200 Greatest Fantasy Books
Fantasy, with it's sub-genres & series & it's broad perspective of definition.
Criteria: It is with respect to all the myriad forms & interpretations of Fantasy that these books were chosen for their lasting impact, influence in the genre, originality & compositional skill. As with all lists, this is a subjective list and makes no claim of an official nature.
*** With a significant percent of fantasy novels presented as a multiple book series, to include would be to exclude, so for the purpose of this list the series title has been chosen to be represented here ***
Criteria: It is with respect to all the myriad forms & interpretations of Fantasy that these books were chosen for their lasting impact, influence in the genre, originality & compositional skill. As with all lists, this is a subjective list and makes no claim of an official nature.
*** With a significant percent of fantasy novels presented as a multiple book series, to include would be to exclude, so for the purpose of this list the series title has been chosen to be represented here ***
Greatest Fantasy Books
1. The Lord of The Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Harry Potter
by J.K. Rowling
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes
by Ray Bradbury
5. The Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis
6. A Song of Ice and Fire
by George R.R. Martin
7. A Wizard of Earthsea
by Ursula K. LeGuin
8. The Wheel of Time
by Robert Jordan
9. The Well at The World's End
by William Morris
10. The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Harry Potter
by J.K. Rowling
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes
by Ray Bradbury
5. The Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis
6. A Song of Ice and Fire
by George R.R. Martin
7. A Wizard of Earthsea
by Ursula K. LeGuin
8. The Wheel of Time
by Robert Jordan
9. The Well at The World's End
by William Morris
10. The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
11. The Dying Earth
by Jack Vance
12. The Dark Tower
by Stephen King
13. The Sword of Shannara
by Terry Brooks
14. The Fionavar Tapestry
by Guy Gavriel Kay
15. Animal Farm
by George Orwell
16. The Wood Beyond The World
by William Morris
17. A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
18. Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift
19. The Elric Saga
by Michael Moorcock
20. The Master and The Margarita
by Mikhail Bulgakov
21. The Metamorphosis
by Franz Kafka
22. Incarnations of Immortality
by Piers Anthony
23. The Worm Ourorobos
by E.R. Eddison
24. The Screwtape Letters
by C.S. Lewis
25. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
by Stephen Donaldson
26. The Dragon Riders of Pern
by Anne McCafferty
27. Discworld
by Terry Pratchett
28. The Last Unicorn
by Peter S. Beagle
29. Little, Big
by John Crowley
30. Tigana
by Guy Gavriel Kay
31. Weaveworld
by Clive Barker
32. Titus Groan
by Mervyn Peake
33. Imajica
by Clive Barker
34. Time and Again
by Jack Finney
35. The Once and Future King
by T.H. White
36. The Vampire Lestat
by Anne Rice
37. Watership Down
by Richard Adams
38. The Sword of Truth
by Terry Goodkind
39. The Neverending Story
by Michael Ende
40. Northern Lights
by Philip Pullman
41. The Belgariad
by David Eddings
42. The Name of The Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
43. The Riftwar Cycle
by Raymond E Feist
44. Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
by Mark Twain
45. Artemis Fowl
by Eoin Colfer
46. The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
47. Song of Kali
by Dan Simmons
48. The Dresden Files
by Jim Butcher
49. The Chronicles of Amber
by Roger Zelzany
