Best Stand Alone Fantasy Books
Most of the books listed on this website's top fantasy lists have been books that are part of a series. Not all the best books are part of a series, however. There are certainly some good fantasy books that are standalone, though I will admit that the fantasy standalone is a bit of a "rare" breed these days.
Still, great standalone fantasy books DO exist! This list offers some of the top standalone fantasy novels. I've tried to draw books from different subgenres of fantasy and present some compelling reasons why these books belong on this list.
The books are organized into a "Top 25" order to make it easier for the reader to select the best.
#1: Tigana (Guy Gavriel Kay)
BestFantasyBooks.com Description
Tigana, once shining beacon of hope to a shattered world, now a land no one can remember. To revive the memory of their beleaguered land and free a world enslaved by a sorcerer tyrant, a musician and his compatriots will embark on an impossible quest...
One word comes to mind when reading this novel: beautiful. This is Kay's most critically acclaimed (and best reviewed bar none) book to date -- and this is saying a lot since Kay has yet to write a mediocre book. Kay is a master storyteller and unlike many of his peers, is able to deliver a (complete) compelling tale between two book covers. Tigana is, in my opinion, his best work to date though some will argue his Lions of Al-Rassan is better (it's a duology, however). Tigana at it's core is a story about love, betrayal, and redemption -- all themes that Kay develops a rich plot and setting around. So why should you read this book over everything else? Kay has a remarkable ability to create real characters with real, complex motivations. The characters are real and the plot, raw and powerful. You won't get any sort of ham-fisted storytelling in a Kay book, but rather a gently flowing plot that's pure joy to lose yourself in. The one word that comes to mind when you read Tigana is "emotion." As a "manly man", there are few books that have brought me to tears and Tigana is one of them. So read Tigana and weep with joy.
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More Books By Kay...
You should start off by reading everything else Kay has written. Kay is well known for creating "new" stories rather than rehashing that same old plot themes. He's also know for writing more standalone books than series, so you're in for a treat if you want to read good fantasy stand-alone book after stand-alone book. Kay is not afraid to experiment with different themes or settings either, from the ancient Vikings to mythical oriental lands, to high fantasy tales.
His next best standalones after Tigana would be The Lions of al-Rassan followed by his alternate European history novel A Song for Arbonne.
I also recommend you read Under Heaven -- his latest work (as of 2011) -- an oriental standalone fantasy that's poignant and beautiful. Another great standalone is The Last Light Of The Sun -- a fantasy with a Celtic/Viking flavor. And of course, you should read his Sarantine Mosaic historical fantasy duology which is a non-magical historical fiction series. If you want Kay's take on the whole Lord of the Rings theme, read his The Fionavar Tapestry. Really, rather than me list out every book the man's written, just make sure to read every one of his books.
Other Recommendations...
For another writer who writes poignant, well written fantasy where words are beautiful things to be relished when you read, you might try Gene Wolf. Try his Knight Wizard fantasy series. If you want something more exotic (and poetic), give Wolf's Book of the New Sun a read -- they are beautiful, sad, and utterly fantastic, in many ways compared to The Lord of the Rings in their scope, themes, and sheer linguistic brilliance. If you like the whole "small group of people rebelling against an overpowering evil" theme present in Tigana, you can give Brandon Sanderson's first book of his Mistborn series a read which is entitled Mistborn: The Final Empire. The first book has a similar plot line, though with more of a focus on magic and action than Tigana.
#2: American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
Amazon Description
Released from prison, Shadow finds his world turned upside down. His wife has been killed; a mysterious stranger offers him a job. But Mr. Wednesday, who knows more about Shadow than is possible, warns that a storm is coming -- a battle for the very soul of America . . . and they are in its direct path.
Neil Gaiman is an ever-popular writer who's branched into both cinema, comics, and books. Quite a few people will argue that Neverwhere or Stardust is better than American God's, but I disagree. American Gods is arguably his best work because it explores some interesting conceits whereas many of Gaiman's other tales are great tales, but don't do anything "new" (other than being really well written of course). American Gods pits the "Old Gods" of the past against the "New God's" of the digital word. This is not your classic boy wizard versus dark god fantasy tale, but rather a more insightful, intelligent, and deep look into modern and ancient beliefs and the clash that results. It's a whole and whole urban fantasy tale -- a genre in which Gaiman has helped to lead the modern pack. So if you are looking for a stellar stand alone fantasy novel, you'll have to search far and wide to do better than American Gods.
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More Books by Neil Gaiman...
The obvious recommendation here is more books by said author. Gaiman writes some other worthy standalone fantasy books: Neverwhere and Anansi Boys. Both books are great (Anansi Boys is set in the same world as American Gods) but I prefer Neverwhere which is a good ol' fashion rattlingly good adventure tale. Gaiman's got more great fantasy standalones such as Stardust and The Graveyard Book (the perfect book to read to your kids before bed!) which should not be missed either.
Other Authors...
"For more books about ancient myths coming to live in modern society":
If you like the whole ancient mythical figures coexisting with the modern world theme, give Mythago Wood a read. You'll also want to read Tim Power's The Anubis Gates which incorporates ancient myths coming to life with time travel -- a weird mix but a hell of an entertaining novel. You should also check out Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay which also has a similar theme/plot.
"For more books with a similar "style" to Gaiman":
Honestly, Gaiman is in a league of his own when it comes to HIS style of urban fantasy fiction. However, there are a few other authors that do some interesting stuff in the same fantasy subgenre. Check out China Mieville (start with Perdido Street Station) -- another writer who writes interesting (and oh-so-weird) Urban Fantasy. For a different, darker urban fantasy tale, you might want to give The Magicians by Lev Grossman a gander which has mixed reviews but really does something different with the fantasy genre.
#3: The Anubis Gates (Tim Powers)
Amazon Book Description
The colonization of Egypt by western European powers is the launch point for power plays and machinations. Steeping together in this time-warp stew are such characters as an unassuming Coleridge scholar, ancient gods, wizards, the Knights Templar, werewolves, and other quasi-mortals, all wrapped in the organizing fabric of Egyptian mythology. In the best of fantasy traditions, the reluctant heroes fight for survival against an evil that lurks beneath the surface of their everyday lives.
