanpayne5588
    @jonathanpayne5588 Год назад +86

    The Chronicles of Amber series by Roger Zelazny is one that doesn't seem to get the mentions I think it should.

    • @johnwest5107
      @johnwest5107 Год назад +5

      My favorite series by far

    • @Meanne77
      @Meanne77 Год назад

      hear hear!

    • @tctc4413
      @tctc4413 8 месяцев назад +2

      i think it's cause the first 5 are great , and the 2nd 5 , the merlin set aren't anywhere as good . with Merlin being every thing that Corwin isn't .

    • @heatherscompletelackofchil6127
      @heatherscompletelackofchil6127 8 месяцев назад +1

      God, I love those books

    • @TheLeebo1962
      @TheLeebo1962 6 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you; i remembered this series, but could not remember the title.

  • @justafan2135
    @justafan2135 9 месяцев назад +1

    I was at the library and picked up the book Blood song by Anthony Ryan and was hooked , now i seem to be chasing similar books but nothing compares , fast ,thoughtful and unpredictable.

  • @qthedancer4711
    @qthedancer4711 Год назад +9

    Tad Williams Shadowmarch series is excellent, wonderfully detailed and mysterious; N. K. Jemison’s Broken Earth trilogy is beautifully written, straddling the gap between Fantasy and SF.

  • @sharlanefenton6213
    @sharlanefenton6213 Год назад +1

    The Belgariad and The Mallorean by David & Leigh Eddings. Prequel Novels: Belgarath, the Sorceror and Polgara, the Sorceress.... Terry Brooks - The Shannara Chronicles. RA Salvatore - The Legend of Drizzt.

  • @jannertfol
    @jannertfol Год назад +13

    Jack Vance's Lyonesse Trilogy is one of the best things I've ever read. He's known more as a sci-fi writer, but this trilogy is pure medieval-flavoured fantasy ...with some of the most intriguing, multi-layered characters ever. And you will NOT be able to predict what happens. Furthermore, his writing style is SO accessible ...just a perfect series. I have no idea why it travels under the radar. It's as good as anything else out there.
    I also love Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials, and his near-finished prequel/sequel The Book of Dust.

    • @r.awilliams9815
      @r.awilliams9815 Год назад

      Absolutely agree. Lyonesse is the perfect fairy tale for grown-ups. I loved it so much I bought a set of the Underwood-Miller first editions.

    • @thayerjohnson5654
      @thayerjohnson5654 7 месяцев назад

      Jack Vance always seems to go under the radar. My favorite author. Planet of Adventure (it's not medieval fantasy) but fantasy nevertheless is an absolute blast.

  • @AzureSky_Music
    @AzureSky_Music Год назад +13

    I love the Inheritance cycle as well. Also RA Salvatore’s dark elf and ice wind dale trilogy are must reads for me. Glad to see Robbin Hobbs on your list! Some good suggestions for me to try out also

  • @KeytarArgonian
    @KeytarArgonian Год назад +34

    It’s Quite old and so probably by todays standard a little tropey, but there’s something whimsical about old series like The Belgariad, short and sweet, a Farm boy to king story. Perfect for reading the winter away under a blanket by lamplight. I call it Comfort reading, and recommend.

  • @Kotlecior86
    @Kotlecior86 Год назад

    Ok list, but where are:
    - Terry Goodkind an his Sword of the Truth series??
    - Anne Bishop - Black Stones
    - David Eddnigs- two trilogies- Elenium and Tamuli
    - Brent Weeks- Angel of the Night trilogy
    - Peter V. Brett - Demonic cycle
    Lower saw few greates too - Raymond E. Feist, Trudi Canavan f. ex

  • @SpencerRussellSmithAuthor
    @SpencerRussellSmithAuthor Год назад +11

    Great video! Wheel of Time is my favorite full book series, Lord of the Rings inspired me to write and compose, Stormlight has a few of my all-time favorite books, and I just finished Assassin's Apprentice, and it might be one of the best books I've ever read. Malazan is also just a beast that stands on its own. It took me a full year to read, but I'm glad I did.

    • @davidcoverdale722
      @davidcoverdale722 Год назад

      I have read all of the wheel of time and really liked the first 5 books or so. Then the series got very baggy and a greater proportion of the characters became just annoying rather than engaging - so much so I was kinda hoping the black Aja would just kill them off.