50. The Stand
by Stephen King
51. The Alchemist
by Paulo Coehlo
52. Gloriana
by Michael Moorcock
53. The Compleat Enchanter
by L. Sprague DeCamp and Fletcher Pratt
54. The King of Elfland's Daughter
by Lord Dunsany
55. Lud-in-the-Mist
by Hope Mirrlees
56. Darker Than You Think
by Jack Williamson
57. Chthon
by Piers Anthony
58. The Anubis Gates
by Tim Powers
59. Interview With The Vampire
by Anne Rice
60. Good Omens
by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
61. It
by Stephen King
62. The Inheritance Cycle
by Christopher Paolini
63. Bridge of Birds
by Barry Hughart
64. The Silmarillion
by J.R.R. Tolkien
65. Acts of King Arthur's Noble Knights
by John Steinbeck
66. Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
67. The Darkness That Comes Before
by R. Scott Bakker
68. Bid Time Return
by Richard Matheson
69. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
by Douglas Adams
70. The Talisman
by Stephen King & Peter Straub
71. The Riddle-Master of Hed
by Patricia McKillip
72. The Armagedden Rag
by George R.R. Martin
73. The Great and Secret Show
by Clive Barker
74. The Halloween Tree
by Ray Bradbury
75. The Long Dark Tea Time of The Soul
by Douglas Adams
76. A Voyage To Arcturas
by David Lindsay
77. The History of The Runestaff
by Michael Moorcock
78. Replay
by Ken Grimwood
79. The Other Wind
by Ursula K. LeGuin
80. The Malazan Book of The Fallen
by Steven Erikson
81. The Damnation Game
by Clive Barker
82. Sailing To Sarantium
by Guy Gavriel Kay
83. Voice of Our Shadow
by Jonathan Carroll
84. The Carpet People
by Terry Pratchett
85. Was
by Geoff Ryman
86. Lyonesse
by Jack Vance
87. Fevre Dream
by George R.R. Martin
88. The Well of the Unicorn
by Fletcher Pratt
89. Time and The Gods
by Lord Dunsany
90. Glory Road
by Robert A. Heinlein
91. Koko
by Peter Straub
92. Sister Light, Sister Dark
by Jane Yolen
93. Dr Rat
by William Kotzwinkle
94. Lies of Loche Lamora
by Scott Lynch
95. Strangers
by Dean Koontz
96. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
97. Ysabel
by Guy Gavriel Kay
98. Shadowland
by Peter Straub
99. The First Law
by Joe Abercrombie
100. Kafka On The Shore
by Haruki Murakama
by Jack Vance
12. The Dark Tower
by Stephen King
13. The Sword of Shannara
by Terry Brooks
14. The Fionavar Tapestry
by Guy Gavriel Kay
15. Animal Farm
by George Orwell
16. The Wood Beyond The World
by William Morris
17. A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
18. Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift
19. The Elric Saga
by Michael Moorcock
20. The Master and The Margarita
by Mikhail Bulgakov
21. The Metamorphosis
by Franz Kafka
22. Incarnations of Immortality
by Piers Anthony
23. The Worm Ourorobos
by E.R. Eddison
24. The Screwtape Letters
by C.S. Lewis
25. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
by Stephen Donaldson
26. The Dragon Riders of Pern
by Anne McCafferty
27. Discworld
by Terry Pratchett
28. The Last Unicorn
by Peter S. Beagle
29. Little, Big
by John Crowley
30. Tigana
by Guy Gavriel Kay
31. Weaveworld
by Clive Barker
32. Titus Groan
by Mervyn Peake
33. Imajica
by Clive Barker
34. Time and Again
by Jack Finney
35. The Once and Future King
by T.H. White
36. The Vampire Lestat
by Anne Rice
37. Watership Down
by Richard Adams
38. The Sword of Truth
by Terry Goodkind
39. The Neverending Story
by Michael Ende
40. Northern Lights
by Philip Pullman
41. The Belgariad
by David Eddings
42. The Name of The Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
43. The Riftwar Cycle
by Raymond E Feist
44. Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
by Mark Twain
45. Artemis Fowl
by Eoin Colfer