Tim Powers doesn't get a lot of love from the fantasy crowd, either because he refused to be known as a fantasy writer or simply because people are too glued to tales about village boys and evil lords to bother caring. A pity too since Tim Powers writes some amazing speculative fiction. He also knows how to tell a pretty damn exciting adventure tale. The Anubis Gates is not your classic high fantasy tale. Rather, it's an urban adventure fantasy tale with a mish mash of pretty much everything you can think of. There's a stew of interesting characters present in the novel: ancient gods, wizards, the Knights Templar, werewolves, and Egyptian deities. Powers has taken pretty much every fantasy archetype, coated it with Egyptian mythology, mixed in a time travel plot, then sprinkled in a reluctant hero to create a stew of surprising genius. This IS one of the best standalone "fantasy" books out there. Action, adventure, magic, time travel, wizards, evil, and love fill the pages of this impossible-to-put-down novel Don't let the "unconventional" of this fantasy tale scare you away -- Anubis Gate delivers on all fronts.
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If you like the rip roaring adventure of The Anubis Gate, another tale that comes to mind is On Stranger Tides which is another awesome standalone novel by Time Powers (and the source material for the new-upcoming 4th Pirates of the Caribbean movie). You can also give Power's other novels a shot too (all standalone) which are always a mix of the fantastic and the tangible with a good dose of (sometimes weird) adventure thrown in. And if you like the whole "mythical elements coming to life" aspect of The Anubis Gate, then read Mythago Wood which is a novel about ancient myths coming to life. Neil Gaiman's American Gods and his excellent Anansi Boys are two other books in which anthropomorphized ancient myths struggle to coexist with modernity.
#4: Talion: Revenant (Michael Stackpole)
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The cost of being a Hero is always blood...There's a fair amount of so called "heroic fantasy" present in the fantasy genre, but most of it is all about brawn and thigh and little of anything else. If you want some heroic fantasy with some intelligence to it, Talion is one such novel. The author, Michael A. Stackpole is actually quite under appreciated in the fantasy genre -- for most fantasy readers, he's an unknown even though he's written a number of fantasy series. His best novel by far is Talion which is a standalone (though it's sort of a prequel to his Dragoncrown Cycle). Talion IS a shining example of what real heroic fantasy should be: sharp steel, vicious action, but with a real-beating heart to it, and a slick plot. And yes, there is a beautiful princess thrown in for good measure. Talion: Revenant is perhaps my favorite example of outstanding heroic fantasy is. Don't know what I mean? Better read the book to find out why.
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The majority of the fantasy books out there feature some sort of "Hero" of the story. But there are a few books that really do the hero conceit some real justice, either looking at the price of heroism or just telling an outright killer story. I've recommended a few books here that will suite your taste if you like the flavor of Talion.
Michael Stackpole's Once a Hero is another book that focuses on the cost of being a so called "Hero." It's a great read and while not as good as Talion: Revenant, should certainly be read if you enjoy Talion. Now if you like vicious fantasy with a lot of focus on a bad-ass main character, Heroes Die fits that particular bill. The protagonist is about as deadly as they come and, like Talion: Revenant, combines vicious action with a addicting plot. Another heroic fantasy tale worth reading is David Gemmell's Legend. Legend really sets you in a brutal world where only one man can make it right. Quite a few of Gemmell's other books explore the idea of heroism quite extensively as well, so if you want more of the same, look at his other work.
Another must read fantasy book that centers around the exploits of a hero (a trilogy though and not a standalone) is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, which is one of my top fantasy book picks.
#5: The Stand (Stephen King)
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This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.
And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides -- or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abigail -- and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.
The Stand is one of those books that will have you sitting there thinking about it for days after you finish. King has produced a lot of novels in his time, but The Stand is the singular moment where he evolves from horror to literature. This Stand meshes together a bunch of genres (fantasy/horror/literature) in a post apocalyptic world. King outdoes his usually quality characterization and breathes into life some richly drawn characters that you love or love to hate. All characters are human beings complete with flaws...and humanity. No cookie cutter characters here folks. This is a complex novel folks, one with a lot of themes present -- love, heroism, friendship, and betrayal. The Stand is well regarded as King's best novel to date. I think it's a bit of a toss up between The Stand and The Talisman (also a stellar King novel), but I'll go with the general consensus and stand The Stand on this list. If you are the sort of reader who doesn't care about all that thematic, literary stuff. that's fine -- you can save that literary claptrap nonsense for the English major nerds. The Stand is also a damn compelling read and can be appreciated solely on the merits of it being pretty damn addiction -- you won't be wasting your time reading it!
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The Talisman is my other King recommendation. A novel about a small boy Jack who will travel into parallel worlds to save his dying mother. The Shining is another classic King novel; and how can I possibly leave out The Dark Tower series. All of those books share the same universe (a place of parallel universes). If you are a King fan, you should give Dean Koontz a read too. Both authors put a lot of time into characterization. If you try Koontz, give his The Face a read (a creepy novel) and his beloved Odd Thomas a go.
#6: Elantris (Brandon Sanderson)
Booklist Description
Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.
Arelon's new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping -- based on their correspondence -- to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.
But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
It's rare to find a good high fantasy tale that doesn't span less than half a foot tall. Elantris is an exception. By now, nearly everyone knows who Brandon Sanderson is. You know, author of The Way of Kings, Mistborn, and all those big fat fantasy novels that are selling out quick at the bookstore. But the novel that first put him on the map was Elantris, a standalone fantasy novel that reimagines the story of Atlantis.
While Elantris doesn't do anything new in the genre (and few books do these days), it's an thoroughly enjoyable tale and certainly one of the better high fantasy tales you can find in a single volume. Elantris proof that you don't have to cut down a wide swath of forest to tell a fantastic fantasy tale -- something that many fantasy authors don't seem to realize it. What's surprising is that Fat Fantasy Meister Sanderson started his forest-killing career with an environmentally-friendly standalone. If you like Sanderson's other books, it's an no brainer to read Elantris But author pedigree aside, Elantris is a great story with a rather unique (to fantasy anyway) story -- how often do you read about Atlantis in a fantasy tale? Now why should you read Elantris out of the many other great books out there? The plot is great, the characters well drawn out, and it's a fantasy adventure that sucks you in and won't spit you out till you've finished the last page. The book has a strong female protagonist too (something that's quite common in most of Sanderson's books) and a likeable, manly hero too. If you are looking for a standard high fantasy tale to make this list, then Elantris is the stand-in one.
