GREAT FANTASY FICTION
Discover the greatest fantasy fiction books of all time! Explore epic adventures, magical worlds, and unforgettable characters in our curated list of must-read fantasy novels.
Book
Stones Seven
by Ruth McIntyre-Williams
Fiona leans into the hempen rope running across her back and around one leg. Step by step, she makes her way down the sheer cliff. Sea winds slam her against the wall. The rope skins and bloodies her hands. She drops from the too short rope to a narrow ledge washed by the sea, and lies in a heap on the granite shelf. Waves roll over her outstretched arm. A talisman stone of the Merthyr glows from a woven golden chain lying around her neck. This stone orders her life and her destiny. She must follow her fated path; or die. Following prophecies and spirit messages from the dead, Fiona struggles to find the mythical island-city of Iodha, fabled home of the Merthyr. Fiona is not alone in this quest. Somewhere in Kildonan, six other Methyr stones destine their bearers to the same fate, the fate of the Stones Seven.
Book
The Indian in the Cupboard
by Lynne Reid Banks
Gift book presented by the Plymouth Lions Foundation 1996.
Book
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle
This special edition ofA Wrinkle in Timeincludes a new essay that explores the science behind the fantasy. Rediscover one of the most beloved children's books of all time:A Wrinkle in Timeby Madeleine L'Engle: Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a "tesseract," which, if you didn't know, is a wrinkle in time. Meg's father had been experimenting with time-travel when he suddenly disappeared. Will Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father?
Book
The Once and Future King
by T. H. White
T. H. White’s masterful retelling of the saga of King Arthur is a fantasy classic as legendary as Excalibur and Camelot, and a poignant story of adventure, romance, and magic that has enchanted readers for generations. Once upon a time, a young boy called “Wart” was tutored by a magician named Merlyn in preparation for a future he couldn’t possibly imagine. A future in which he would ally himself with the greatest knights, love a legendary queen and unite a country dedicated to chivalrous values. A future that would see him crowned and known for all time as Arthur, King of the Britons. During Arthur’s reign, the kingdom of Camelot was founded to cast enlightenment on the Dark Ages, while the knights of the Round Table embarked on many a noble quest. But Merlyn foresaw the treachery that awaited his liege: the forbidden love between Queen Guenever and Lancelot, the wicked plots of Arthur’s half-sister Morgause and the hatred she fostered in Mordred that would bring an end to the king’s dreams for Britain—and to the king himself. “[The Once and Future King] mingles wisdom, wonderful, laugh-out-loud humor and deep sorrow—while telling one of the great tales of the Western world.”—Guy Gavriel Kay
Book
The Dark Tower
by Stephen King
Presents the first four volumes in the epic series featuring the quest of Roland Deschain of Gilead to find the dark tower.
Book
The Blue Djinn of Babylon
by Philip Kerr
Twelve-year-old twins Philippa and John have more adventures when they become involved in an international adventure involving the Blue Djinn, the supreme arbiter of all Djinn.
Book
The Chronicles of Narnia Rack Box Set (Books 1 to 7)
by C. S. Lewis
Collection includes all seven of the novels in the series.
Book
The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again
by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return.
Book
Wizardology
by Dugald Steer
Merlin the wizard challenges readers to become wizards like himself by deciphering clues hidden in his guide to wizardry.