46. The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
47. Song of Kali
by Dan Simmons
48. The Dresden Files
by Jim Butcher
49. The Chronicles of Amber
by Roger Zelzany
50. The Stand
by Stephen King
51. The Alchemist
by Paulo Coehlo
52. Gloriana
by Michael Moorcock
53. The Compleat Enchanter
by L. Sprague DeCamp and Fletcher Pratt
54. The King of Elfland's Daughter
by Lord Dunsany
55. Lud-in-the-Mist
by Hope Mirrlees
56. Darker Than You Think
by Jack Williamson
57. Chthon
by Piers Anthony
58. The Anubis Gates
by Tim Powers
59. Interview With The Vampire
by Anne Rice
60. Good Omens
by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
61. It
by Stephen King
62. The Inheritance Cycle
by Christopher Paolini
63. Bridge of Birds
by Barry Hughart
64. The Silmarillion
by J.R.R. Tolkien
65. Acts of King Arthur's Noble Knights
by John Steinbeck
66. Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
67. The Darkness That Comes Before
by R. Scott Bakker
68. Bid Time Return
by Richard Matheson
69. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
by Douglas Adams
70. The Talisman
by Stephen King & Peter Straub
71. The Riddle-Master of Hed
by Patricia McKillip
72. The Armagedden Rag
by George R.R. Martin
73. The Great and Secret Show
by Clive Barker
74. The Halloween Tree
by Ray Bradbury
75. The Long Dark Tea Time of The Soul
by Douglas Adams
76. A Voyage To Arcturas
by David Lindsay
77. The History of The Runestaff
by Michael Moorcock
78. Replay
by Ken Grimwood
79. The Other Wind
by Ursula K. LeGuin
80. The Malazan Book of The Fallen
by Steven Erikson
81. The Damnation Game
by Clive Barker
82. Sailing To Sarantium
by Guy Gavriel Kay
83. Voice of Our Shadow
by Jonathan Carroll
84. The Carpet People
by Terry Pratchett
85. Was
by Geoff Ryman
86. Lyonesse
by Jack Vance
87. Fevre Dream
by George R.R. Martin
88. The Well of the Unicorn
by Fletcher Pratt
89. Time and The Gods
by Lord Dunsany
90. Glory Road
by Robert A. Heinlein
91. Koko
by Peter Straub
92. Sister Light, Sister Dark
by Jane Yolen
93. Dr Rat
by William Kotzwinkle
94. Lies of Loche Lamora
by Scott Lynch
95. Strangers
by Dean Koontz
96. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
97. Ysabel
by Guy Gavriel Kay
98. Shadowland
by Peter Straub
99. The First Law
by Joe Abercrombie
100. Kafka On The Shore
by Haruki Murakama
101. Everville
by Clive Barker
102. Salem's Lot
by Stephen King
103. Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman
104. The Innkeeper's Song
by Peter S. Beagle
105. A Midsummer Tempest
by Poul Anderson
106. Love and Sleep
by John Crowley
107. The War Hound & The World's Pain
by M. Moorcock
108. The Prestige
by Christopher Priest
109. Seventh Son
by Orson Scott Card
110. Lord Of The Two Lands
by Judith Tarr
111. The Dragon Waiting
by John M. Ford
112. Outside The Dog Museum
by Jonathan Carroll
113. The Last Coin
by James P Blaylock
114. Mary Reilly
by Valerie Martin
115. The Silent Strength of Stones
by Nini Kinriki Hoffman
116. Tender Morsels
by Margo Lanagan
117. The Book of Knights
by Yves Meynard
118. The Solitudes
by John Crowley
119. Sleeping In Flame
by Jonathan Carroll
120. The Mistborn Trilogy
by Brandon Sanderson
121. The Gift
by Patrick O'Leary
122. Our Lady of Darkness
by Fritz Leiber
123. Briar Rose
by Jane Yolen
124. Soldier of The Mist
by Gene Wolfe
125. Perdido Street Station
by China Mieville
126. The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
127. The Shadow Year
by Jeffrey Ford
128. Ariosto
by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
129. The Antelope Wife
by Louise Erdrich
130. The Nestling
by Charles L. Grant
131. Ombria In Shadow
by Patricia A. McKillip
132. Declare
by Tim Powers