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The obvious choice is you like the "style" of writing in Elantris is to read Sanderson's other books (which sadly are NOT standalone's but series). He's got quite a few now. You could give his Mistborn series a go which features a very strong heroine like the one found in Elantris. For a more "end of the world" mega fantasy series in the vein of Robert Jordan, his new Stormlight Archive series (starts with The Way of Kings) looks like one of the most promising fantasy tales I've read to date.
For a somewhat similar feel to Elantris (though a much more intricate and complicated tale than Elantris) in setting, you might look at Daniel Abraham's A Shadow in Summer (part of the Long Quartet series). This series kind of flew under the radar a bit, but there really is some rich characterization, intelligent plotting, and some really ambitious ideas (literally and pun totally intended -- read the book to see what I mean).
#7: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clarke)
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At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England?until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.
Soon, another practicing magician comes forth: the young, handsome, and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell's student, and they join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic, straining his partnership with Norrell, and putting at risk everything else he holds dear.
A remarkable book with written in a sort of Victorian-era flowery prose. The flowery prose may be off-putting at first, but the mesmerizing story soon sucks you right in. Romance is a definite (and important) element in this novel, but it is certainly not a romantic fantasy. However, the strong narrative, rich characters, and compelling story make this a novel that must be read. Women who especially love the Jane Austin style settings and prose will especially be delighted.
What is this tale about? Take Victorian fiction, toss in a Grimm fairy tale or two, and make it a thousand pages and you have Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel. This book is not for everyone, especial the impatient. For the most part (well, until you get well into the book that is), there are no flashy bangs, sorcerers breaking mountains with their fingers, or bare chested warriors slaying demons. This is a book for those who really like to read and who enjoy a tale that can be slowly unpeeled like an onion, revealing layer after layer. This really is an under appreciated novel. It's my experience that quite a few people start the series only to give up after a hundred pages or so. Don't! The novel get's exciting, but you need to push well past half the book to get to that point.
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If you like the same, slow story telling that builds up to a climax where words are treasured things, you will do no wrong in reading Sean Russel's duology, Moontide Magic Rise. The story also features a similar potline (magic is lost to the world with only a few people trying to bring it back). This is probably the closest book you'll find to Clarke's novel in terms of style and plotting.
For a different, darker urban fantasy tale about Magicians, you might want to give The Magicians by Lev Grossman a gander. It's intelligent, witty, and thoroughly depressing (but worth reading). For probably the most famous fantasy book about a magician, you can read Raymond E Feist's Magician, though I do warn you that the style is nothing like that of Clarke and Russell's -- Magician is for boys and girls who like lots of action, adventure, without the clever words and intricate plot.
If you like the whole "Fairy" aspect where mythical fairy figures coexist alongside the normal world, I have a few suggestions. Neil Gaiman's books are a good bet here with the most famous being American Gods (as mentioned above), though the best reviewed might be Neverwhere. Gaiman writes some other worthy standalone fantasy books: neverwhere, Anansi boys, and the Graveyard Book. All three are great -- though Anansi Boys is set in the same world as American Gods. For a book about myths coming to life (literally), give Mythago Wood a read. Also check out China Mieville -- another writer who writes interesting Urban Fantasy.
#8: The Silmarillion (J.R.R Tolkien)
Amazon Book Description
The Silmarillion should never be consider "just another fantasy tale." It's a masterwork of literature in every sense of the word. Tolkien created the fantasy genre (or at least shaped it into the current image we all accept as "fantasy") and certainly deserves to be on this best stand alone fantasy book list.
As to the question "which Tolkien is the best?" It's a toss up between "The Hobbit", The Lord of the Rings and "The Silmarillion." You'll find Lord of the Rings usually gets all the credit. But in my opinion, it's the Silmarillion that takes the crown in terms of sheer storytelling prowess and literary achievement. The Hobbit was for kids and the Silmarillion for grown-ups!
Tolkien creates a real history here in the Silmarillion, not just a tale. For the normal fantasy reader, The Silmarillion may be a drastic departure from the known world, a foray into the unexplored territory of real literature, but it's an adventure every fantasy fan must make. This book is a blend of history and the novel -- a format that those who are used to the standard novel format may find yourself in easy grounds with, but forget all that and just enjoy this grand work of art. This IS the story of Tolkien Middle Earth, it's founding, it's wars, and it's end. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are mere chapters of the grand tapestry that Tolkien built, a tapestry that's is itself only a thread in the grand weave. And the Silmarillion is that grand weave.
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The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are the obvious recommendations. I would also recommend The Children of Húrin which is a standalone tale (in novel format) of one of Tolkien's great heroes -- pre Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.
Another book I've read (well series actually) that is similar in terms of tying together ancient mythical high fantasy style history (gods walked the world, heroes roam the lands, unspeakable evil trying to make a comeback) written in a more standard novel form would be Jaques Carry's Banewreaker (part of The Sundering duology). Banewreaker twists the standard Tolkien Good and Evil conventions around though-- basically, it's Sauron's story with this version of Sauron actually having a heart of gold.
Another series that feels a bit similar to Lord of the Rings mythos would be The Godless World trilogy.
For probably THE first fantasy book ever written, you should check out The Worm Ouroboros. This book is sort of a pre-tolkien fantasy (it was written before Tolkien) with a heavy penchant for beautiful, high flowery language, rich philosophy, and a heavy influence of greek mythology. All in all, The Worm Ouroboros is the quintessential literary fantasy book (you won't like it if you are a fan of low brow action fantasy -- DragonLance, Midkemia, Wheel of Time, that sort of thing). And while we are talking about the fantasy "classics" in an era where Tolkien had not yet made his name, how could we NOT mention The King of Elfland's Daughter -- the book that started the Sword and Sorcery genre and a novel that transformed the high fantasy genre for good.
