I must confess I am a huge fantasy novel buff. I've read many of the best series but I am always looking to share my knowledge and pick up any tips on other good novels.
Here are my top fantasy series of all time, ranked in order of how much I liked them. Please note that I have not finished all of them. Some are not complete (such as Jordan's series) and some I simply haven't gotten to yet.
1. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
This series has everything. War, politics, intrigue, magic, mystery, romance, and plot twist after plot twist that you'll never expect. No character is sacred and you will cheer, scream or cry when your favorite character is killed off. Be advised, it is extremely graphic and gritty. The series is incomplete, with 4 of the planned 8 volumes released so far.
2. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
This pioneering work of fantasy is still as relevant and potent today as the day it was written. Its a masterpiece of literature that everyone should read.
3. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
This is another great work of fiction that follows a group of young adventurers who each play a key role in saving their land from both the evil Dark One and foreign invaders, along with elements in their own country whose zealotry makes them dangerous. It is not as gripping or compelling as the two works above, but it is entertaining and exciting nonetheless. Jordan died before publishing his final novel, so it is being written from his notes by Brandon Sanderson.
4. The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
Goodkind borrows heavily from Jordan, Cooper and others but makes an interesting and compelling story just the same. He is the complete opposite in style and theme from Martin. Goodkind uses each story to teach a lesson, both to the characters and the reader and relies heavily on prose and monologue to get his points across. That said, his prose is wonderful and while the ending of many books may be predictable, the "how" usually remains a mystery until the very end. This series is complete.
5. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Disclaimer: these are technically children's novels. However, this is still a fun and interesting series that I would quickly recommend to any adult fans of the fantasy genre. This series follows the battles of the Old Ones against the Great Lords and how the entanglements of mere humans could help tip the balance of the war either way. This is a clear-cut good vs. evil series, so if you're looking for emotional ambiguity or deep plots and betrayals, steer clear.
How about you guys? What are your top fantasy series'?



Bookmarks