133. Swan Song
by Robert R. McCammon
134. Tamsin
by Peter S Beagle
135. Tea With The Black Dragon
by R.A. McAvoy
136. The Drive-In
by Joe R. Lansdale
137. Boy's Life
by Robert K. McCammon
138. The Wizard Knight
by Gene Wolfe
139. The Runes of The Earth
by Stephen R. Donaldson
140. The 37th Mandala
by Marc Laidlaw
141. The Mist
by Stephen King
142. Nifft The Lean
by Michael Shea
143. Archer's Goon
by Diana Wynne Jones
144. The Forgotten Beasts of ELD
by Patricia McKillip
145. Illywhacker
by Peter Carey
146. The Physiognomy
by Jeffrey Ford
147. The Pet
by Charles L Grant
148. Fade
by Robert Cormier
149. On Stranger Tides
by Tim Powers
150. The Witcher
by Andrzsj Sapkowski
151. The Rainy Season
by James P. Blaylock
152. The Servants
by Michael Marshall Smith
153. The Last Call of Mourning
by Charles L Grant
154. Only Begotten Daughter
by James Morrow
155. Soldier of Sidon
by Gene Wolfe
156. The Nameless
by Ramsey Campbell
157. The Dark Bright Water
by Patricia Wrightson
158. American Gods
by Neil Gaiman
159. The Orphan's Tales
by Catherynne M. Valente
160. The Palace
by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
161. Last Call
by Tim Powers
162. Watchtower
by Elizabeth A Lynn
163. Soldier of Arete
by Gene Wolfe
164. The Sound of Midnight
by Charles L Grant
165. Thraxas
by Martin Scott
166. Territory
by Emma Bull
167. The Stress of Her Regard
by Tim Powers
168. The Facts of Life
by Graham Joyce
169. Pandemonium
by Daryl Gregory
170. A Child Across The Sky
by Jonathan Carroll
171. Towing Jehovah
by James Morrow
172. The Hour of The Oxrun Dead
by Charles L Grant
173. Shadow of Ashland
by Terence M Green
174. Carrion Comfort
by Dan Simmons
175. Firelord
by Parke Godwin
176. Glimpses
by Lewis Shiner
177. The Gospel of The Knife
by Will Shetterly
178. A Red Heart of Memories
by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
179. The Black Castle
by Les Daniels
180. The Dancers of Arun
by Elizabeth A Lynn
181. Merlin's Ring
by H Warner Munn
182. The Dream Years
by Lnisa Goldstein
183. The Etched City
by K.J. Bishop
184. Night's Master
by Tanith Lee
185. Lamb
by Christopher Moore
186. The Circus of The Earth & The Air
by Brooke Stevens
187. Thomas The Rhymer
by Ellen Kushner
188. The Paper Grail
by James P Blaylock
189. The Dragon and The George
by Gordon R Dickson
190. Phantom
by Thomas Tessler
191. Requiem
by Graham Joyce
192. The Throat
by Peter Straub
193. Gardens of The Moon
by Steven Erikson
194. The Little Country
by Charles de Lint
195. Red Earth and Pouring Rain
by Vikram Chandra
196. Godmother Night
by Rachel Patrick
197. Winterking
by Paul Hazel
198. The House of The Stag
by Kage Baker
199. Bloodsucking Fiends
by Christopher Moore
200. Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
by Clive Barker
102. Salem's Lot
by Stephen King
103. Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman
104. The Innkeeper's Song
by Peter S. Beagle
105. A Midsummer Tempest
by Poul Anderson
106. Love and Sleep
by John Crowley
107. The War Hound & The World's Pain
by M. Moorcock
108. The Prestige
by Christopher Priest
109. Seventh Son
by Orson Scott Card
110. Lord Of The Two Lands
by Judith Tarr
111. The Dragon Waiting
by John M. Ford
112. Outside The Dog Museum
by Jonathan Carroll
113. The Last Coin
by James P Blaylock
114. Mary Reilly
by Valerie Martin
115. The Silent Strength of Stones
by Nini Kinriki Hoffman
116. Tender Morsels
by Margo Lanagan
117. The Book of Knights
by Yves Meynard
118. The Solitudes
by John Crowley
119. Sleeping In Flame
by Jonathan Carroll
120. The Mistborn Trilogy
by Brandon Sanderson
121. The Gift
by Patrick O'Leary
122. Our Lady of Darkness
by Fritz Leiber