  • @dannyboi1975
    @dannyboi1975 Год назад +25

    I highly recommend Mercedes Lackey and her Valdemar books. It is truly massive and addictive. It has several series in a vast world throughout a very long timeline. My absolute favorites.

    • @mmgwife
      @mmgwife Год назад

      Agreed! And the series is still growing all the time!

  • @jorisschelfhout2348
    @jorisschelfhout2348 Год назад +13

    You forgot the Riftwar series from Raymond feist. And having a soft spot for dragonlance too❤

  • @MrCjalex1
    @MrCjalex1 6 месяцев назад +1

    Joe Abercrombie: The First Law. The reason why readers are challenged to explain the plot is tied to the excellent character development. Many characters take center-stage in various parts of the story and it’s easy to get connected to any or all of them. Great stuff!

  • @darkether1170
    @darkether1170 Год назад +16

    The Amber series by Roger Zelazny. Epic.

  • @paulchipperfield3569
    @paulchipperfield3569 4 дня назад +1

    Too much said about the ‘complexity’ of the Malazan series, try reading it first before reviewing. For those out there thinking about the books, they are great storytelling and epic in detail. There are storylines that make you laugh, others make you cry, others make you doubt what you just read. There are 10 thick books and I have read them over a dozen times, I love them so much and wish to be a Malazan Marine in my next life, even a heavy if that gets me in.

  • @janvafa9959
    @janvafa9959 Год назад +6

    I guess I’m just old but I loved The Witch World Series by Andre Norton…

  • @shawnpenny2738
    @shawnpenny2738 Год назад +2

    The Elric series, CJ Cherryh’s Morgaine trilogy, Cherryh’s Downbelow Station, Cyteen and whole trader series, Roger Zelazny’s Amber series influenced Martins Game of Thrones, Andre Norton’s Witch World and Forerunner books, Brian Daley’s Doomfarers and Star Followers of Coramonde, Barry Sadler’s Casca series, Fiest’s original Riftwar books were excellent, if you want light hearted and funny there is Robert Aspirins Myth Inc. series, if you want a big series the Thieves World Series was very good, if you like semi historical medieval and magic then Katherine Kurt’s Deryni series, Howard’s Conan books, Hambly’s Time of the Dark series was good, and Piers Anthony’s Xanth series.

  • @neonWHALE002
    @neonWHALE002 Год назад +3

    This list is much appreciated, I enjoyed coming across a mix of ones I knew and ones I didn't. I figured you were talking about the Malazan series when you started describing it. This year I've read the whole Witcher saga and started Malazan and First Law, it's been a good year.

  • @gordonstewart8258
    @gordonstewart8258 Год назад +4

    Some fantasy series' I go back and re-read are: The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia McKillip, the Winter of the World trilogy by Michael Scott Rohan and for urban fantasy, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and the Newford books by Charles de Lint.

  • @AnnaRak423
    @AnnaRak423 Год назад +10

    Hi, I am not a huge fantasy reader (just a beginner at this point) however I really enjoy your videos for these reasons:
    1) I learn a lot about it
    2) You have a great accent
    3) Love the humour you bring into your videos
    4) I think you have a cat
    Thanks for another great video!🐉

    • @the_fools_tale
      @the_fools_tale  Год назад +7

      Ahaha thank you so much! I can confirm I do have a cat

  • @Thurgosh_OG
    @Thurgosh_OG Год назад +4

    David Gemmell, another British author is missing from this list and I can't see any comments about his books either. The Master of Heroic Fantasy, with epic books like Legend and Waylander. The Drenai Series are brilliant.

  • @MetalProfessor65
    @MetalProfessor65 Год назад +38

    The Conan stories by Robert E. Howard are second only to Tolkien's works in creating the modern fantasy genre. And a strong argument can be made that the Conan stories, with their grit and horrifying magic, are an even stronger influence than LotR.

    • @noonehere0987
      @noonehere0987 Год назад +2

      I'm not sure how strong of an argument that is, but I'm sure there are arguments to be made. That said, Conan is certainly amazing.

