Great Philosophical Fantasy Fiction
Explore the best philosophical fantasy fiction books that blend deep thought with magical worlds. Discover novels where profound ideas meet epic adventure and imagination.
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The Last Vampire
by Christopher Pike
The first three books in master storyteller Christopher Pike's "The Last Vampire" series--now available in a special collector's edition! Here are the first three books in the series--"The Last Vampire, Black Blood" and "Red Dice"--for one low price. Available in February.
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Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
From New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game—adapted to film in 2013 starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford—is the classic Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction novel of a young boy's recruitment into the midst of an interstellar war. In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel. THE ENDER UNIVERSE Ender series Ender’s Game / Ender in Exile / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide / Children of the Mind Ender’s Shadow series Ender’s Shadow / Shadow of the Hegemon / Shadow Puppets / Shadow of the Giant / Shadows in Flight Children of the Fleet The First Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) Earth Unaware / Earth Afire / Earth Awakens The Second Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) The Swarm /The Hive Ender novellas A War of Gifts /First Meetings
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The Wayfarer Redemption
by Sara Douglass
Faraday, a brave young woman, flees from the ice-lord Gorgrael in the company of Axis, the leader of the Axe-Wielders and the hated half-brother of her betrothed, Borneheld.
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His Dark Materials
by Philip Pullman
Lyra Belacqua tries to prevent kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments, helps Will Parry search for his father, and finds that she and Will are caught in a battle between the forces of the Authority and those gathered by her uncle, Lord Asriel.
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Aerie
by Thomas E. Sniegoski
haven? or hell? Aaron Corbet is an eighteen-year-old Nephilim and the one who will reunite the fallen angels with Heaven. But right now Aaron isn't interested in saving anybody other than himself, his magically powered dog, and his younger, autistic foster brother, Steven, from Verchiel, the cruel leader of the Powers. Verchiel is bent on destroying Aaron, and with him all hope of angelic reconciliation. With the help of a fallen angel, Aaron manages to arrive in the angelic refuge known as Aerie. Though he hopes to catch his breath before continuing the Good Fight, Aaron learns that the other residents of Aerie are concerned about his presence and his role in their future. But how can he win their trust when he has accidentally led the Powers straight to the sanctuary of the Fallen?
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On a Pale Horse
by Piers Anthony
In this first novel of the Incarnations of Immortality, Piers Anthony combines a gripping story of romance and conflicting loyalties with a deeply moving examination of the meaning of life and death. This is a novel that will long linger in the reader's mind. Shooting Death was a mistake, as Zane soon discovered. For the man who killed the Incarnation of Death was immediately forced to assume the vacant position! Thereafter, he must speed over the world, riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Zane was forced to accept his unwelcome task, despite the rules that seemed woefully unfair. But then he found himself being drawn into an evil plot of Satan. Already the prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved. He could see only one possible way to defeat the Father of Lies. It was unthinkable—but he had no other solution!
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Old Magic
by Marianne Curley
Witch-in-training Kate is mesmerized by her new classmate Jarrod Thornton. She realizes that he is the victim of a centuries-old family curse but he has difficulty believing her.
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Dragon's Bait
by Vivian Vande Velde
Wrongly condemned of witchcraft, fifteen-year-old Alys is tempted to take revenge on her accusers when the dragon to which she has been sacrificed turns out to be an ally, in a story about revenge, choice, and forgiveness. Jr Lib Guild. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.
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Alanna
by Tamora Pierce
From Tamora Pierce, the first book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet, honored with the Margaret A. Edwards Award. “From now on I’m Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I’ll be a knight.” In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be a knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her twin brother, Thom. Disguised as a boy, Alanna begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. But the road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, and magic, as well as polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins—one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and make her a legend in the land.