#9: Terror (Dan Simmons)
Amazon Book Description
Be prepared to be truly terrified with this book! If you've never read Dan Simmons before, you have sinned indeed. Simmons is one of the most talented writers on the planet, an author too talented to be contained in any one genre. He's written fiction, horror, science fiction, and fantasy novels -- and every single one of his books are gosh darn works of art. His science fiction books are particularly good (his Hyperion series I consider some of the best science fiction ever written).
My pick for his fantasy contribution is Terror, which is Simmon's mishmash of Edgar Allen Poe, Patrick O'Brien, and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Basically it's a historical fiction meets horror on the open (or icy) sea.
The Terror is a complex novel with a lot going on in and a good deal of scare to it. The story itself begins on a bit of a downer: two ships have been stuck deep in the polar ice for over two years. The crew's food is pretty much finished and there's a mysterious Eskimo women who can't speak -- or won't speak -- living with the crew, feared as a witch. Add to that a strange creature that's worse than any polar bear imaginable -- it's been clawing to get in the ship and stalking the crew as they hunt for supplies, picking them off one by seemingly impossible means. Sound interesting? It is. I'm not going to spend another 30 minutes brainstorming on how to convince you to read it. Just take my word and give it a go. Oh, and turn down the lights and pull up a blanket when you do, it's going to get scccccaaaary!
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If like like the creepy horror aspect of The Terror, you should take a look at some of Edgar Allan Poe's classics. If you enjoy Simmons and Science Fiction, you should absolutely read Hyperion. Hell, if you don't like Simmons and you despise Science Fiction, you should STILL read Hyperion.
#10: The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
Amazon Description
Here is the magical legend of King Arthur, vividly retold through the eyes and lives of the women who wielded power from behind the throne.
The Tale of King Author from a girl's perspective would describe The Mists of Avalon. This may scare away some of the guys from reading the book, but the book is a compelling read for both genders.
The Mists of Avalon is refreshing take on the tale of King Author. In a tale that's traditionally told from the perspective of men, Mists of Avalon is pumped from the narrative of the traditionally maligned characters of Morgan and Guinevere It's an interesting (and arguably brilliant) choice on the of Bradley and imparts a unique perspective on the traditional tale. There's a lot going on in the novel, such as the struggle of Christianity to become the dominant religion (and push out the historic Celtic religion and it's backers). This is genuinely unique fantasy tale and a wholly riveting read -- for both men and women. If you only ever read "one" tale about King Author, then The Mists of Avalon should be it.
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If you like The Mists of Avalon, you should read the other Avalon books by Bradley. These are not direct sequels. Another series that you'll like would be Juliet Marillier's The Sevenwaters Trilogy which is a historical Celtic fantasy much in the same vein as Mists of Avalon.
#11: Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
Amazon.com Description
He held the fate of two worlds in his hands...
Once he was an orphan called Pug, apprenticed to a sorcerer of the enchanted land of Midkemia.. Then he was captured and enslaved by the Tsurani, a strange, warlike race of invaders from another world.
There, in the exotic Empire of Kelewan, he earned a new name--Milamber. He learned to tame the unnimagined powers that lay within him. And he took his place in an ancient struggle against an evil Enemy older than time itself.
If you read ONE novel by Raymond E. Feist -- and there are enough of them to fill a medium sized bookshelf -- then read his original standalone Magician. While technically it's "not" a standalone now (there were 3 direct sequel novels written), it was originally penned as a standalone by Feist and really can be read as such. I've heard the book described as "Rags to Riches with a magical twist" and that's an apt description of the book.
Magician really is a great book -- it just does the classic high fantasy tale right. The plot is exciting and the main hero, Pug, is a joy to read about in a magician-powers-up-and-kicks-all-enemy-ass-in-a dragon-ball-z sort of way. Magician is one of those tales that bring you to a far away land that you don't want to come back from. Whether you want to start reading the rest of Feist's Midkemia series is up to you, but all the other series pretty much retell the same tale over and over.
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If you like the action and might magic of Magician, read Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time for the same sort of so-much-magic-you-get-sick-of-it feeling (and lots of action too). Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings is also a good bet too, though it's a better book all round (not a standalone). Give The The Death Gate Cycle a gander too -- you'll love the ultra powerful magicians, lost magic, and magic magic magic till you drop atmosphere. For a less known, but fun fantasy (stable boy to magic hero conceit) series to read that's also heavy on the magic, A Man of His Word by Dave Duncan is recommended -- if you can get your hands on it, it's been out of print for a few years, though I think you can buy the Kindle version. Also read Lev Grossman's very compelling The Magicians for a postmodern (and quite depressing) fantasy look at what life as an all-powerful magician might be like.
#12: Lord of Light (Roger Zelazny)
Amazon Book Description
Earth is long since dead. On a colony planet, a band of men has gained control of technology, made themselves immortal, and now rules their world as the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Only one dares oppose them: he who was once Siddhartha and is now Mahasamatman. Binder of Demons. Lord of Light.
Zelazny is one of the classic Science Fiction and Fantasy writers of the previous generation that just can't get any love on the modern fantasy lists. Still, the man was a marvel of a writer and cooked together one of the best fantasy series out there, Amber. He's got a "style" that's not for everyone, but his novels are worth reading and a good deal better than a lot of the trash you'll find in the books stores. His Lord of Light is probably his best reviewed book -- and with good reason. The book features a mishmash of sci-fi, Hinduism, and good old fashion violence. I've seen the book called a science fiction western, and I agree. The wording is purposely overflowery, but the whole book is an experience that will wash over you. If you are in the mood for a fantastical novel with a lot of sex, violence, superheroes, and eastern mysticism, Lord of Light hits the mark. And heck, even if you're NOT in the mood for that sort of thing, read the damn book!
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For a very similar, but with more straightforward diction and no eastern mysticism, novel, read Dan Simmon's Ilium, which is sort of the same concept of Lord of Light, but replace the eastern mysticism and characters with greek mythology and greek heroes. A great novel (there is a Olympus). If you like the style of Zelazny, you should read his Chronicles of Amber.