Book
The Lord of the Rings
by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
In time for the golden anniversary of the arrival of part one of Tolkien's epic masterpiece on these shore comes a spectacular new edition of "The Lord of the Rings." The text is fully correctedQunder the supervision of Christopher TolkienQto meet the author's exacting wishes, and includes two large-format fold-out maps, a ribbon placemarker, and exceptionally elegant packaging. 0-618-51765-0$100.00 / Houghton Mifflin
Book
Wicked
by Gregory Maguire
When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
Book
The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set)
by Holly Black
It all started with a mysterious letter left at a tiny bookstore for authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Its closing lines: "We just want people to know about this. The stuff that has happened to us could happen to anyone." Little could they imagine the remarkable adventure that awaited them as they followed Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace and a strange old book into a world filled with elves, goblins, dwarves, trolls, and a fantastical menagerie of other creatures. The oddest part is in entering that world, they didn't leave this one! Five captivating books! One thrilling adventure! The Spiderwick Chronicles
Book
The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The magical saga of the women behind King Arthur's throne. “A monumental reimagining of the Arthurian legends . . . reading it is a deeply moving and at times uncanny experience. . . . An impressive achievement.”—The New York Times Book Review In Marion Zimmer Bradley's masterpiece, we see the tumult and adventures of Camelot's court through the eyes of the women who bolstered the king's rise and schemed for his fall. From their childhoods through the ultimate fulfillment of their destinies, we follow these women and the diverse cast of characters that surrounds them as the great Arthurian epic unfolds stunningly before us. As Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar struggle for control over the fate of Arthur's kingdom, as the Knights of the Round Table take on their infamous quest, as Merlin and Viviane wield their magics for the future of Old Britain, the Isle of Avalon slips further into the impenetrable mists of memory, until the fissure between old and new worlds' and old and new religions' claims its most famous victim.
Book
The Sword and the Circle
by Rosemary Sutcliff
His kingdom was magical, his knights were loyal, and his life was filled with adventure. . . . Young Arthur Pendragon became High King of England the instant he pulled the mysterious sword from within the stone. He unlocked the magic within the sword Excalibur, and won the heart of the Lady Guenever. At his side through quests and adventures were the Knights of the Round Table—among Gawain, who faced certain death at the hands of the Green Knight; Percival, who learned that it took more than a victory on horseback to win a place at the Round Table; and Lancelot, who daily felt a passion he was forced to hide. And over them all ruled Arthur, true King. . . . "Stands far beyond any Arthurian collection for young readers."—Times Literary Supplement "Other than Malory, I can think of no better introduction to the whole sweep of Arthurian stories."—School Library Journal, starred review
Book
Wonder Beasts
by Joe Nigg
A collection of stories about mythical animals including the phoenix, griffin, unicorn and dragon.
Book
The Book of the Dragontooth
by Michael Green
In a quest that continues in the present day, the artist and mystic Magnalucius records his search for the Perilous Dragontooth and offers clues as to its resting place
Book
Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by Mary Shelley
Three horror icons come together in one indispensable tome—with an introduction by Stephen King. “Within the pages of this volume you will come upon three of the darkest creations of English nineteenth-century literature; three of the darkest in all of English and American literature, many would say…and not without justification…These three creatures, presented together for the first time, all have a great deal in common beyond their power to go on frightening generation after generation of readers…but that fact alone should be considered before all others.”—From the Introduction by Stephen King A diabolical, bloodthirsty Count draws an unsuspecting young man into a world of terrors. A scientist oversteps the bounds of conscience and brings to life a tortured creation. A man of medicine explores his darker side only to fall prey to it. These three legendary tales have held readers spellbound for more than a century. The titles alone—Dracula, Frankenstein, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—have become synonymous with horror. They are part of a universal language that serves to put a monster’s face on the good-and-evil duality of our very human nature. Inventive and subversive, these classic tales of terror can shake even the modern reader with something far more profound than fear....
Book
Eragon; Eldest
by Christopher Paolini
In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.
Book
The Sword in the Stone
by Terence Hanbury White
Wart, as Arthur is called, becomes a wiser, more thoughtful person and a worthy king as a result of Merlin's lessons.
Book
The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Based on the definitive Riverside Chaucer, this edition of The Canterbury Tales contains the complete text of all 24 Tales, thoroughly updated scholarship from the past 20 years, and extensive editorial support. This volume is ideal for instructors who want to assign only the Tales and have no need for the complete Chaucer. An overview briefly outlines the basic plot and main idea of each Tale, while a section on language and versification helps students with pronunciation. Explanatory notes provide information on sources, problematic passages, and critical interpretations. Additional pedagogy includes a glossary, a section on Chaucer's life, an index, a general bibliography, and a list of abbreviations.