Everyfantasyfan has a list of books that are the most important and timeless to them, but there are some novels whose influence is too strong to deny. There’s little question thatmost contemporary authors have read these iconic titles,or at least are aware of how much they’ve contributed to the genre. Fantasy books build on each other and are in conversation across time.
Thesefantasy book series are gripping from start to finish, as most of these projects are just the beginning of long-running and beloved multi-book stories. When the characters are good and the world of the story is worth spending time in, it’s exciting to discover that there are plenty of adventures to follow the protagonists on, and new facets of the magical universe to uncover.
However,the influence of these titles isn’t exclusive to literary works.Many of thefantasy TV shows with the best world-buildingowe a lot to these classic books, as they were used as source material or paved the way for the development of these stories. Without these iconic novels and their timeless tales, the fantasy genre would be unrecognizable.
10The Blade Itself (2006)
Written By Joe Abercrombie
When it comes to thebest fantasy books about revenge, it’s impossible not to mention Joe Abercrombie. Arguably, Abercrombie is the author who reinvented the Grimdark niche of the genre for the modern era, andThe Blade Itselfexemplifies this.TheFirst Lawseries is not for squeamish readers, as Abercrombie doesn’t hold back when it comes to gore.
Set in a brutal world full of visceral violence and grisly action,The Blade Itselftakes things to the next level for fantasy.
This might seem commonplace today, as so many of the fantasy works we see on TV are dripping with blood and guts, butThe Blade Itselfhelped make this a key part of these stories. Set in a brutal world full of visceral violence and grisly action,The Blade Itselftakes things to the next level for fantasy.
Frequently compared to Robin Hobb’sFarseer Trilogy, which is also an influential series,The First Lawrevels in the characters' moral gray areas, letting this propel their dark and dangerous decisions. What Abercrombie does best istake these violent and semi-shocking scenes and infuse them with elements of other genres,like the Western, and add a dash of modern humor.
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9The Fifth Season (2015)
Written by N.K. Jemisin
Accolades aren’t the only indicator of what’s influential or important. However, when it comes to N.K. Jemisin’s ground-breaking fantasy seriesThe Broken Earthtrilogy, these facts go hand in hand.Each installment of the series saw Jemisin win the Hugo Award for Best Novel,and it’s hard to argue with this, as the story is so enduring and influential.
Drawing the reader in through multiple points of view that grapple with different aspects of the story’s world,The Fifth Seasonis anchored by an unforgettable magic systembut remains memorable because of its characters. Though it begins as a familiar narrative of the fight to survive against impossible odds and themes of being chosen, the novel will surprise you.
The twist at the end ofThe Fifth Seasonis one that readers will never see coming, and that makes it impossible not to keep reading the series. Additionally, Jemisin seamlessly blends sharp social and cultural commentary into the story that only uplifts the central narrative, making it more potent and emotionally engaging as the series progresses.
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8The Princess Bride (1973)
Written By William Goldman
Humor and tongue-in-cheek references to the tropes of the genre have always been a part of fantasy, but William Goldman’sThe Princess Bridecemented this style of writing. Simultaneously paying tribute to the heroes and magic of high fantasy that readers love while acknowledging the ways these narrative tools are imperfect,The Princess Brideis in direct conversation with fantasy fans.
The Princess Bridefilm adaptation is afantasy movie too good to watch just once, and this fact is owed to the source material. While the film takes some liberties with the book’s story and isn’t afraid to be a little more unabashedly romantic, fans of the film should check out the original story, as it’s a must-read part of fantasy history.
However,The Princess Bride’s influence isn’t exclusive to fantasy,as other works of speculative fiction have learned a lot from Goldman’s sly way of poking fun at the narrative. Even ifThe Princess Bridehad never been adapted for the screen, it would be a highlight of the genre and worth remembering for years to come, with an influence that can be widely felt.
7A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)
Written By Ursula K. Le Guin
It’s no secret that the fantasy genre, especially throughout the 20th century, was dominated by men. Though this is changing, as the fantasy genre is now growing into a diverse and far-reaching niche of literature,Ursula K. Le Guin was a pivotal figure in bringing about this change,making strides in the fantasy and sci-fi genres with landmark works of literature.
When it comes to coming-of-age stories within fantasy,A Wizard of Earthsea is the blueprint.
Outside theEarthsea Cycle, Le Guin’s science fiction universe, theHainish Cycle, is one of her most famous contributions to fiction. However, when it comes to coming-of-age stories within fantasy,A Wizard of Earthsea is the blueprint for all the great magical tales that came after it. Following the young wizard Ged, the novel tackles nuanced emotional themes within a thrilling world.
A Wizard of Earthseafollows a traditional structure, as the reader accompanies Ged on his journey to becoming a legendary sorcerer while making plenty of missteps. As always,Le Guin uses her vivid characters to communicate vital messages of conservation, tolerance, and finding balancewith the larger world within the already compelling narrative that’s impossible to put down.
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Written By Bram Stoker
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Vampire folktales, myths, and legends are almost as old as storytelling itself. Though Bram Stoker can’t be credited with inventing the seductive monsters,the writer did have a lot to do with popularizing the narrative of Dracula.The association that readers and audiences everywhere have between vampires and theDraculastory can’t be overlooked.
