Top 25 Best Fantasy Books
"BestFantasyBooks.com guide to the Top 25 Fantasy Novels"
These are the creme de la creme of the fantasy genre. I've carefully chosen the top 25 fantasy books from hundreds of series and thousands of books. In my 20 or so years of devouring fantasy books, certain fantasy books have really stood out far above the rest. This list contains these books.
The Top 25 Fantasy Books list selects from a wide range of fantasy, from epic fantasy to detective fantasy, from well known series to obscure Fantasy, and from old fantasy books to brand new fantasy releases.
To include is to exclude, and alas, this list short and the fantasy books out there many. If my omission of your favorite author offends, my apologies, but you can? please everyone. For each fantasy book recommendation, I try to give some compelling reasons why the book stands out as one of the best fantasy books in the genre. I acknowledge that judging books is like judging beauty: it's in the eye of the beholder. Some people may like a book while others do not.
If you want to hear what other people are saying about these fantasy books, check out the comment link above each book. From time to time, people weigh in on the book and give their own opinion regarding how they liked or dislike the books. From the various emails I?e received, public comments on the list, and fantasy book forum comments given, it seems the majority of the fantasy-reading public agrees with my choices. Each of these books makes for some fantastic fantasy reading. Now you may notice that most (but not all) of these fantasy books are part of a series. You can read my the best fantasy books are usually part of a series for more details if you wish.
Read the Great Fantasy Books list for must-read Fantasy books that almost made the Top 25 Fantasy Books list. If you've read everything on Great Fantasy Books list, then check out the Good Fantasy Books list. These three lists contain some of the best fantasy books out there. Check out the Top 10 Speculative Fiction Book Lists for other (specific) fantasy and science fiction recommendation lists. And if you want to become part of our growing fantasy community, feel free to join the fantasy book forums.
#1: A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
Comments (64)
This brilliant series starts with A Game of Thrones. What can I say about this series other then read it! It's well-regarded as the best fantasy series.
Martin writes with flair, deftly weaving multiple storylines in a gritty, even brutal, world that consists entirely of grey characters instead of the classic black and white. It's a vast chess game spanning continents, and the pieces are lords, bastards, knights, wizards, ladies, and children. What really stands out in this series is Martin's penchant for axing the major characters. That's right. No character is safe from the author's noose. Despite the demise of major characters, the plot lines continue stronger than ever. Tired of protagonists walking through fire without a scratch, falling hundreds of feet without a bruise, and defeating superhuman creatures with the same amount of effort that one puts into scratching an arm? Then this series is your fix. The sheer unpredictability of the series renders a delectable experience. Dare you to predict the winners and losers? If you haven't read the series yet, read it! Chances are, you're going to be calling in sick the next day. It's that good.
Similar recommendations:
If you like Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga, try David Anthony Durham's Acacia
#2: The Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson)
Comments (26)
Erikson is a prolific writer. The Malazan Book of the Fallen saga currently has 8 books as of December 2008 and has two more scheduled for release. Erikson co-created the Malazan world with Ian Cameron Esslemont. Esslemont's novels, which are set in the same world as Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen, are considered as canonical as Erickson's own. Esslemont's novels are called Novels of the Malazan Empire. Erikson also wrote several novellas (short novels) set in his Malazan world. His two novellas follow the storylines of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and Emancipor Reese, three characters who appear briefly in Memories of Ice. I've listed all books from the Malazan universe. Read Malazan Book of the Fallen first, and if you can't get enough, read the Novels of the Malazan Empire books and the Novellas which follow some of Erikson's characters. Click on the book images to get the Amazon book descriptions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Novels of the Malazan Empire Malazan Novellas
 
 
 
 
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Similar recommendations:
Similar recommendations: George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga
also features an epic scope and the grey characterization
that Erickson so loves. Martin's' work is smaller is scale though and tends to be more focused, plot wise. You can also try Scott R. Baker's
The Darkness That Comes Before
saga, which is an alternative history saga, were the Roman Empire has never fallen and magic works. Oath of Empires is epic,
featuring massive magical battles and huge opposing armies (Persian and Roman) clashing so hard you can hear the horses scream. Also
give James Barclay's The Cry of the Newborn
#3: The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)
Comments (25)
In one of the most remarkable fantasy debuts ever, Patrick Rothfuss joins the celebrated ranks of Martin, Erikson, and Tolkien as one of the master tale-spinners. The biography of the legend, The Name of the Wind delves deep into the inner workings of Kovthe, a boy who dares to challenge destiny. The Name of the Wind is Patrick Rothfuss's debut novel, but oh what a powerful debut it is! This is one tale you do not want to miss.