    • @federicogiana
      @federicogiana Год назад +1

      I'm just finishing re-reading the Conan saga (the original Howard stories): I can definitely agree about it being influential, and I believe it should be a recommended read to understand the development of fantasy tropes (together with LotR, obviously).
      But, heck, it really didn't age well.
      I'd throw in Fritz Leiber's "Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser" saga, too, if one wants to go full "Influential Sword&Sorcery sagas"
      They both are fun runs, but no real food for the thought.

    • @MetalProfessor65
      @MetalProfessor65 Год назад

      Agreed re: Leiber's books! Regarding the Conan stories, I would differ with you a little about the nutrition content (so to speak). Howard's "The Hyborian Age" is a meticulous description of the anthropological and political history of Conan's world.
      Whereas Tolkien's Silmarillion is stylistically influenced primarily by myths and scripture, Howard's fiction-disguised-as-an-essay takes its cue from historiographical writing, and the depth of lineage that Howard ascribes to the various races (although I really dislike that word) and political structures lend a strong verisimilitude to the Conan saga.
      What other sword & sorcery works would you recommend?
      I'm passingly familiar with Brak the Barbarian (by John Jakes, of all people) and the works of Fred Saberhagen, Michael Moorcock, Dave Duncan, and Steven Brust, but I'm sure there must be more that I would love! @@federicogiana

    • @masoodvoon8999
      @masoodvoon8999 Год назад +1

      Put Fritz Lieber, Jack Vance and a few others at least as high on the list. Grit and horror were more popular back then in an age where short novels and stories were more popular for fantasy.

  • @Lupin788
    @Lupin788 Год назад +1

    I'll add my 2 cents for, in no particular order:
    Riftwar series - Raymond E. Feist
    Temeraire series - Naomi Novik
    Pern series - Anne McCaffrey
    Belgariad/Malloreon - David Eddings
    Elenium/Tamuli - David Eddings
    Dresden FIles series - Jim Butcher
    Codex Alera series - Jim Butcher
    Mistborn series - Brandon Sanderson
    Swords series - Fred Saberhagen
    Percy Jackson series - Rick Riordan
    Fionavar Tapestry series - Guy Gavriel Kay
    Narnia seres - C.S. Lewis

  • @Griffviewer
    @Griffviewer Год назад +25

    The Paksenarrion series by Elizabeth Moon is fantastic. I haven't seen a recommendation for it yet, but it's definitely on my list

    • @ohdubwest7533
      @ohdubwest7533 Год назад +1

      Agreed. The first two books in particular are top notch.

  • @CgGoil
    @CgGoil Год назад +13

    Personally i love “the Fionavar Tapestry”, by Guy Gavriel Kay. Kay was a very good friend of Tolkien, and you can definetly see similarities in the stories.
    Its about five young people from our world, that gets taken into another world, where they meet the king of one of the kingdoms in that world. This world is being described as “the first of all the worlds”, and has magic, monsters, kings and elves. Every world is connected(which is what is being called the tapestry), and that means that the key points in history ,the legends and the myths, are being mirrored in the other worlds. Over time, it turns out that the five young people, each has very specific parts to play in these legends. The worlds are threatened by the ultimate evil, Rakoth Maugrim or Sathain(Satan, i presume), who is being trapped in a huge mountain, but of course brakes free at some point in the story.
    It is a three book series, and i love how different legends are being used. For instance, the tale of King Arthur plays a huge role in the series, but there are also links to different religions, like norse mythology and christianity. It gives more depth if you know a little about religion and legends, but its not something that is required to know a lot about before hand. The character developement is fantastic. It is a very exciting story, and it grows a lot throughout the series. There are places in the books that are very sad, and i cried like a child several times reading it, but there are also lots of romance and some comedy. They are not hard to read, but there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of characters, which sometimes change names when their arc changes.

    • @eddietaylor5677
      @eddietaylor5677 Год назад +1

      Kudos! You have excellent taste.

    • @CgGoil
      @CgGoil Год назад

      @@eddietaylor5677 , thank you sir.

    • @miless544
      @miless544 11 месяцев назад +1

      Not sure you could describe Kay as a good friend of Tolkien. I don't think he ever actually met JRR Tolkien, but he did spend a considerable amount of time working with his son Christopher compiling The Silmarillion.