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The Darkangel
by Meredith Ann Pierce
The Darkangel, a vampire of astounding beauty and youth, can only summon his full power when he finds his 14th and final bride. But for Aeriel, whom he kidnaps to serve his brides, there is something about him--something beyond his obvious evil--that makes her want to save him rather than destroy him. The Darkangel--Pierce's first book, originally released in 1982--was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a New York Times Notable Children's Book, a Parent's Choice Award Superbook, and a Booklist Best Book of the Decade.
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The Martian Chronicles
by Ray Bradbury
For use in schools and libraries only. The tranquility of Mars is disrupted by the earthmen who have come to conquer space, colonize the planet, and escape a doomed Earth.
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The Seventh Princess
by Nick Sullivan
Worried about her homework assignment to write about her strangest dream, Jennifer falls asleep on the school bus. She awakes as Princess Miranda, in a beautiful land called Eladeria. But being a princess is no dream come true. Like the six princesses brought to Eladeria before her, Jennifer's fate is to be changed into a vicious harpy to serve the wicked sorceress Swenhild! Will courage, loyal friends and the magic of the Stone of Seeking be enough for Jennifer to save herself and restore the true King to his throne? Jennifer will have the best dream ever to write about, if only she can make it back safely to her own world!
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The Giver
by Lois Lowry
In a future society, young Jonas is given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
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The Bone Doll's Twin
by Lynn Flewelling
New epic fantasy trilogy from the US author of The Nightrunner seriesLong ago, during the dark days of the Great War with Pleinmar, King Thelatimos journeyed to the Oracle of the God Illior at Afra to save his war-torn kingdom. Here he was presented with a prophecy 'So long as a daughter of Thelatimos's line defends and rules, Skala shall never be subjugated.' And that is how the line of queens ruling over Skala was established...However, as generations went by the male heirs to the throne became intensely resentful of the prophecy that emasculated their claim to power. Finally Queen Agnalain took the throne and the people of Skala suffered under her erratic and selfish command. Prompted by the people's outcry over this mad queen, her son Prince Erius claimed primogeniture, and seized the throne.Plague, drought and famine spread throughout the kingdom, weakening it's defences and offering easy pickings to Skala's old enemy and neighbour, Plenimar.As people start to recall the Oracle's prophecy, Erius begins to quietly kill of female relatives. Constantly in fear for her life, Princess Ariani, the King's sister, gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl. But Ariani is married to Lord Rhius, the patron of the powerful wizard Iya, and Iya has sinister plans for the babes...
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Daughter of the Forest
by Juliet Marillier
The first book in the epic and compulsively readable Sevenwaters series"I enjoyed it immensely... For an Irish resident, familiar with the mores and customs, Daughter of the Forest had special meaning and relevance." Anne McCaffrey"This saga will hold you entranced" Australian Women's WeeklyDaughter of the Forest is a mixture of history and heritage, myth and magic, legend and love.Lord Colum of Sevenwaters is blessed with seven children but it is Sorcha, the youngest child and only daughter, who alone is destined to defend her family and protect their land from the invading Britons. For Sorcha is the only one who escapes the cruel influence of Lady Oonagh, her father's new wife.Exiled from Sevenwaters and cast out into the forest and the terrifying world beyond, Sorcha falls into the hands of the feared enemy. Now she is torn between a life she has always known and a love that only comes once.Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Isobelle Carmody and Robin Hobb will love Juliet Marillier.
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Feast of Souls
by C. S. Friedman
Against a backdrop of glittering kingdoms and dark prophecies, a rogue magister and a dying prince fight for their lives. Magisters from across the known world are gathering for an unusual meeting. King Aurelius has summoned them to heal his dying son, who has fallen victim to an incurable wasting disease. The King has demanded an explanation and a cure, yet appearances are deceptive. It's clear to the initiated that a magister is responsible - so the order remains quiet and organises a manhunt to silence the culprit. But while men are distracted, strangeness is stirring in the world. An ancient evil is rising in the north, but the old warnings are long forgotten. Only those carrying the Protector bloodline feel fear and their numbers are few. So the powerful will soon find themselves playing a new and more dangerous game.