Similar recommendations:
If you like The Name of the Wind, you might like Robin Hobb's The Farseer Trilogy
#4: Tigana (Guy Gaveriel Kay)
Comments (12)
A novel of adventure, love, and betrayal, Tigana is an emotional masterpiece that delves deeply into the human soul. A masterpiece of fiction, Tigana has transcended the fantasy genre to become a work of literature. If you are looking for a multi-series epic fantasy, look elsewhere. But anyone who enjoys unconventional fantasy with a cast of ambiguous characters and a haunting story will enjoy this novel immensely. This book will literally wrench tears from even the most jaded. In a world where the waistline of Fantasy books is ever expanding, Tigana proves that you can write a compelling fantasy story in a single book.
Similar recommendations:
Kay has written a good deal of fantasy and all of it's great. If you like the sheer emotion of Tigana,
read Sailing to Sarantium 
#5: Lord of the Rings (J.R.R Tolkien)
Comments (11)
Tolkien's spent his life writing in the Lord of the Rings world. Tolkien pretty much has four "novel" type stories set in middle earth. I have listed them below in chronological order. Click on the book picture to get an Amazon book description. The Silmarillion is a prequel to the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. It details the entire history of Middle Earth, how it was formed, describes the history of the First, Second, and Third ages. If you want to really know the history of Middle Earth, and read some of the old tales, read the Silmarillion -- it's sort of the pre-story of the Lord of the Rings, a history of Middle Earth. Children of Hurin is Tolkien's old "new" novel that was recently released by his son, Christopher Tolkien. Christopher edited and completed one of Tolkien's unpublished works. It's a greatly expanded version of Chapter XXI of The Silmarillion, "Of Turin Turambar." and takes place long long before the Hobbit. The Hobbit is the precursor to The Lord of the Rings and pretty much a must read if you like Lord of the Rings. If you have never read Lord of the Rings, I suggest starting with the Hobbit then move on to Lord of the Rings. You can then read the Silmarillion and Children of Hurin
Similar recommendations:
What can I possibly recommend if you like Lord of the Rings? It's like trying to suggest steak when a person says they like beef.
Maybe they like hamburger, maybe they like roast beef; the bottom line is that they could like any type of beef dish! If you like
Lord of the Rings, you might like any Fantasy book, for Lord of the Rings is the father of all Fantasy. Regardless, I'll try and suggest a
couple books based off the "feel" of Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien has always been about the world in which his characters live, never about the characters which live in his world. He created a world
full of myth and legend, starkly real and full of mystery. There is always some strange power deep in a mountain, or some magical glade in
the heart of a forest. There are worlds deep in the world, and worlds high in the heavens. It's a land full
of wonder, a world too large to explore; it's an earth that still has mysteries and unknown lands.
There are several authors who recreate this type of world -- but with stronger characters and more meaningful relationships. Tolkien's characters
were always too perfect, too evil; their motivations are at best unclear and at worst, unrealistic.
If you like Tolkien, read The Wheel of Time
If you want a book that's like Lord of the Rings but longer, has strong female characters, and very strong characterization (better than Jordan's),
read Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
If you want the beautiful, almost lyrical writing of Tolkien and a world in which magic is present but still a grand mystery
(i.e. not every character is throwing around magic like kids throwing sand at a beach), Sean Russell's The Swans' War
For a 12th century version of Middle Earth set in a stark (English) European landscape that's as cold as the world is gritty and brutal, read
George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga
#6: The First Law (Joe Abercrombie)
Comments (19)
Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian - leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules. Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it. Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glotka a whole lot more difficult.
Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.
The Blade Itself is a rousing new entry to the fantasy genre. Joe Abercrombie takes all the classic fantasy conventions and spins them into something new. The Blade Itself features reluctant heroes, black humor, and breathtaking action. Seemingly a novel of contrasts, The Blade Itself is defined by its cast: a philosophical Barbarian who hates to kill, a dashing hero afraid to fight, and a crippled torturer with a heart of gold. The twisted plot and cast of unforgettable characters makes The Blade Itself an absolute must read.