    • @CgGoil
      @CgGoil 11 месяцев назад

      @@miless544 , i had the understanding that those two knew each other, but reading up on that i can see that you are completly right. They didnt know each other, but Kays wife had some connection to the Tolkien family, and he was then asked by Christopher Tolkien to help him edit Samarillion.

  • @jsedbe0624
    @jsedbe0624 Год назад +3

    Add the following to the list, but all for different reasons:
    1) The Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman. Wonderful story and one of the best protagonists in fantasy in the form of Gerald Tarrant.
    2) The Black Company series by Glen Cook. Gritty story telling throughout all 10 books.
    3) The Crimson Shadow series by R.A. Salvatore. Easy reading good swashbuckling style story. Thoroughly enjoyable.

  • @randalthor1327
    @randalthor1327 Год назад +7

    The Black Company and Legend of the Five Rings are great as well.

  • @Exjapter
    @Exjapter Год назад +6

    Malazan is my favorite of all time, and I always recommend that people read Deadhouse Gates first, rather than Gardens of the Moon, because the story is easier to understand and sets you up better to take on GotM next. They take place on different continents with different characters, who are eventually connected, so reading those two out of order isn't a problem.

    • @masoodvoon8999
      @masoodvoon8999 Год назад

      Mostly different characters. Personally, even though the magic system threw me for a loop for the first book and a half, I would do GotM first because people love Whiskeyjack, Kruppe, and A. Rake so much. I actually liked DG better my second read through (only read first 4-5 books again) but didn't like it as much the first time. The best thing about Malazan to me was its layered civilization and character histories. The worst was the way he conveyed what he considers the main theme of his books, human suffering. It just seems he is not as grounded in realpolitik and economics as he is in archaelogoy to make some of the conclusions he has. Definitely in my top 10 and have read all in this world except a few newer publications.

    • @ErikPT
      @ErikPT 11 месяцев назад +1

      I got tired of waiting for Martin and Rothfuss but that is why I love that Canadian's best book.
      Erikson is a true mastermind at manipulation!

  • @Alsojepeodiwl
    @Alsojepeodiwl 5 месяцев назад +1

    Yes, I so appreciate your acknowledgement of Tolkien.

  • @TheCrow938
    @TheCrow938 Год назад +18

    My favorite series is Shannara. With over 30 books of amazing writing and the original trilogy that Brooks wrote is on the same level as Lord of the Rings for me and that is only 3 of the 30+ books. Also a huge fan of Witcher, Dark Tower, Mistborn, and pretty much anything Neil Gaiman writes.

    • @noonehere0987
      @noonehere0987 Год назад

      Dark Tower is crazy good because of how remarkably unique it is, and how unqiue each book is to the others. That type of uniqueness usually causes a series that's intended to be an overarching epic to lose the plot, but whew... talk about a consistent through line. I think it gets missed a lot because a lot of people might have skipped it, thinking it's a horror genre series or something given the author. But it shouldn't come as a surprise that of all people, Stephen King really knows how to write.

  • @zacturf-n-sports6203
    @zacturf-n-sports6203 Год назад +1

    Bro you have to read the first law trilogy and everything in that world. It’s amazing. Screw the plot, that is there, but thr characters are so well written and developed it finally passed ASOIAF as my favorite not just fantasy but series ever!!

  • @danzail
    @danzail Год назад +23

    Great to see Malazan getting recognition. I’ve read all but one of your recommended series - and for me, the malazan universe is head and shoulders over them all.
    Of course the downside is you need to read it three times through 😂

    • @karlhuber3780
      @karlhuber3780 Год назад +1

      First in, last out!

    • @poipu425
      @poipu425 Год назад

      haha, that is the most true statement i have ever read, going through my 2nd time right now.

    • @kylez9094
      @kylez9094 Год назад +1

      I needed a buddy that already read them to basically tell me “don’t worry, you’re not supposed to know/it get explained later” a dozen times each book

    • @noonehere0987
      @noonehere0987 Год назад +4

      Malazan is fantastic, but you really need to be comfortable reading a book and accepting that you won't understand good chunks of it. I think that is going to limit the people who get through it and ultimately recommend it.

    • @r.awilliams9815
      @r.awilliams9815 Год назад +2

      And even then, big chunks of it won't make sense until you read the Ian Esslemont Malazan books.

