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My Favourite Fantasy Books Of All Time

Fistandantilus

New Member
This is a list of my favourite fantasy books I have ever read, with great difficulty I have narrowed it down to ten;

1. Magician -Raymond E. Feist

2. Dragonlance Chronichles Trilogy -Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

3. Dragonlance Legends Trilogy -Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

4. Dragonlance Heroes -Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

5. The Heart Of Myrial -Maggie Furey

6. The Spirit Of The Stone -Maggie Furey

7. The Eye Of Eternity -Maggie Furey

8. The Hobbit -JRR Tolkien

9. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy -JRR Tolkien

10. The Riftwar Series (the whole lot) -Raymond E. Feist and many different authors

These are my favourite, What are yours?
 
Just a top 20 (no order):

1. Gormenghast - Mervyn Peake
2. Cornelius Quartet - Micahel Moorcock
3. Viriconium series- M. John Harrison
4. Rats and Gargoyles by Mary Gentle
5. Perdido Street Station - China Mieville
6. Fantasy Writer’s Assistant - Jeffrey Ford
7. Sandman - Neil Gaiman
8. The Castle by Franz Kafka
9. 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
10. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
11. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
12. The Chess Garden by Brooks Hansen
13. The Divinity Student by Michael Cisco
14. Letter’s from Hades by Jeffrey Thomas
15. Chroncicles of Amber - Roger Zelazny
16. The Silmarillion - JRR Tolkien
17. Riddle Master serie - Patrica Mckillip
18. A Song of Ice and Fire series - George R.R. Martin
19. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
20. Lankhmar - Fritz Leiber



My 101 List HERE

My 102-200 List HERE
 
My favorite Fantasy books:

Lord of the rings JRR Tolkein

Death gate cycle
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Magician Robert Feist

Enders series (science fiction but oh well) Orson Scott Card

Homecoming Orson Scott Card
 
My favourites (in no particular order):

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkein
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein
All three quartets by Tamora Pierce (Song of the Lioness, Immortals and Protector of the Small)
Darkfall and Darksong by Isobelle Carmody
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
His Dark Materials triolgy by Philip Pullman
 
I just remembered The Earth Sea series by Ursula LaGuinn. Charming. Another of my all-time faves in the fantasy genre is Lord Valentine's Castle, by Robert Silverberg. Anybody read this? I haven't seen it mentioned, but as I remember it is a very strong book, with many original elements, and a GREAT read.
 
My favorites are
1. The Shannara Trilogy - Terry Brooks
2. Eyes of the Dragon - Steven King
3. Hobbit - Tolkien
4. A Song of Ice and Fire - George Martin
5. The Once and Future King - T H White
6. Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
Big gap between #6 and #7

7. Sword of Truth - Terry Goodkind
8. Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan
These two are back and forth. Some days I'd swap them. Depends on my mood.

9. The Deathgate Cycle - Weis and Hickman
10. The Serpentwar Saga - Raymond Feist
 
1. Magician -Raymond E. Feist
2. Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy -Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
3. The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
4. The Belgariad -David Eddings
5. The Magician's Guild -Trudi Canavan
6. American Gods -Neil Gaiman
7. Good Omens -Neil Gaiman
8. A Game of Thrones -George RR Martin
9. Lord of the Rings -JRR Tolkien
10. All of Discworld -Terry Pratchett
Just to name a few. (not in any order)
 
Oh well I might as well add mine:

1. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
2. The Belgariad by David Eddings
3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Trader by Charles De Lint
5. Lion of Macedon by David Gemmell
6. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
7. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
8. Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore
9. The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind
10. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (possibly higher but just thought of it)

Nakmeister
 
Wow! I guess I need to check out "The Magician" by Feist. ;)

I have not read as much fantasy as others. But here is what I liked.

"The Lions of Al-Rassan" by Guy Gavriel Kay
"A Song for Arbonne" by Guy Gavriel Kay
"Tigana" by Guy Gavriel Kay
"The Monarchies of God" series by Paul Kearney
"Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman
"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
"The Liveship Traders" trilogy by Robin Hobb
 
This seems to be almost mission impossible to me - I've read so much fantastic fantasy. Well, let's see...

1. JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings
It think it must be JRR Tolkien who deserves the first place. LotR was the first fantasy book I ever read. I appreciate Tolkien's incredible lifework in creating the Middle-Earth. Actually, maybe it's Tolkien's world, Arda, I love more than LotR itself.

2. Tove Jansson's Moomintroll books
These books are full of wisdom and laughter, philosophy and imaginative little creatures who actually are reflections of ourselves... Highly recommended!

3. JK Rowling: Harry Potter books
I'm not sure whether Harry Potter books are good enough to deserve this ranking but, well... one thing I'm sure about is that I enjoy reading them over and over again. They are so funny, clever, exciting, touching etc. etc.

4. Guy Gavriel Kay: Tigana
Tigana is a bittersweet story. That's where my nick, Dianora, comes from. Kay has a rare gift for creating interesting and somehow real characters.

5. Robin Hobb: The Farseer trilogy
I have a complex love and hate relationship with these books. They are great books and I love many characters in them but, um, maybe that is the problem... I guess I'm not making much sense. Forgive me, it's 3.40 AM here in Finland.:cool:

6. Terry Pratchett: Reaper Man
I've read plenty of Pratchett books and this one is simply the best. The book is more than just 'funny', I find it really impressive and touching. And Death is lovable, of course. ^_^

7. Astrid Lindgren: Ronia, the Robber's Daughter
Delightful, imaginative and touching story about friendship. Plenty of wonderful creatures here again..!

8. JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion
No need to explain - this book should be my number one or maybe even higher.:p I love the epic stories of Quenta Silmarillion and especially Ainulindale and Valaquenta which reveal so much about the essence of Arda.

9. Terry Pratchett: Wyrd Sisters
My second best Pratchett goes here.. It's hilarious. Unlike Reaper Man, this book is mostly funny and nothing else. Other very good Pratchett books are Small Gods, Equal Rites and Hogfather.

10. Ursula LeGuin: Earthsea books
Finally, Earthsea, the legendary fantasy saga which I highly appreciate.

Oh, this was tough! It's really hard to put these books in order - I love them all.
 
my top10

1.The black magician - Trudi Canavan
2.The death gate cycle - Weis and Hickman
3.The belgariad - David Eddings
4.Wizards first rule - Terry Goodkind(arrogant ***)
5.Wheel of time till part 7 - Robert Jordan
6.Books of Feist - Raymond E. Feist
7.Kingdom for sale - Terry Brooks
8.Freedom's Landing - Anne McAffrey(not fantasy but still great!)
9.Sorcerer's Treason - Sarah Zettel
10.The Aware - Glenda Larke
 
Here's mine in no particular order.

Wheel of time series by Robert Jordan
Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
Pit Dragons series by Jane Yolen
Dogstar? (I haven't been able to find it again under that name but i think that's it)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Magic Kingdom series by Terry Brooks
Belgariad series by David & Leigh Eddings
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Dragon Chronicals series by Susan Fletcher
The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper

Yes, I like dragons.
 
manatherindrell said:
Dogstar? (I haven't been able to find it again under that name but i think that's it)
I wonder if you are thinking of Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones? No dragons in that story though.
 
10 of my favourites in no particular order

Lord of the Rings - JRRT
The Belgariad (& Mallorean) - David Eddings
Dragonlance Chronicals (& Legends) - Weis & Hickman
Riftwar Saga (& the others) - REFeist
Fionivar Tapestry - GGKay
Empire Trilogy - Feist & Wurts
George RR Martins series whatever its called - fantastic stuff!
Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan
The Elenium (& Tamuli) - David Eddings
Harry Potter - JKRowlings

and off topic I know, but least favourite
Can't remember the name of the dribble - Terry Goodkind
Thomas whining Covenant - Stephen Donaldson
Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
all other David Eddings - I think he's dead and his wife has taken over

average / good reads
Farseer - Robin Hobb
Icewind Dale & Drizzt - RA Salvatore
Legend - David Gemmell

undecided, maybe a little overhyped, but promising
Steven Erikson
R Scott Bakker
 
Self said:
10 of my favourites in no particular order

The Belgariad (& Mallorean) - David Eddings
Riftwar Saga (& the others) - REFeist
Fionivar Tapestry - GGKay
Empire Trilogy - Feist & Wurts
The Elenium (& Tamuli) - David Eddings
Harry Potter - JKRowlings

and off topic I know, but least favourite
Thomas whining Covenant - Stephen Donaldson
Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
Ha! There goes your theory about our tastes! I agree with you on these books from your lists - jury is still out on Donaldson's series though. I read that years ago when I was probably a little too young to understand it and really couldn't get into it. As for Terry Brooks - please poke my eyes out if I ever decide to pick up one of his Lord of the Rings rip offs again! Not sure if some of them would be in my best/worst lists, but certainly Eddings and GGKay are!
 
I stand corrected Kookamoor!

It's not my fault - the very name of Goodkind makes me head for the doctors for an anti depressant prescription. I am shuddering merely typing it. Aside from this one MAJOR difference, it would appear we do share some likes. And I agree with you on Brooks - until I found that Goodkind abomination, Brooks due to his blatant JRRT rip off was my curse word.
 
Bah, Guy Gavriel Kay is a loser. He can barely write. I'll tell you who can write, and write well: George RR Martin. If Tolkien was an ice-cream cone, GRRM is the chocolate-topped double-scoop vanilla-rum raisin sundae. If Tolkien was a biscuit, GRRM is the crunchy, chocolate-sprinkled cookie with generous amounts of raisins. If Tolkien was.... okay, you get the point.

So.

GRRM - A Song of Ice and Fire (if you haven't, please, do yourself a favour) :D
Le Guin - Earthsea Cycle (actually, I really liked the first three books).


ds

p.s. I was kidding about GGKay. Really. Believe me. Please?
p.p.s. Yes, you've guessed it. GGKay's late with my commission again.
 
GRRMartin is actually my favourite new author. I'll prove I'm not just jumping on his wave of popularity - I LOVE ROBERT JORDAN ALSO - further proof required - JORDAN IS BETTER THAN ERIKSON - but Martin has moved alightly ahead of Jordan at this stage.

As for Le Guin - I read Wizard of Earthsea in year 7 for school. I remember liking it, but having read JRRT LOTR already, I think I wrote it off as inferior. Might have to pick it up again one day if I can find it & revisit it.
 
Self said:
I LOVE ROBERT JORDAN ALSO
I just can't stand the Wheel of Time series. Rand and his ranting and raving made me want to throw the book across the room by book 3. I think I own the first 8 books or so, as my father rather liked them. Personally, though, I just couldn't handle his temper tantrums any more. Maybe I'll pick them up again some time, but I'm not doing it until the darn series is finished! I hate series' that go on forever without an end in sight!
 
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