Similar recommendations:
The Blade Itself
#7: The Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan)
Comments (31)
I can truthfully say that Jordan is the King of Fantasy, if not in complexity, then in page count. This monstrously big series spans over 13 massive books (each at least 700 pages). Including "A Wheel of Time" on this list invariably riles certain people. The past several years a new type of fantasy has come to the fore of the genre: gone are the hopefully optimistic village boys wielding magic swords on a quest to defeat the impossible; in their place, a gritty fantasy has arisen; a stark genre where the very conventions of what it means to be a hero are challenged: worlds are made of gray not black and white; heroes may be both a villain and savior; love is powerful, but ultimately ephemeral; heroes die and villains live. It's complex stuff that is often genre blending.
Robert Jordan harkens back to the old school days where village boys and dark lords chase each other endlessly across a landscape. However, I strongly feel that Jordan still deserves a place amongst the top of the genre. Jordan takes the classic fantasy trappings laid out by Tolkien, and weaves together a massively complex tapestry of politics, kingdoms, and magic. You won't find another author that breaths as much life into a fictional world. In many ways, Jordan, like Tolkien, has defined (for better or worse) one aspect of the modern fantasy tale. And he's perhaps one of the most popular fantasy writers in the market now. Love him or hate him, you owe it to yourself to at least read the first book.
Robert Jordan passed away this year; however, his final book "Memories of Light" is being completed by none other than Brandon Sanderson of Mistwalker fame -- a very talented guy who may just be able to bring the series to a rightful close. Apparently, Jordan knew he would not be alive to finish the last book and left very detailed notes and audio recordings outlining exactly how the series ends.
If you are a fan of audiobooks (I am, I prefer audiobooks over reading!) you will definitely want to check out the Audiobook version (Eye of the World)
.
I bought them and the Wheel of Time came alive an a whole new way.
Similar recommendations:
Give George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga
#8: The Farseer (Robin Hobb)
Comments (13)
Hobb has written 3 trilogies set in the Farseer world, which are listed below (click on the appropriate image to get an Amazon book description). The Tawny Man trilogy is a direct sequel to the Farseer trilogy. Liveship Traders takes place in the same world as Tawny Man and Farseer, but in a different country. There is one character present in Liveship Traders that is present in the other two trilogies.
 
 
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Similar recommendations:
Guy Gaverial Kay's Tigana
#9: The Darkness That Comes Before (R. Scott Bakker)
Comments (8)
Those looking for more of the "boy becomes wizard and defeats dark lord" books that litter the bargain bins of any bookstore, look elsewhere; The Darkness That Comes Before (and the two sequels) is fantasy for grownups. Cerebral to its core, The Darkness That Comes before is a new type of fantasy -- a philosophical meandering about existentialism. Oh, and it has enough action and bloodletting that even Rambo fans would appreciate. Combining the gritty realism of George R.R. Martin and epic scale of Steven Erikson, The Darkness That Comes Before will grip you harder than a vice. Reset assured that the two sequels, The Warrior King and The Thousandfold Thought maintain the excellent standard set by the first book. Scott Bakker has established himself as one of the genre's top fantasy authors.
Similar recommendations:
The vast scope of The Darkness That Comes Before 
#10: Mythago Wood (Robert Holdstock)
Comments (2)
An astounding journey into a strange other world, a world where tribes from different ages coexist, given life by the power of ancient myth and legends. In Ryhope Wood, mythical archetypes of primitive man come to life. For a fascinating Fantasy that's truly unique in the genre and a rattling good story, pick up a copy of Mythago Wood. I encourage you to give this novel a read; this novel demonstrates that there are other fantastic Fantasy subgenres out there other then the standard epic fantasy.
Similar recommendations:
The only other novel that explores similar themes is Neil Gaimen in his monumental work,
American Gods
#11: Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clarke)
Comments (10)
Similar recommendations:
Another book that comes deals with old fairy folk tales is Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child
#12: His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
Comments (10)
Similar recommendations:
Since His Dark Materials
#13: Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch)
Comments (6)
A web of schemes and frauds weave the pattern that makes up the Lies of Locke Lamora. Scott Lynch establishes himself as a fearless storyteller, thrusting his characters into a world doused with intricate historical and cultural information. One of the most refreshing (and unique) novels to arrive on the fantasy scene, Lies of Locke Lamora is an entertaining read that delivers on every promise it makes. Those fantasy fans riding the new wave of fantasy, pioneered by George R. Martin, China Mieville, Steven Erikson, and Scott Bakker will be delighted with Scott's effort.