#13: Perdido Street Station (China Mieville)
If you are tired of all that "high" fantasy present in the fantasy genre and want a delicious bite of something else, Perdido Street Station delivers that. I don't think I have the descriptive powers of the written word to describe the weirdness of Mieville's books. But fear not, while his books differ from the High Fantasy that the majority of you readers have only ever read (and yes, there is more to the fantasy genre than Harry Potter and Twilight)
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If you like the Perdido Street Station, then you should read the rest of China Mieville's fiction. Particularly good is Un Lun Dun and The Scar
If words like bizarre., weird, dark, dreamlike, intelligent, non-traditional fantasy excite you, then you should look at Jeff Vandermeer's City of Saints and Madmen a read (and his other books). Mieville and Vandermeer are some of the more popular postmodern fantasy writers today.
Another book that mashes the weird into a palatable fantasy tale would be Michael Swank's The Year of Our War. You might also like The Etched City by K.J. Bishop -- a dark fantasy western that's takes strange concepts and characters and even stranger settings and mashes them together in a way that Mieville would be proud.
I would be doing you a disservice NOT to recommend Peak's wonderfully atmospherically realized world of Gormenghast.
For another urban fantasy writer who writes postmodern fantasy that's a bit more grounded in reality (and less complicated to read) give Charles de Lint a go.
#14: The Curse of Chalion (Lois McMaster Bujold)
Amazon Description
A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril returns to the noble household he once served as page and is named secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions.
But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge -- an act that will mark him as a tool of the miraculous . . . and trap him in a lethal maze of demonic paradox.
Lois McMaster Bujold is well known in science fiction circles for here. Her "The Curse of Chalion" is a marvelous foray into the realm of fantasy. "Chalion" is a spanish-influenced fantasy with a lot of personality to it. It's got all the elements that make a good fantasy novel: emotion, drama, and of course, some good romance all set in a budding European (Spanish)-influenced fantasy saga. If you are heavy into action fantasy (ala Terry Goodkind, Robot Jordan, Raymond Feist), you may find Chalion not to your liking. Let me be clear here, Chalion is not an action fantasy tale by any sense of the word. There are no super heroic heroes who can slay anything walking with a wink, there are no all powerful god magicians that can break the world simply by flatulating, rather it's a serious story about redemption, love, and sacrifice. It's a well written tale that has a lot to offer those who enjoy well written, well-plotted fantasy.
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Bujold has two other non-direct sequel books in the same universe as Chalion that you should read: Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed Hunt. You should read them if you like Chalion. You might want to also venture into her awesome heroic science fiction series (Miles Vorkosigan).
For another author that really focuses on characterization and plot, check out Robin Hobb's works. You should start with The Farseer Trilogy.
For those who enjoy romantic, well-plotted fantasy with more emphasis placed on characters and plotting rather than action and magic, you might look at SOME of Guy Gavriel Kay's works such as his The Lions of al-Rassan and A Song for Arbonne.
#15: War for the Oaks (Emma Bull)
Amazon.com Description
Eddi McCandry sings rock and roll. But her boyfriend just dumped her, her band just broke up, and life could hardly be worse. Then, walking home through downtown Minneapolis on a dark night, she finds herself drafted into an invisible war between the faerie folk. Now, more than her own survival is at risk—and her own preferences, musical and personal, are very much beside the point.
My recommendation for urban fantasy standalones is War for the Oaks, a very clever story about a singer who gets caught up in a Faerie war. Yes, we've all been inundated over and over with Faerie this and Faerie that, but War for the Oaks is something new. Or rather say, it's something old that's still better than a lot of the new stuff (book was released in the late 80's.). It's won a gaggle of fantasy awards over the years, in case you think I'm just blowing smoke over an "unknown" novel. Even better, if you're a fan of rock and fantasy, this book is God's gift to you. For the rest of us, it's a damn swell story that's one of the best standalone books in its class.
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What can I possibly recommend for faerie-related novels. Quite frankly, there's a zillion fantasy books about fairies, from romantic ones to dark horror ones, to sappy Twilight teeny-bopper series. I'll recommend the best I've stumbled across.
For the closest book I've read that's similar to War for the Oaks, give Holly Black's Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale a good read. It's an edgy, intensely gritty modern faerie tale that should satisfy Emma Bull fans who those who want a darker sort of story. Ostensibly, it's a YA book (the protagonist is 16), but it's so dark and jaded, I don't see how that's the case.
For another girl-versus-urban-faeries-and-finds-self-empowerment tale, you can give the Wicked Lovely series a read. This one is less dark than Holly Black's Tithe and it's several books long. Women who love romance will especially like the series.
If you like books that deal with individuals getting caught up in Faery court wars, Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files feature a wizard who keeps getting mixed up with Faerie politics (especially the fourth book in the series, Summer Knight, which is only about Faerie politics and intrigue).
For a horror Faerie Tale, read Raymond E. Feist's Faerie Tale a good read.
For an interesting take on the whole Faerie mythos (about a boy who is stolen away from his parents and forced to live with Faeries) read Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child.
#16: Fevre Dream (George R.R. Martin)
Amazon Description
When struggling riverboat captain Abner Marsh receives an offer of partnership from a wealthy aristocrat, he suspects something’s amiss. But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. For York doesn’t care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh’s dilapidated fleet. Nor does he care that he won’t earn back his investment in a decade. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. And they are to be none of Marsh’s concern—no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious his actions may prove.
Marsh meant to turn down York’s offer. It was too full of secrets that spelled danger. But the promise of both gold and a grand new boat that could make history crushed his resolve—coupled with the terrible force of York’s mesmerizing gaze. Not until the maiden voyage of his new sidewheeler Fevre Dream would Marsh realize he had joined a mission both more sinister, and perhaps more noble, than his most fantastic nightmare...and mankind’s most impossible dream.
Here is the spellbinding tale of a vampire’s quest to unite his race with humanity, of a garrulous riverman’s dream of immortality, and of the undying legends of the steamboat era and a majestic, ancient river.
