What Classic Fantasy Novels Should Everyone Read?

[ShannonA]

Based on C.W.'s thread about SF novels (http://forum.xenagia.net/showthread.php?t=19), what fantasy novels should every read? As with the other, you're limited to just five, and you're really trying to provide a basis in the genre.

My 5 would be:

1. The Hobbit by JRRT - A classic of the genre, much more approachable than Lord of the Rings.

2. The Chronicles of Amber by Zelazny - Fantasy at its most mysterious and most action-oriented, far, far from the conventions of the genre.

3. A Wizard of Earthsea by LeGuin - I don't think this holds up as well as some others, but it's nonetheless a pivotal book, with great depictions of magic and dragons.

4. Elric of Melnibone by Moorcock - This was the last spot I filled in, and it was a tough called between Leiber, Moorcock, and Howard, all of whom I think really define fantasy at its pulpiest--which is, I suppose, to say swords and sorcery. Moorcock won out because of the ways he varies from the fantastical norm, and because I think his world-building was ultimately superior.

5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by Rowling - A somewhat reluctant suggestion since I don't think it's that well-written, but nonetheless a pivotal book in both modern fantasy and fantasy set in the modern day.

[The Last Conformist]

Isn't Harry Potter a bit new to be a "classic"?


I do think that if you want to understand the fantasy genre you should read The Lord of the Rings. It is indeed not as approachable than The Hobbit, but then that is a very low bar. I read and loved LotR at ~11yo, and my remedial reading and writing teacher would tell you I was no born reader.

[Jack]

Game of Thrones- Modern Classic in the making but still a classic, IMO

Eyes of the Dragon- One, because it's damned good. Two, because it shows how writers can writer fantasy, not just fantasy writers. I'd have said Gunslinger but this is more self contained

LOTR and Hobbit

Narnia

Any of the Conan collections currently floating about.

[Jack]

Isn't Harry Potter a bit new to be a "classic"?

I would say it's a fair claim. Anything that big is bound to have some staying power.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I can't argue with Shannon's list. I'd waffle between The Hobbit and Fellowship of the Ring, but the latter is so slow to start that I'd settle on recommending The Hobbit.

As for Harry Potter, I think it's pretty firmly a classic.

[Anna]

I agree with Lord of the Rings, it might be a bit of a challenge, but I think it's worth it, just to say you've read it (even if, like me, you only read it once).

I would also like to add a couple of Pratchett books, not sure which ones, but since the beginning is a good place to start, why not The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic?

I also want to add the Lankhmar stories by Fritz Lieber. Very fun. :)

And last, but certainly not least, the Conan stuff by Robert E. Howard. Very epic, and the inspiration for a generation of fantasy heroes :D

[Wakboth]

Lord of the Rings is pretty much a must; love or hate Tolkien and his works, but their influence cannot be denied.
Some genuine Howard Conan; some very good collections have come out recently. Quintessential sword-and-sorcery.
For Pratchett, I would not start with TCoM and TLF, but rather with Mort; it's where he really starts hitting his stride, and the Diskworld becomes a place of its own instead of just a parody of fantasy.
Some Lord Dunsany; lovely, dreamy, occasionally ironic fantasies which were hugely influential in the development of the idea of alternate fantasy worlds.
G.R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series; it's very unforgiving, realistic and excellent fantasy. Modern classic indeed.

[O'Borg]

Lord of the Rings is pretty much a must; love or hate Tolkien and his works, but their influence cannot be denied.
For Pratchett, I would not start with TCoM and TLF, but rather with Mort; it's where he really starts hitting his stride, and the Diskworld becomes a place of its own instead of just a parody of fantasy.

IMO, this thread should be titled "What Classic Fantasy Novels Should Everyone Read (apart from LOTR, obviously) ?"
You can't possibly hope to talk classic fantasy without mentioning LoTR. It like talking about Formula One racing and not mentioning Ferrari.

Agree 110% with Mort as a starter for Discworld. It's my own recommendation to open the series.
I'd also agree with the Harry Potter nomination. You can't deny the impact the books have had on the public. I'm curious if its encouraged more people to read fantasy books that would otherwise stick to Tom Clancy or similar.

Personally I'd throw Feist's Riftwar saga and Edding's Belgariad into the mix too. I rather like Eddings characters and dialogue, plus writing a fantasy novel without the inclusion of elves dwarves haflings etc is something I feel folks miss when deriding his work.

[Zell]

The word 'classic' is a little fuzzy; impact on the direction of the genre? impact on the readership? sheer timeless quality? originality? I guess maybe a little of each.

So, I think Tolkien, Martin, and Rowling are undeniable.

Pratchett's body of work is astounding. I'd go with "Witches Abroad" rather than "Mort". The witches are cool, and Mort is a bit irritating at times. I'd also suggest that "Good Omens" was an important book.

I'm not sure about LeGuin and Moorcock. I would have to suggest that e.g. Anne Rice was every bit as important as they were, in her own way, and if we shift the notion of classic a bit, I agree with the poster above that Lord Dunsany could make a significant (posthumous) claim.

Hell, the Gormenghast trilogy might be a contender under some circumstances, and maybe the Thomas Covenant books by Donaldson.

[ShannonA]

I didn't include Dunsany, Peake, or for that matter Eddison, mainly because I find them boring;). I personally can't read much prose from that period and thus wouldn't suggest it to others. But clearly, they all impacted the fantasy genre.

[The Disgruntled Poet]

Here's my 5:

1. Lord of the Rings
2. Fafhrd & The Gray Mouser stories (not the "first" set with their "origin" stories, but the main pulpy stories Lieber wrote first)
3. Lovecraft's stories
4. Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance
5. Elric of Melnibone (or Gloriana or the Corum books..)

I left out Howard because I think he never really reached his peak as a writer, as influential as he's been. Lovecraft has the same worldview and Lieber does S&S better, with superb writing.

I was tempted to put in The Well of the Unicorn (Fletcher Pratt) or The Worm Ouroboros (E.R. Eddison), since I like those books so much. They are both novels that take you out of the current time and into a differently imagined world-- rather than a 20th/21st century story in different costumes. Tolkien does the same thing, of course.

The question is-- to get a basis of the genre. Well if you want a broad basis for what "fantasy novels" can be, I will go with my selection. If you want a representation of what's popular and what will be a common choice amongst many fans, it's a different list.

Not surprised to hear Martin, Pratchett and Harry Potter.. no one has spoken up for Robert Jordan yet? Did I miss it?

[The23SidedDie]

My 5:

1) The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle

Seriously, where's the love? This is a classic.

2) A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. LeGuin

The others in the series are very good. But this one I think is the one that means 'classic' the most. If that makes any sense.

3) The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkein.

Everything awesome about LotR, and none of the tedious. Though the story "Farmer Giles of Ham" is my very favorite.

4) Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

'Nuff said.

5) Nine Princes in Amber, Roger Zelazny

Doubly so. Though the series dwindled as it went on, this first book is stellar.