#14: Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Stephen R. Donaldson)
Comments (12)
Stephen R. Donaldson changed the face of fantasy in 1977 with the publishing of Lord Foul's Bane (book one in The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant). It took the world by storm. Hailed as a masterpiece of fantasy literature, TC went on to sell over 6 million copies. And for good reason. Donaldson's magnum opus is regarded as one the most emotionally compelling fantasy works ever created. Covenant is through and through an antihero. From anti-hero to hero, from tragedy to victory, this is one man's quest to save The Land from Evil and in the process, find his own redemption? If you love fantasy, READ THESE BOOKS. Donaldson is one of the best characterization writers, ever. Donaldson is not afraid to explore the darker side of humanity, however. If you're looking for a saccharine fairly tale that brings a feely-good smile to the table, look elsewhere. If you want a riveting, darkly realistic tale about a flawed man's quest for redemption, you won't do better than Thomas Covenant.
Stephen Donaldson has three Thomas Covenant series: First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Second Chronicles of Tomas Covenant, and the recent series, the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Each series is chronological and follows the exploits of Thomas Covenant. I've listed the series by chronological order. Click on the pictures to read the amazon descriptions.
 
 
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Similar recommendations:
If you like his Donaldson's first trilogy
If you like the characterization of Thomas Covenant, you may like Tad William's epic fantasy Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
Donaldson also has a very interesting (and dark dark) Science Fiction saga
#15: American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
Comments (3)
American Gods is triumph of storytelling and a real look into the underlying, hidden assumptions of what it means to be American. A scary, somewhat strange hallucinogenic road trip, American Gods is quest to find the American identity. Gaiman captures the quintessential American truth: every person in America has roots from somewhere else. A crossover fantasy, American Gods is also a literary triumph. This is cerebral fantasy that's also a damn good tale. If you want some well-written, addictive fantasy that digs into the fabric of American society, American Gods delivers.
I suggest the Audiobook version
of the story. The narrator does a fantastic job of bringing Gaiman's creation to life.
Similar recommendations:
For other Fantasy concerned with myth and lengends coexisting (or struggling) with the modern world, read Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood
#16: Earthsea Cycle (Ursula Le Guin)
Comments (4)
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.
This is a coming of age story; leaps and bounds above the usual run of the mill boy-becomes-wizard-and-saves-world. With prose so good that you will want to lick the pages, and a story equally as enthralling, you will do no wrong buying this series. Lovers of Tolkien's Middle Earth will find themselves right at home in Guin's Earthsea. This is epic fantasy, but it's one of the best series out there. These books won a Nebula and Hugo award. This is the types of book you can read over and over, then some more. Touching, beautiful, at times sad, the Earthsea saga is one of the great masterpieces of fantasy literature.
Series listed by chronological order, from left to right. Click book image to see details. The first three four books follow the life of Ged. The fifth is a compilation of short stories set in the Earthsea world. The sixth (The Other Wind) returns to the story of Ged and concludes the cycle.
Similar recommendations:
Similar recommendations: J.R.R.Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
#17: Abhorsen Trilogy (Garth Nix)
Comments (5)
If you want a really chilling feeling, get the Audiobook version
of the series. The narrator does a superb job and the tale seems even more scary.
Similar recommendations:
A classic series kids around the world have grown up reading is The Chronicles of Narnia
#18: A Sword of Shadows (J.V. Jones)
Comments (2)
Similar recommendations:
Try George Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire
#19: Memory, Sorrow, Thorn (Tad Williams)
Comments (7)
Similar recommendations:
The Lord of the Rings
#20: Acacia (David Anthony Durham)
Comments (7)
Leodan Akaran, ruler of the Known World, has inherited generations of apparent peace and prosperity, won ages ago by his ancestors. A widower of high intelligence, he presides over an empire called Acacia, after the idyllic island from which he rules. He dotes on his four children and hides from them the dark realities of traffic in drugs and human lives on which their prosperity depends. He hopes that he might change this, but powerful forces stand in his way. And then a deadly assassin sent from a race called the Mein, exiled long ago to an ice-locked stronghold in the frozen north, strikes at Leodan in the heart of Acacia while they unleash surprise attacks across the empire. On his deathbed, Leodan puts into play a plan to allow his children to escape, each to their separate destiny. And so his children begin a quest to avenge their father's death and restore the Acacian empire?this time on the basis of universal freedom. ACACIA is a thrilling work of literary imagination that creates an all-enveloping and mythic world that will carry readers away. It is a timeless tale of heroism and betrayal, of treachery and revenge, of primal wrongs and ultimate redemption. David Durham has reimagined the epic narrative for our time in a book that will surely mark his breakthrough to a wide audience.
