With Amazon's tv series Dune, there is certainly an appetite for films in the fantasy genre.
These films and shows often come from existing book series. For example, C.S. Lewis' The Chronicle of Narnia series contains magic, fantastical beasts, and the struggle between good and evil; all essential elements in any good fantasy story. Based on themes, characters, world-building, magic, relatability and more, Ranker has compiled a list of what fans view as the best fantasy book series.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have been changed after this publishing.
Tales of Discworld
Throughout a period of just over 30 years, English author Terry Pratchett wrote 41 books in the comic fantasy genre. What made his series so unique is that it parodies and satirizes other works in the realm of fantasy, science fiction, folklore and fairy tales.
This parody is clearly evident in the name itself. Discworld is literally a flat planet that rests on the backs of four elephants, which themselves rest on the back of a turtle. If that isn't enough to get readers hooked, there are many interesting characters, including Death. The beauty of this series is that a reader can read from any book in the series - there is no particular order.
The Dragonriders of Pern
Written by Anne McCaffrey, The Dragon Riders of Pern began in 1967 and is still going strong, with 23 books currently available. McCaffrey was the first woman to win the Hugo (best science fiction or fantasy works) and Nebula (best science fiction or fantasy works in the United States) awards respectively.
The science fiction series deals with humans colonizing the planet Pern and fighting a spore called Thread. It's a preindustrial society like medieval Europe which includes lords and dragons. However, what makes the series unique is that there are elements of technology also, such as flamethrowers and telescopes.
The Silmarillion
Many people recognize J.R.R. Tolkien for writing The Lord of the Rings, but they may not know that he also wrote The Silmarillion. This fantasy involves the creation of Tolkien's universe and the history up to and after the events detailed in The Lord of the Rings, thus giving context to it.
Influenced by Greek mythology (Numenor) and its gods (Valor), the book was named after the Silmarils, which were three jewels, similar to the MCU Infinity Stones. The main antagonist, Melkor, was betrayed by his lieutenant, Sauron. Ideas from The Silmarillion will most likely be explored in The Rings of Power.
The Mistborn Series
Since beginning the Mistborn series in 2006, Brandon Sanderson has written seven books totaling over 3,000 pages. Mistborn is a young adult high fantasy series that has remained quite popular with readers of all ages.
The characters are somewhat flat, yet the world-building is well-enough thought out to make up for it. It centers around the question, "What if evil conquered good and a tyrant was in charge?" However, it's the intricate magic system that sets it apart from the rest. After all, magic is a key part in any fantasy novel series.
The Stormlight Archives
One of multiple popular series written by Sanderson, there are currently four books with ten more in the works. Interestingly, The Stormlight Archives is set in the same universe as The Mistborn series, so fans of one series will likely be fans of the other.
The drawback is the length, but the strength is in the world-building. For example, the planet Roshar, ravaged by severe storms, is brought to light with impactful detail and acts as a memorable backdrop to parts of the story. Class structure is a key focus as well, but it's the idea of discrimination that really sets this series apart. Discrimination is unfortunately nothing new for the real world, but shifting the focus of this divide to something like eye color paints how trivial discrimination is at its core.
The Wheel of Time
The original author, Robert Jordan, ed away after writing 11 books in the Wheel of Time series, and Brandon Sanderson was brought on to finish the last three. The series began in 1990 and was finished up somewhat recently in 2013.
The Wheel of Time Amazon series drew both praise and criticism.
Dune
The original work from Frank Herbert began in 1965, and Dune has remained so popular (partly due to the giant sandworms) it has spawned many other works including books, novels, short stories, comics, films, tv adaptations, and games.
What makes Dune so intriguing is that the planet Arrakis is essentially a metaphor for the colonization of Africa. It contains a valuable resource, in this case, spice, that outside groups fight to attain. Dune: Part 2 is due next year.
A Song of Ice and Fire
In 1991, George R.R. Martin set out to make an epic fantasy series that began with the first novel, House of the Dragon.
Martin chose to focus each chapter on a certain character(s) perspective, so the reader gets a really good sense of that particular character(s) thoughts and feelings. The series is so popular because of its political intrigue and unexpected twists (often deaths). Everyone is fighting for control of the Iron Throne, which means betrayal and death lurk around every corner. The quality with which the characters are given depth makes it all the more heartbreaking (or satisfying) when they meet their end.
The Harry Potter Series
In a true rags to riches story, J.K. Rowling came to fame penning the story of the boy wizard. Harry Potter's story spanned seven books and became an inspiration for many other fantasy franchises.
The popularity of Fantastic Beasts prequel series. Perhaps this popularity stems from how relatable the character of Harry Potter is. Rowling made fans feel like they too could become a wizard.
The Lord of the Rings
Written over a span of 12 years, J.R.R. Tolkien created what Ranker fans vote as the best fantasy book series of all time. The books are so well-known that they have been translated in over 30 languages and have spawned numerous adaptations and parodies.
What makes Tolkien's work so impressive is the amount of detail put into the world-building. Influenced by real history, he created a unique world complete with its own lore, languages, and compelling characters. However, it's the themes Tolkien presents that define The Lord of the Rings. It's the ultimate battle between good and evil. In between that, there is tragedy, loss, hope, courage, and the costs of obsession. More importantly, it teaches readers that they have the ability to change the world if they have the will to do so.