  • @em1536
    @em1536 Год назад +4

    Dragon Lance original trilogy and the Twins trilogy are some of my all time favorites

  • @peterslupek6561
    @peterslupek6561 Год назад +30

    The Gentleman Bastards series is a fun one! The first book is the lies of Locke lamora. I see you mentioned it right at the end. It is a true page turner! Godfather meets oceans 11 meets renaissance fantasy.

    • @anonymous-3695
      @anonymous-3695 5 месяцев назад

      its horrible. why would i want a boring heist story, i get that on tv all the time.

  • @mayanscaper
    @mayanscaper Год назад +2

    Judith Tarr's The Hound and the Falcon trilogy, Patricia McKillip Forgotten Beasts of Eld and The Riddle of the Stars, Jennifer Robertson Series about Changlings, Roger Zelazny Chronicles of Amber are classics! They definitely need to be on your list

  • @xhagast
    @xhagast Год назад +3

    How about Glen Cook's Black Company? The Belgariad? The Dragonlance books? Thomas Covenant? Zelanny's? Troy Denning's Dark Sun?
    I never heard of Patrick Rothfuss, nor of Brandon Sanderson, nor of Steven Erikson.

  • @do0ranfrump260
    @do0ranfrump260 Год назад +2

    I'm going to pick some I haven't seen here. Steven Brust "Vlad" collection. I actually like anything by Brust but i specifically like his spin on elves.. which have become the dominant species. Micky Zucker Reichert "The Renshai series". She manages to write a nordic history/myth fantasy with characterization and details I loved. For a fun quick read, Robert Asprin "Myth series". These are light reading but if you are on a 2 hour flight somewhere they are perfect.

    • @mwerre9860
      @mwerre9860 Год назад

      Brust's Vlad books for sure! He is an amazing author; every book has a different hook in how he tells the story. If you haven't, read the Khaavren romance series (The Phoenix Guards, etc.) They are awesome as well.

  • @voiceover2191
    @voiceover2191 Год назад +8

    I love the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson, David Eddings series of The Belgariad and The Mallorean. I'm also missing The Earthsee Trilogy by Ursula LeGuin and how could you miss the Lyonesse series by Jack Vance or his Dying Earth series.

    • @ianmason2296
      @ianmason2296 Год назад +1

      Thomas Covenant awesome, I remember waiting outside a bookshop when the next book was released. Read through several times

    • @Whaleydavey
      @Whaleydavey Год назад

      While I loved Stephen Donaldson, I can see that he isnt for everyone. The world descriptions can be wordy and the pace a little slow at times, but for his legions of fans, its what gives his books such a concrete realism for themes/plot that are so otherwordly. Another writer in the same vein is Mervyn Peake, whom i also like, he spends the first two pages of book 1 just describing the castle keep and surrounding town.

    • @voiceover2191
      @voiceover2191 Год назад

      @@Whaleydavey Ah, forgot Gormenghast, which of course cannot be excluded. What I liked about Thomas Covenant especially was, that he definitely is a contemporary character from our world and how you could choose his outings inside "The Land" as symbolic. Also the fact that at first he completely rejects the world he ends up in, sort of again looking at it with modern eyes, that would dismiss such an experience as obviously some sort of illusion or delirium, makes it very relatable.
      His Mordant's Need fantasy series is also not bad at all and also his scifi GAP series were pretty damn good. I haven't read the other books, nor even the third series of Covenant. It's on the to do list

  • @patrickhigdon7050
    @patrickhigdon7050 Год назад +1

    Deathstalker series by Simon R. Green; the Recluse series by L. E. Modesitt Jr. ; Eragon series; world war alternate history by Harry Turtledove

  • @christopherspriggs4179
    @christopherspriggs4179 Год назад +3

    Malazan is the greatest fantasy series in my opinion. Nothing compares to this authors imagination, the scale, depth and the mind blowing events and battles.
    Farseer was the most boring and uneventful series ive ever read. It often teases that it is building to something exciting but then it suddenly goes back to uninteresting things.

  • @ThomB1031
    @ThomB1031 11 месяцев назад +1

    Wizard of Earthsea and Prydain Chronicles are on my list. 1st, 2nd Thomas the Unbeliever Trilogies and Mordant's Need books as well.
    I need to read the Elric books... I suspect they belong as well.