This is one of the best "vampire" books on the market. Think Mark Twain meets Dracula. I'm usually not a big fan of vampire stories -- they've been done to death and there is very little in the way of originality or plot to most of the vampire fiction out there. Fevre Dream is different, however. Forget about the sappy Twilight novels and the bodice ripper Anne Rice novels, Fevre Dream is a real novel: complex, horrific, and intelligent. It's a novel that won't let you go till the last page is turned. George Martin is, of course, most famous for his Song of Ice and Fire series, but his Fevre Dream is a stellar standalone horror fantasy that's worth a read. So if you are in the mood for a good scary fantasy tale, I can't recommend better than Fevre Dream
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If you like horror fantasy, you should read Terror by Simmons (also on this list). Delicious and spine tingling scary. Raymond Feist's Faerie Tale is also another great "scary" standalone "horror tale."
And of course, I should recommend other vampire fiction. There's a million vampire books out there, but there are a handful that stand out above the rest. Here's my recommendations for other vampire fiction worth reading: Dracula by Bram Stoker -- the book that launched a thousand imitations -- is a must read. Salem's Lot by Steven King ties together the classic Kind style horror (small town where residents are disconnected from each other where pockets of evil can fester and hide, a few good people who band together to fight evil, etc). I Am Legend by Richard Matheson which is sort of survivor meets Dracula. And Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons -- a good book by a damn good author. For a Vampire book that does something new with the genre, read Peeps by Scott Westerfield.
#17: Heroes Die (Matthew Woodring Stover)
You won't find a more bloody novel than Heroes Die. For those who have the stomach for the raw bloodfest this book entails, Heroes Die is unlike anything out there. It's raw, vicious, action-packed, and a pretty intelligent story to boot. Not for the week of stomach though. Heroes Die also made The Top 25 Best Fantasy Book list. So, read it.
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You should read the other two "sequel" books to Heroes Die first. They continue the story of Caine, but Heroes Die can certainly stand completely on it's own.
You'll probably like Brent Week's The Night Angel Trilogy which features lots of action and an assassin hero. Read the The Farseer Trilogy if you want another tale about an Assassin. Fareer is more about characterization and world building than raw action, however (the character, though an assassin, is not the "bad ass beats up the world" character you'll find in Week or Stover's books). Another book you may is Paul Hoffman's The Left Hand of God. You can read my The Left Hand of God review.
#18: The Neverending Story (Michael Ende)
This is my ode to the classic coming-of-age fantasy tale. The Neverending story is often overlooked when it comes to all the new gritty fantasy that's trying to reinvent the fantasy genre. If you want to a tale that will re-awaken and delight your inner child, The Neverending Story is as good as they come. For those who hated the movies based on the novel, fear not -- they did a sordid job telling the real story.
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If you are a fan of The Neverending Story (you know, those sort of magical books you loved as a "kid" that were full of adventures where heroes always win and the boy always saves the girl and the unfairness of life is eventually balanced out by the end of the novel; that is until you grew up and got a job and realized that never really happens), The Princess Bride would appeal to you. The Chronicles of Narnia, though not a standalone, are another set of books that delight the inner child. Shall I also mention the obvious Harry Potter series? And let's throw out The Hobbit while we're at it.
#19: Best Served Cold (Joe Abercrombie)
This is the new style of 21st century fantasy. It's vivid, raw, and oh so vicious. Best Served Cold is a standalone fantasy noir by Joe Abercrombie (author of The Blade Itself). If you like blood, gore, sex, violence all propped up with some devastatingly witty writing, then you'll love Best Served Cold, the mother of all revenge tales. Note, this is a standalone novel but I suggest you read The First King trilogy first for the background information, though you won't be lost if you don't. It helps to have read Abercrombie's other books in the same world (The First Law trilogy), but you certainly don't need to.
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The Heroes, Abercrombie's newest standalone, set in the same world as The First Law Trilogy and Best Served Cold. All reading The Heroes you'll truly know the meaning of the word "war sucks." And as for The First Law trilogy, Abercrombie take the conceits of The Lord of the Rings and reinvents (arguably twisting) them into something new and interesting.
For author authors who write in the same vein (what I call modern fantasy), check out The The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and The Darkness That Comes Before by R Scott Bakker. Books that also emphasis grey characters and gritty realistic worlds with a dark and dirty edge to them: try Chronicles of the Black Company by Glenn Cook, the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson, and Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin.
#20: A Wizard of Earthsea (Ursula K. Le Guin)
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Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea is a classic tale about a boy's journey to become a wizard. Yes, and before you roll your eyes, this book is not another Robot Jordan clone. In fact, it predates The Wheel of Time and company by a few years. A Wizard of Earthsea is a beautiful tale, where the beauty lies not only in the story itself but in the actual telling. The tale is a well written one and the language is used is beautiful. Le Guin doesn't butcher the English language like many of her more modern contemporaries do (cough Terry Goodkind, cough). Now at the end of the day what makes a story good is the actual story, and A Wizard of Earthsea is indeed a good story. Really, banish your jaded skepticism about this overdone conceit because Le Guin outdoes most of the other similar tales and in a much reduced page count! It's not a big book but this is a tale of quality and not quantity. Strictly speaking, A Wizard of Earthsea is part of a quartet series, BUT I've added this book this list of standalone books because it can be read as such. You don't have to read any of the sequel novels (in fact, A Wizard of Earthsea is the best of the bunch). So if you want to be swept a way with a classic village boy to master wizard tale, then you're going to love this book. A Wizard of Earthsea IS my favorite novel with regards to the boy villager becoming a wizard conceit
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For other tales that focus on beautiful writing and beautiful storytelling, Lord of the Rings is a given here. Sean Russell's The Swan's War trilogy also employs a similar writing style to Le Guin's Earthsea where magic is mysterious, words are a pleasure to read, and the story is poignant, lyrical and such a joy to read.