George R.R. Martin, take heed, you have a new challenger for the throne of kindoms! David Anthony Durham. The new kid on the fantasy block has some new moves that may even impress the old timers. Durham, a well known historical fiction author, brings his writing prowess to the fantasy genre. And what an effort it is! Acacia has all the elements that make A Song of Ice and Fire so compelling. Unpredictability? Check. Mysterious magic? Check. Fantastic world building and myth? Check. Political maneuvering? Check. Massive Battles. Check. Great characterization. Check. Fantastic writing? Check. A plot that grips and won't let go? Check. Should you read it? Double Check.
If you want a more immersive experience, I highly recommend the Audiobook version
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Similar recommendations:
Acacia is written in the epic Fantasy tradition that Tolkien pioneered. Epic Fantasy is probably the
most popular type of Fantasy and the real "poster boy" for the Fantasy genre (something that I personally believe should not
be the case). If you like Acacia, then it's a sure bet that you will love these other series.
You should definitely read George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire
#21: Magician: Apprentice and Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
Comments (15)
These two books are the books that launched the career of super popular fantasy author Raymond E. Feist. In my opinion, it's the best of his works. If you like his world, I suggest continuing on with the other two books in the Serpentwar Saga. I've listed his Midkemia books in chronological order by series. Each series is set in the same world that Magician is and are sequels, sort of. Feist has more books, but I've only listed the series that I feel are worth reading. His best by far are the two Magician books and his Empire Trilogy.
 
 
 
 
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Similar recommendations:
Feist's books always emphasize the heavy use of magic and loads of political tensions. If you like Feist?s style of storytelling
and his use of heavy magic, read Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time
#22: Heroes Die (Matthew Woodring Stover )
Comments (4)
Day of the Jackal meets Lord of the Rings, Heroes Die is a heart-pounding thrill ride that never brakes and one novel you don't want to put down. A blend of sci-fi and fantasy, Heroes Die is as good as they come. It's a unique world with some interesting concepts and a whole lot of blood. A world is only as good as its characters, and Stover's Caine is very very good. He's an anti-hero through and through, a man twisted by his own violence, confused between his role as a good guy superstar back on earth and his occupation as the best assassin Ankhana has ever seen. Caine ponders his morality of his actions all the while eviscerating his victims. Ultra violent, visceral and just damn cool, Heroes Die is a shrine to violence and Caine is the high priest. Those wanting a superb story that rushes along faster than a supersonic jet, with more action then you can shake a stick at need wait no longer.
Similar recommendations:
If you like the Assassin factor of Heroes Die, read Brent Weeks' The Night Angel Trilogy
#23: The Dark Tower (Stephen King)
Comments (15)
I especially recommend the fantastic AUDIOBOOK
version which really bring to life
the characters through the superb voice acting by the narrator. I'm a big fan of audiobooks and I find
they are much more immersive then just reading a book. Just put it on your ipod and those monotonous chores are not so boring after all! I particularly like to listen to audiobooks when driving.
Similar recommendations:
Read Steven King's The Talisman
#24: Dresden Files (Jim Butcher)
Comments (11)
Harry Dresden, a Sherlock with kick-ass attitude and wizard powers. This is some damn addictive detective fantasy. The series contains everything a fantasy book lover could want: magic, action, mystery, adventure, love, and sorrow. It also gets pretty damn dark by the later part of the series. Get ready to meet vampires, werewolves, wizards, fairies, and angles. Dresden is what Anita Blake should be. I'm not usually a reader of urban fantasy, but Butcher has converted me with this stunning series.
The whole series is listed in chronological order, from left to right. Click the book image to see the details. Note, Welcome to the Jungle is a prequel novel.