  • @GazmendCeno
    @GazmendCeno Год назад +25

    Sword of Truth series -Terry Goodkind Right after Tolkien. One of the few with the real moral fiber. Stuff you can learn and USE in life, not simply time wasting...

    • @michelehendriks5686
      @michelehendriks5686 Год назад +2

      Yes!! Totally agree. If you love fantasy you can just read this one for its life lessons

  • @lazaruslazuli6130
    @lazaruslazuli6130 Год назад +2

    I think you left out a major contender, which is Melanie Rawn's double trilogies: Dragon Prince, The Star Scroll, Sunrunner's Fire, and Stronghold, The Dragon Token, Skybowl
    Stirlling's Emberverse books of 'The Change' which starts with 'Dies the FIre'. He also has other books that are worth reading.
    I'd give an honorable mention to Jeff Wheeler's Kingfountain series/books.
    Also a shoutout to Fred Saberhagen and Book of Swords trilogy and the many other 'Sword' books.

  • @yvonnevanwaegeningh-tiggel4577
    @yvonnevanwaegeningh-tiggel4577 Год назад +4

    Thanks for your tips. I'd like to add two of my own favorites to the list. Right now I'm reading the Shannara series by Terry Brooks for the second time. And after that I'l be reading Raymond E. Feist (Magician saga, Riftwar saga etc) for what must be the third time now. Every time I step into their world, I'm hooked and can't stop reading...

    • @stevetennispro
      @stevetennispro Год назад

      Have you tried L.E. Modesitt Jr.? He has done some of my favorite older series. The Magic of Recluse is a good starting point.

  • @chadlynch9348
    @chadlynch9348 8 месяцев назад +1

    Terry Brooks is a master fantasy writer. I've read most of his Shannara books. 50 plus books by this author and many New York times best sellers. I would definitely put him on your top ten list.

  • @oplenty
    @oplenty Год назад +14

    Glad to see Malazan on the list, I really like the other sagas you mention but Malazan is my favorite by a lot. I´m from Mexico and the only bad thing is that Malazan is not well know here and is very rare to see any of the books on bookshops. And I'm still waiting for the Door of Stones damn Rothfuss is taking a lot of time and you missed to speak about the spinoff, see the world in the eyes of Auri was a great experience.

    • @korionterivers9995
      @korionterivers9995 Год назад +1

      I concur. Malazan is amazing. And Rothfuss is taking an eternity to finish his amazing work

    • @ErikPT
      @ErikPT 11 месяцев назад

      Compa he is never finishing.
      I am still waiting for Martin but... yeah, 11 years. At this point, Sanderson would have 3 new Stormlight books and Erikson another saga and series completed.

  • @IrisoftheMoon
    @IrisoftheMoon 6 месяцев назад +1

    It’s so hard to beat Wheel of Time or Lord of the Rings for me, but there are so many others I love just as much: The Belgariad (and its companion novels) by David Eddings was one of my first loves; The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist is just magnificent, and the rest of his works are nothing to scoff at either; Elizabeth Moon’s The Deed’s of Paksenarrion is marvelous, as is its sequel series, Paladin’s Legacy; and last but certainly not least, The Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore led me to devour as many of the sequels as I could get my hands on just to get another glimpse of Drizzt. These stories are beautifully written and full of compelling characters, but I love them most because they explore many themes of morality that have helped shape my world view. I’ve had a hard time finding anything as profound today, but I’m always on the lookout so thank you for the suggestions!

  • @twg1985twg
    @twg1985twg Год назад +5

    I personally can see Michael Sullivan's series being the top 10 The world of Elan. (Riyria Chronicles, Riyria Revelations, Legends of the First Empire) I also enjoyed Gentleman Bastard and Codex Alera series that could make my top 10 difficult to pick out. The Belgarian and Mallorean are also fantastic reads, they are what started my venture into fantasy reading.

    • @Maria-uv9pd
      @Maria-uv9pd Год назад +1

      I second the recommendation of Codex Alera. I haven't seen any mention of Brent Weeks' Prism Chronicles, though.

    • @dhollongstreet4725
      @dhollongstreet4725 Год назад

      Would like to see Jim go back and add to Codex Alera.