Even as the way audiences relate to vampire narratives evolves with modern sensibilities, there will always be a fragment of theDraculastory inside our movies, TV shows, and contemporary novels. The Dracula that we see onscreen or in novels today is vastly different from the one that Stoker envisioned, but it wouldn’t exist without him.
Though not every fantasy fan has read Stoker’sDracula, they’ve heard of it or encountered it in one form or another. Sometimes it feels as if every part of the genre has already been mined for original narratives. However, the wayDraculawas built upon existing folklore and has gone on to inspire so muchunforgettable work proves this isn’t true.
5The Once And Future King (1958)
Written By T.H. White
Every adaptation of the legends of King Arthur, Camelot, and the famed monarch’s knights has contributed to the legacy of the story. However,T.H. White’sThe Once and Future Kingsuccessfully synthesized many of these storiesand created the definitive take on Arthur’s rise and fall, and brief moment in the sun before the collapse of his magical kingdom.
The Once and Future Kingis a compilation of all White’s stories about Arthur’s life,chronicling his experiences from his childhood being raised to be a great king by Merlin to his eventual downfall at the hands of his son, Mordred. While the stories that White explores are familiar, he makes them fresh and timeless, allowing them to remain relevant today.
The way that most modern audiences think about Arthur, Merlin, and the adventures of Camelot can be traced back toThe Once and Future King. Full of humor, the inherent tragedy of Arthur’s story, and an enduring sense of timelessness, the novel is a foundation for some of the best takes on the classic tales.
4The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (1950)
Written By C.S. Lewis
It’s unfair that children’s literature is often overlooked when it comes to the best works of a genre, but thankfully, this isn’t the case withThe Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis' famed series begins with the most famous installment,The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, andsets the reader abuzz with excitement from the instant the Pevensies step through the titular wardrobe.
Every young fantasy reader searches endlessly for magic that will immerse and transport them when diving into a new set of novels, but it’s rare that a story does this as effectively as this one. With enough danger to be thrilling and plenty of aspirational adventure,The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobetakes hold of every audience member who picks up the book.
One of the more recent fantasy series that drew direct inspiration from theNarniabooks isThe Magiciansby Lev Grossman, which was also made into a TV series. While some of the darker, more adult narratives that have stemmed fromThe Chronicles of Narniaaren’t exactly what Lewis intended,the imagination his work sparked does the original series proud.
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3The Eye Of The World (1990)
Written By Robert Jordan
In writing his sweeping fantasy saga,The Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan drew inspiration from the high fantasy classics of the past and transformed them into something new. The vast world ofWOTholds a litany of vivid characters, settings, and culturesthat are worth spending time getting to know, as they enrich the overarching hero’s journey of the long and winding story.
Jordan was one of the first writers to bring these classical themes and tone to a story that would appeal to contemporary readers.
While many aspects of high fantasy haven’t changed in decades,WOTattempted to push this niche of the genre forward, taking a closer look at the chosen one narrative and how this has shaped fantasy. Jordan was one of the first writers to bring these classical themes and tone to a story that would appeal to contemporary readers.
There are plenty ofbooks to read afterThe Wheel of Timeseason 4’s cancellation, even though it’s devastating that the TV adaptation of Jordan’s novels has been cut short. However,it was always ambitious for Prime to tackle bringingThe Wheel of Timeto lifeonscreen, as it’s the definition of a modern epic, with fourteen installments.
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2A Game Of Thrones (1996)
Written By George R.R. Martin
Though the impact of the TV show based on George R.R. Martin’s novel series might have technically outpaced the original books, none of this would’ve been possible withoutA Song of Ice and Fire.The crossover success of both the novels and the TV series was surprising at first,but the fact is that Martin crafted an enduring story, fantasy or not.
AfterA Game of Throneswas published, it seemed that every fantasy writer was using a large ensemble of characters and perspectives to tell their stories. Of course, Martin himself was influenced by the great writers of the past and used plenty of classic facets of the fantasy genre, like dragons, but the political intrigue and characters' mind games set the books apart.
It’s starting to feel increasingly unlikely that we’ll ever get to read Martin’s final installments ofA Song of Ice and Fire.
At this point, it’s starting to feel increasingly unlikely that we’ll ever get to read Martin’s final installments ofA Song of Ice and Fire. Between the new TV additions to theGame of Thronesfranchise and no updates on the novels on the horizon, readers have largely turned to the shows and spinoffs to scratch the itch left byA Song of Ice and Fire.
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1The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (1954)
Written By J.R.R. Tolkien
It’s tough to argue that J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal fantasy series,The Lord of the Rings, isn’t the most influential addition to the genre in recent history. Though Tolkien borrows from and builds upon classic myths, legends, and folktales,what he crafts is something entirely unique.The world-building alone instantly makesLOTRinto a world readers can fully immerse themselves in.
Almost every modern fantasy author owes something to Tolkien and the universe ofLOTR. It’s a timeless story that has such a deep, intricate lore; it’s impossible not to be impressed by the sheer scale of the narrative and its details. However, it’s also the characters that make readers return to the pages of Tolkien’s novels year after year.
WithoutLOTR, fantasy stories would look vastly different today, and though it’s easy to pick out the influence of the series in contemporary works, this isn’t a bad thing. By learning from Tolkien’s story and using this as a framework for how to craft an epic hero’s journey,The Lord of the Ringsraised a new generation offantasylovers.