#25: Amber Chronicles (Roger Zelazny)
Comments (6)
Full of mystery, adventure, and romance, Amber is complex, lyrical, and a bit weird. It's one man's journey through a bizarre landscape as he seeks to find his past.
About Potter boy...
I think if I came to bookstore and asked for good fantasy and they offered me Potter book, I was already out of the store next minute...
I think Potter is just pop-reading for everyone, not real fantasy for sure.
Thanks for the list, going to try some books from it soon.
Btw I liked very much The Witcher books but I dont know how author's name spelled in English.
I really like this list. Nice variety. Although personally I prefer Hobb's Liveship series over the Farseer...mostly because I fell in love with those characters. hmmm ^^
And as for you weirdos who think Harry Potter and Twilight belong here...this list seems to pertain to types of people with a higher appreciation for literature. Yes Harry Potter was entertaining, cute, fun to read. However, when put on a scale where the unit of measurement is quality? I will recommend it to my far distant future children. As far as Twilight goes...I personally couldn't go any farther than the second book. If read one more line about how much Bella was enraptured by one of her mythical lovers, I was going to start tearing the pages apart with my teeth. Of course, this is all personal opinion =].
And once again to the creator of this list, very delicious!
this is total bull shit!!! there is no harry potter and twilight saga.
Harry potter is amazingly written. and you cant stop reading twilight once you start reading it...
i've read some of the books on your list, and i must admit, so far i agree that George RR Martin should be on the top of the list. Personally, though, a close second goes to Guy Gavriel Kay. And in my top 3, I also have Steven Brust. Not sure if anyone else has read his stuff, but very entertaining, refreshing, and very well written. I highly recommend it to anyone. I've read Jordan, Tolkien, Donaldson, and to be honest, they started off really good, but man, there were a number of times where it felt like the story just dragged on and on and on and on. And as much as I like Feist, Magician was great, but then it just dragged on too. I'd have to agree with a few of the other reviewers, Rowling's Harry Potter was surprising well written and great to read. Nothing like what I expected. And if you like historical fantasy, Mary Stewart did a terrific job with a retelling of King Arthur through Merlin's perspective. And as far as David Eddings, Fred Saberhagen, any of the Dragonlance books, Lackey, they're alright, but they definitely lose their luster, especially after reading Martin and Kay and Brust.
A few other authors I've heard were really good but i've not read yet and was wondering what others thought of them -- Laurell Kay Hamilton, Jacqueline Carey, Neal Stephenson?
I will admit to using the lists on this site as a "what's what" of books to pick up when I see them. So far I haven't been let down (although, I do have serious gripes with certain books, especially the excessively long recaps in Fool's Errand), although I found it impossible to get into any of Robert Jordan''s material. Very useful set of lists.
The "Why isn't this series?" comments made me cringe pretty badly, though. Eddings, while pleasant and easy to read, is not fantastic fantasy. It's wonderful, formulaic stuff that can be best summed up by the Redemption of Althalus. No need to read the Belgariad and Mallorean (in fact, I tend to suggest skipping the latter entirely.), never touch the Elenium or Tamuli (let's be frank, they're the same series for all intents and purposes) and I found the Elder Gods mindnumbing and couldn't get into it. Never touch Belgarath or Polgara. Terrible. As someone who has read the Belgariad many, many times and it's a standard fall back when I'm short of something to read, I do enjoy the books. However, enjoying them does not make them great fantasy. They're not.
Twilight isn't there because it's fluff fiction, Goodkind is fairly atrocious (and that's before I mock his philosophy and the fact that The Faith of the Fallen is a poor man's Fountainhead, which was terrible to start with); Rowling is good, but needed someone with firmer editorial control to stop her writing terrible scenes like the underground lake scene in Half Blood Prince (oh come on, that was straight D&D. It wasn't even pulled off particularly well); The Inheritance cycle is a poor man's Star Wars, and while I like RA Salvatore none of his works are quite as good as the ones I have read listed here.
Trudy Canavan is very nice easy fantasy, but all her series are the same. Seriously. The Black Magician Trilogy, Magicians Apprentice and The Age of the Five all follow pretty much the same structure, plot and base character - a girl who is naturally talented at magic, interested in healing and struggles with some evil force. Very readable, but very formulaic and not particularly incredible.
