Best Fantasy Series
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- high fantasy, dark fantasy, heroic fantasy This list rates only the impact something had on me as an individual reader, not necessarily reflecting the impact on fantasy field in general, critical acceptance, etc. Plus I only put series here if I read them COMPLETELY, so many series would be absent. ___________________________ FIRST PLACE Best Fantasy Series J. R. R. Tolkien "Middle-earth series" China Mieville "Bas Lag series" ("Perdido Street Station"; "The Scar". "The Iron Council") _____________________________________________________ SECOND PLACE Best Fantasy Series C. S. Lewis "The Chronicles of Narnia" H. P. Lovecraft "Cthulhu Mythos series" _____________________________________________________ THIRD PLACE Best Fantasy Series Paul DiFilippo "Steampunk series" James Gunn "The Reluctant Witch series" Robert Holdstock "Mythago Wood series" Fritz Leiber "Fafhrd & Gray Mouser series" C. L. Moore "Jirel of Joiry series" Clark Ashton Smith "Zothique series" _____________________________________________________ FOURTH PLACE Best Fantasy Series Poul Anderson - Matuchek series ("Operation Afreet" etc) Nick Bantock "Griffin & Sabine" Harlan Ellison "Urban Gods - Deathbird stories" Richard Ford "Faradawn series" Daniel Handler (as Lemony Snicket) "A Series of Unfortunate Events" Paul Hazel "FinnBranch Trilogy" Stephen King "Dark Tower series" Ursula Le Guin "EarthSea trilogy" Mervyn Peake "Gormenghast series" J. K. Rowling "Harry Potter series" A. & B. Strugatskie "Monday begins on Saturday series" Roger Zelazny "Amber series" ------------ Also see: (full navigation tree) BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL: Best SF Novel (General Themes) Best Space SF Novel Best Time SF Novel Best Apocalyptic SF Novel BEST SCIENCE FICTION COLLECTIONS BEST SCIENCE FICTION SERIES: Best SF Series (general themes) Best Space SF Series BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVELLA: Best SF Novella 1920-1960 (general themes) Best SF Novella 1961-now (general themes) Best Space SF Novella 1920-1960 Best Space SF Novella 1961-now Best Time SF Novella Best Apocalyptic SF Novella BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORY: Best SF Story 1920-1960 (general themes) Best SF Story 1961-now (general themes) Best Space SF Story 1920-1960 Best Space SF Story 1961-now Best Time SF Story Best Apocalyptic SF Story BEST FANTASY NOVEL BEST FANTASY COLLECTION BEST FANTASY SERIES BEST FANTASY NOVELLA BEST FANTASY STORY: Best Fantasy Story 1920-1960 Best Fantasy Story 1961-now --------------------- RETURN TO MAIN PAGE Labels: best |
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"SF&F Reading Experience" is part of "Dark Roasted Blend / Thrilling Wonder" family of sites. We try to highlight the most entertaining and rewarding science fiction and fantasy, with emphasis on memorable reader experience, not necessarily general acceptance by the critics. Have fun, and delve into our extensive ratings and reviews! Most reviews are written by Avi Abrams, unless otherwise noted. Reviews also appear on our unique historical retrospective page Wonder Timeline of Science Fiction. Feel free to submit your own review, if a particular story is not listed here. All major OFFICIAL AWARDS are highlighted in BLUE ("winner" has a letter "W" by it, otherwise it is a runner-up only) Our PERSONAL AWARDS (ratings) are highlighted in RED and PURPLE: --/ first place : --/ second place : --/ third place : --/ fourth place : --/ cool : (equal to fifth place) ALL "BEST OF" LISTS ARE LOCATED HERE These awards are given in the following categories: - novel : - series : - novella : - story : - collection : Also, there are our personal STYLE / GENRE SPECIFIC AWARDS. These reflect the story's content and the lasting impression on the reader: --/ wonder award sense-of-wonder, "visual intensity" and inventiveness --/ idea award originality of idea / concept --/ adventure award exhilarating plot, excitement / action --/ style award outstanding literary qualities, inimitable style --/ romance award intense and beautiful love / relationships --/ humour award funny and cool --/ emotion award touching, lasting impression, sensitivity --/ shock value altogether wild --/ awesome scale mind-boggling; further enhances sense-of-wonder --/ rare find very hard to locate, mostly from old pulps, never reprinted, etc. Again, please feel free to leave your own review or comment under every writer's entry; also recommend us other stories you liked. |
2 Comments:
Every reader of SF/Fantasy has a favorite book or series they feel should be on one of your lists somewhere and, certainly, a case might be made for each. While each and every book and author presented deserves their place it astounds that The Goremenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake does not appear on any.
Peake was a master of the English language on a par with Tolkein, Dunsany, Lewis, and Lovecraft. Having read many of the novels appearing on your lists, not one author surpasses Peake's ability to craft characters, scenery, and story.
What makes The Goremenghast Trilogy even more appealing is that the series was never finished. It was originally intended to be seven books but Peake died before he was able to write the fourth novel. One is left "hanging" at the end of the third book and might feel cheated that the story was not finished. Or, like me, find that the rest of the story and its end are left to my imagination.
The Goremenghast Trilogy is not an easy read and it may take some readers many attempts to complete. If one does make the effort the reward is tremendous. I have recommended the series to friends and family and those that finish have thanked me for turning them on to a great piece of literary art.
Great comment, thank you - I added Mervyn Peake, although I read only one volume from the series, but it did prove to be grandiouse enough to warrant the inclusion.
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