If you are looking for other books that use the same conceit (boy villager to mighty wizard), you can head to any fantasy aisle at your local bookstore and randomly pick out a book. Chances are, that's what the book will be about. As for QUALITY books featuring that conceit, here are the best recommendations. Raymond E. Feist's Magician is a sure bet for the same kind of tale. Robert Jordan's a The Wheel of Time is another one (no standalone found here though). Brandon Sanderson's excellent The Way of Kings employs the same sort of conceit with one of the characters and it's a thrilling (but looong) read. The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett does a great job telling the tale of a village boy who becomes something great. As much as I loath to recommend it, Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule (just ignore the rest of the Sword of Truth series as it all goes downhill) does a decent job with the whole conceit even if the actual telling of the tale sort of ruins it. And probably the best known "classic" boy to wizard tale would be The Belgariad by David Eddings, though I would classify this as Beginner's Fantasy, it’s still a great read if you enjoy the classic, uncomplex fantasy tale. If you want more village boy to hero recommendations, look at the Best Fantasy Books list as there are a lot of those recommendations there.
#21: The War of Flowers (Tad Williams)
For a Fair Tale well done, look no further than Tad William's The War of Flowers. It makes the classic 'man-goes-into-the-fairy-realm' tale proud. Williams is really a talented writer, having churned out Memory, Sorrow, Thorn saga, the Otherland saga, and his recently finished Shadowmarch series (an epic fantasy tale about fairies!). Basically, the man's got a pedigree in fantasy and knows how to write pretty damn interesting books. Williams usually spends a LOT of time building up his books and it can take some time to really get into the meat of the story (like a few books into a series), but since The War of Flowers is a standalone, you don't have any of Williams usual ponderous world building to wade through. Basically, you get his excellent storytelling compressed into 500 words. It's a win win for any fantasy fan who's tired of epic stacks of fantasy book sagas to wade through. So, if you like fair tales, romance, and adventure, then you are going to love The War of Flowers. You can also feel proud that you've saved the environment by not supporting the killing of excess trees while you are at it.
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Let's start with the fairy tale conceit. Shadowmarch is William's other novel that incorporates the fairy myths. It's sort of Robot Jordan having an affair with the Grimm bothers and the resulting love child Shadowmarch the progeny from the union. A good series to read. Richard Matheson's Other Kingdoms is an salaciously entertaining novel about a man who gets caught up in the affairs of the hidden fairly lands. For a horror fairy tale, Feist's Faerie Tale is a good (and chilling) read about evil fairies. Even if you don't like Feist's other works (his Midkemia series), you'll probably enjoy his Faery Tale. Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child is a poignant and well written tale about a boy who's stolen away by fairies as a child. Another standalone book that involves fairies and fairy myths is Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
#22: God's Demon (Wayne Barlowe)
Heaven and Hell books are a semi-popular fantasy genre. My pick for one of the more exciting books is God's Demon by Wayne Barlowe. Lucifer, rather than being that despicable guy that everyone loves knock as being the evil force is good. He loses the battle for heaven and get's kicked out of heaven and into hell then dies. Well all the fallen angels kind of go pychotic except for fallen angel Sargatanas who doesn't want to play at being a demon anymore. After being separated from God and heaven for countless eons, he decides to mount a revolt against Lucifer's regent, Beelzebub, in a desperate attempt to get back to Heaven.
God's Demon is an interesting thing and it does something completely new with the classic heaven and hell conventions. It poses the question: can evil find redemption. Those who like military fiction, action, heroes, and just thrilling reads will find it hard to put this book down.
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There are a few other interesting books that fictionalize the whole Heaven and Hell, Angels and Demons, God and Satan dichotomies. Probably the best written one I can recommend is Mark J. Ferrari's The Book of Joby. A marvelous (and long!) book about a contest between God and Lucifer with some poor much (Joby) who's used as the experiment. Yes, anyone who has studied the bible will see the connections between Joby and Job. I'm just glad I'm not that poor smuck.
If you want a sort of twisted, erotic, dark fantasy version of hell where Satan is good and God is the bad guy where torture and rape are common, read Anne Bishop's The Black Jewels. It sounds pretty twisted but it's actually pretty entertaining.
If you want one of those sappy romance novels with good plotting and characterization about Archangels falling for pretty human girls, read Sharon Shinn Samaria trilogy.
My final recommendation for a good "Heaven gone wrong" page turner is The Shivered Sky by Matt Dinnaman.
#23: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (N.K. Jesmin)
This is technically part of a trilogy, but the book can be appreciated on it's own merit with no need for sequels. N.K. Jemisin's debut novel had the force of publisher hype behind it, but fortunately much of that hype was merited. If points could be given for creativity, then N.K. Jesmin would score a few thousand for this novel (we'd put someone like Terry Goodkind in the single digits). The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is part of that new sort of fantasy, as distinct from its ancestors as you are from your grandparents. But at the end of the day, the roots are there. The writing is elegant and the plotting complex and the novel at times, confusing. If are the sort of person who loves the boundless imagination made possible only in fantasy, get your hands on this book. If you are a sucker for murder, mystery, love, and painful truths, buy this book. Many of the characters (especially the female lead) are ink and paper truly made bone and breath. They are vividly real straining to leap from the bounds of paper and into your minds as real characters. Well worth your time reading this? It's not a novel that will please everyone, but overall, hell yea.
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You might like Daniel Abraham The Long Price Quartet series.
#24: The Etched City (K. J. Bishop)
The Etched city was formed from the love union between Stephen King and China Mieville. If you want a more complex fantasy novel with a good dose of the bizarre, a sprinkle of noir, and a dash of pathos, The Etched City is it. You'll find a lot of comparisons with King's The Dark Tower as both novels feature a dark, brooding hero tromping through a wasteland of a world. But the stories, in terms of similarities, end there.
Bishop is a strong storyteller with a keen knack for crafting characters that don't fit into the normal mode. You won't find those canned fantasy characters such as the spoiled princess, the dumb hero, the evil dark mage, etc. Rather, you will be presented with a cast of (sometimes despicable) characters, human warts and all.