The Night Angel trilogy... Eh. It's readable, for sure, but it's not nearly as good as the Lies of Locke Lamora or the Name of the Wind. Not sure if I'd ever read it again, parts of it very much rubbed me the wrong way.
Katharine Kerr's Deverry Cycle is absolutely wonderful for the first four books. You're best off never reading any of the others, however. With the first four there's a sense of... Well, neatness. It works properly and feels thought out. The further you go, the less thought out it begins to feel. Always been something I hated about fantasy when authors decide to write endless sequels.
George RR Martin I have mixed views of. On the one hand I did appreciate his epic scale, excellent writing, politics and the wide variety of characters. On the other hand the fact that there were only about three characters worth a damn (Jon, Daenerys and Tyrion, with Jaime becoming more likeable in A Feast For Crows) made for some incredibly frustrating reading at times, especially while reading AFFC. Seriously, why write a filler novel where nothing happens, there is no action of any sort and you want to spend most of the novel hitting your head against a wall because the only saving grace of the novel was the few Arya chapters, then feeling outraged the next time you hit a Cersei chapter? I know it probably needed doing to get everything to fit, but he'd have been much better off if he hadn't put all his terrible characters in one book and left all the characters you actually want to read about for Dance With Dragons. Some balance, you know?
Anyway, many thanks for the lists, they've been useful for good reading material and suggestions to others for things to read. Hopefully you'll update this whenever some more good fantasy arises.
no harry potter? they have only sold more copies than all the books on there combined..you also leave out percy jackson series, which mind u if u havent read them i suggest that u do.
I think this list is full on bs. Harry Potter series are the most well written books like in the world, and they belong at #1. This list doesn't even have them and only mentions them as a suggestion. LOL, ahaha bullshit.
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth is one of the best I have read. Except that I love the list.
What about R.A. Salvatore he is one of the best i have read or maybe the Obsidian Trilogy yes it starts out slow but it becomes a great read.
there are also the forgotten realms and dragonlance Series that are pretty good.
Thank you for this great list.
My last months of reading followed very closely your recommandations and I was in for a treat !
Previously I had read more SF than fantasy and I only knew the works of JRR Tolkien, George Martin, Roger Zelazny, Ursula K LeGuin and Matthew Stover.
This list gave me a chance to discover some great new authors and the presentation of each author/series made it simple to decide what to read next in the same "writing style".
In my opinion, from the post 2000 authors, every literature reader (not only fantasy literature fans) with and IQ>120 owes to himself to read at least :
1.Matthew Stover
2.Joe Abercrombie
3.Scott Bakker
4.Steven Erikson
Maybe you'll do a updated top in a few years, with the newcomers 
should be there
Of the ones I've read on this list (about 3/4) I'd agree for the most part. I would have liked, however, to see Brooks, Goodkind, Eddings, Rowling, Lewis and Pratchett fit in somewhere. I agree completely with #1 though. Best series I've read. Let's hope he finishes it someday.
ok ok lets make things stragiht
1. Harry potter or lord of the rings
all of the others dont matter as long as these two are at hte top of the list
The Shannara series, by Terry Brooks, and the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey really motivated me to read more fantacy. The Genesis of Shannara series has pulled me back into that world and I've fallen in love all over again.
I was glad to see the Tomas Covenant series there as well.
I find it amazing that I've read many of the series listed... so many hours laying on the couch, or cot, loosing my reality to the whims of muse driven writers. I look forward to what the next batch of young authors produce. "Orcs" by Stan Nicholls promises to be another great series, and "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini another young author with great success.
Like many others here, I have to agree partly to this list. However my disagreement is not with the authors and series listed, it lies in the order they are set in. In my opinion, all these authors and novels deftly portray many different facets of reality.
To all of you who enjoy Goodkind, do you even consider the situations in the series? The main character rarely follows normal human development. He goes from simple woodsman to kingslayer, which is fine, but to go from woodsman to kingslayer, then to king, then to wizard, then to philosopher, all the while debating philosophical issues simply by stating he is correct goes past reason. His character changes too much to even remotely have started from what he was. You cant turn iron into diamonds, but you can forge a sword with it. His series does not follow human behavior.
So far I've mainly used this list to find other good works out there, as I have fully enjoyed several authors listed. Thank you for composing this list!