123. Briar Rose
by Jane Yolen
124. Soldier of The Mist
by Gene Wolfe
125. Perdido Street Station
by China Mieville
126. The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
127. The Shadow Year
by Jeffrey Ford
128. Ariosto
by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
129. The Antelope Wife
by Louise Erdrich
130. The Nestling
by Charles L. Grant
131. Ombria In Shadow
by Patricia A. McKillip
132. Declare
by Tim Powers
133. Swan Song
by Robert R. McCammon
134. Tamsin
by Peter S Beagle
135. Tea With The Black Dragon
by R.A. McAvoy
136. The Drive-In
by Joe R. Lansdale
137. Boy's Life
by Robert K. McCammon
138. The Wizard Knight
by Gene Wolfe
139. The Runes of The Earth
by Stephen R. Donaldson
140. The 37th Mandala
by Marc Laidlaw
141. The Mist
by Stephen King
142. Nifft The Lean
by Michael Shea
143. Archer's Goon
by Diana Wynne Jones
144. The Forgotten Beasts of ELD
by Patricia McKillip
145. Illywhacker
by Peter Carey
146. The Physiognomy
by Jeffrey Ford
147. The Pet
by Charles L Grant
148. Fade
by Robert Cormier
149. On Stranger Tides
by Tim Powers
150. The Witcher
by Andrzsj Sapkowski
151. The Rainy Season
by James P. Blaylock
152. The Servants
by Michael Marshall Smith
153. The Last Call of Mourning
by Charles L Grant
154. Only Begotten Daughter
by James Morrow
155. Soldier of Sidon
by Gene Wolfe
156. The Nameless
by Ramsey Campbell
157. The Dark Bright Water
by Patricia Wrightson
158. American Gods
by Neil Gaiman
159. The Orphan's Tales
by Catherynne M. Valente
160. The Palace
by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
161. Last Call
by Tim Powers
162. Watchtower
by Elizabeth A Lynn
163. Soldier of Arete
by Gene Wolfe
164. The Sound of Midnight
by Charles L Grant
165. Thraxas
by Martin Scott
166. Territory
by Emma Bull
167. The Stress of Her Regard
by Tim Powers
168. The Facts of Life
by Graham Joyce
169. Pandemonium
by Daryl Gregory
170. A Child Across The Sky
by Jonathan Carroll
171. Towing Jehovah
by James Morrow
172. The Hour of The Oxrun Dead
by Charles L Grant
173. Shadow of Ashland
by Terence M Green
174. Carrion Comfort
by Dan Simmons
175. Firelord
by Parke Godwin
176. Glimpses
by Lewis Shiner
177. The Gospel of The Knife
by Will Shetterly
178. A Red Heart of Memories
by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
179. The Black Castle
by Les Daniels
180. The Dancers of Arun
by Elizabeth A Lynn
181. Merlin's Ring
by H Warner Munn
182. The Dream Years
by Lnisa Goldstein
183. The Etched City
by K.J. Bishop
184. Night's Master
by Tanith Lee
185. Lamb
by Christopher Moore
186. The Circus of The Earth & The Air
by Brooke Stevens
187. Thomas The Rhymer
by Ellen Kushner
188. The Paper Grail
by James P Blaylock
189. The Dragon and The George
by Gordon R Dickson
190. Phantom
by Thomas Tessler
191. Requiem
by Graham Joyce
192. The Throat
by Peter Straub
193. Gardens of The Moon
by Steven Erikson
194. The Little Country
by Charles de Lint
195. Red Earth and Pouring Rain
by Vikram Chandra
196. Godmother Night
by Rachel Patrick
197. Winterking
by Paul Hazel
198. The House of The Stag
by Kage Baker
199. Bloodsucking Fiends
by Christopher Moore
200. Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
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J.R.R. Tolkien
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J.K. Rowling
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Lewis Carroll
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Ray Bradbury
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C.S. Lewis
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Edited By: Rick Varner
Last Updated: 2024-04-04
Newly added names are in Red