Let me emphasize that if you are looking for standard fantasy (village boy discovers secret power, gathers up companions including a beautiful princess in disguise, and sets off to fight a dark lord), you should look to other authors. But if you want an entirely different kind of fantasy, a dark, dirty, sensual fantasy where the norms are still yet undefined, where you can root for evil to win and the wretched to victory. Yes, it's that kind of novel. Don't think you can fit The Etched City into your standard fantasy. Reading this book is like going on a trip and experiencing something bizarre -- it's likely the experience may not be entirely comfortable when it's happening, but afterwards you wouldn't trade it for the world. The Etched City is not always a comfortable read, nor is it a casual read. Concentration and attention on your part is required, but if you are prepared to put in the effort of reading the novel (and it's not such an effort as you might think), there is a potent and wonderful story to lose yourself in.
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If you like the wasteland and dark hero aspect of The Etched City, Steven King's wonderful The Dark Tower series is the obvious recommendation. China Mieville with his books featuring bizarre landscapes and even more bizarre characters would be another author to pick up. If you like the dark bizarre style of The Etched City, I have a feeling you may enjoy the Jeff Vanermeer's Veniss Underground.
#25: The Once and Future King (T. H. White)
This novel is the hallmark classic read of every upper level English clash at universities around the world. It's also the defining Arthurian tale and a novel that you will either have a vast loathing for or an endearing love of. If you are a fan of Arthurian myth, you would be doing yourself a disfavor by avoiding what's pretty much considered the seminal work in the field. This novel folks is "the quintessential literary fantasy" novel. I suspect that many of you "modern" fantasy readers who've been weaned by the likes of Raymond E. Feist, Robert Jordan, and Terry Brooks who enjoy heavy action and thick magic may find The Once and Future King too taxing to read. If you are the sort of person that enjoys reading real literature or you want to broaden your "fantasy horizons" quite substantially, or hey you just want to read the "real" tale of King Arthur, read this book.
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Let's base this strictly on other good Arthurian works of fantasy. You should read The Mists of Avalon if you are even remotely interested in Arthurian fiction. Even if you aren't, read it. Stephen Lawhead's excellent The Pendragon Cycle will give fill your Arthur craving with a solid number of compelling books in the saga.
You'll probably like The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart as well which is another retelling of the Arthur myth but this one about Merlin. If you want to read the Arthur myth in a different light (some might even argue "a whole new light" even) from a more historical fiction light rather than fantasy one, give Jack Whyte's The Camulod Chronicles a read.
Other Top Recommendations
If you are still wanting MORE recommendations for fantasy books that are not in a series, here are a few more that are a cut above the rest and ones that ALMOST made it onto this list as the best of the best stand alone fantasy. Indeed, you may indeed find some of these are on your own personal top stand alone fantasy book list!
- The Golden Key (Melanie Rawn)
- Faerie Tale (Raymond E. Feist)
- Death of a Necromancer (Martha Wells)
- The Barbed Coil (J.V. Jones)
- Deerskin (Robin McKinley)
- The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin)
- The Dispossesed (Ursula K. Le Guin)
- The Last Unicorn (Peter S Beagle)
- The Shivered Sky (Matt Dinnimin)
- The Book of Joby (Mark Ferrari)
- Finch (Jeff Vandermeer)
- The Color of Magic (Terry Pratchet)
Related Book Lists
This is just going to bug me. I want to take your advice, and read your most highly recommended books first, but look:
BEST FANTASY LIST BEST STAND-ALONE LIST
Etched City 14 24
Jonathan Strange 19 7
American Gods 21 2
Magician 24 11
Tigana 35 1
Elantris 43 6
Talion 53 4
Curse of Chalion 63 14
How do I reconcile, for example, that Etched City, Jonathan Strange, American Gods, and Magician are all on your "Top 25" list, yet Tigana is recommended before any of them on your "Stand Alone" list? I'm not asking this to be a pain, I'm just confused as to which list accurately relates your order of recommendation, or does the given order have another meaning? Thanks...
Okay, my spacing got all wonky there, but I think you see my point. The two lists don't reconcile with each other if they're supposed to be in order of most recommended with least recommended.
I find it interesting that many of the books on this "Stand Alone" list are part of a series.
Thanks for all the great suggestions! I was so pleased to see some of my favs on your lists throughout the site. My favorite book of all time, so far,100 Years of Solitude, didn't make it though, which made me curious about the definition of the fantasy genre. Does 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez not qualify? I know, its realistic, but does magical realism not qualify as fantasy? I always felt like I was entering another world whenever I picked it up.
HI..thanks for thwe wonderful website which has introduced me to loads of terrific books over the last 2 years...
The Ninth Circle By Alex Bell ( kind of ludlum meets dante)
The Book with no Name ( tarantino meets dracula)
I would recommend both of these very strongly...they are more urban/dark fantasy/thrillers but both have definite fantasy elements in them
cheers
Could you please, please, please, PLEASE! (!!!!) proof-read the text before publishing to the website. I know I may seem like a bit of a fuddy-duddy saying this, but it just looks so sloppy to have spelling errors and discrepancies in grammar - it lowers the credibility of the reviews and recommendations contained in website.
I have just finished reading Legend by David Gemmell and I believe it should at least be on the top 25. I saw where you mentioned it below Talion, but after reading Legend I would have to say it was much better. The story of Druss is heroic fantasy at its best. I happened by the book after looking around some fantasy lists and I am thankful I did. The story is well worth the read and deserves to be standing alone in the rankings not first, but somewhere in the top 25.
"The Year of Our War," listed as a similar recommendation under "Perdido Street Station," is by Steph Swainston, not Michael Swank.
I have to say I thought The Once and Future King was absolutely painful to read as is often the case with anything quoted as being the seminal work in any genre. It remains one of the few books I couldn't finish. Iam enjoying getting new recommendations from your site however, my list so far should keep me busy for a few years already.
Im not sure if this particular book would go as far as the best but I certainly think its a good one. Its Beyond the Hanging Wall by Sara Douglass(you probably dont like some of her other books). I think its a really good young adult fiction book. Have you read it? I do recommend it. It's plotline is somewhat unoriginal I guess with basically a young prince kidnapped and hid away by a jealous uncle who was next in line after the prince. The prince is saved(after several years) and takes back the throne. Although what I truly enjoy I guess is how she writes not by her creativity although the world in which the story is set in is pretty original I guess...