What's A Good Classic Fantasy Book/Series?

1. 87

   CrazedNovelistposted 12 years ago

   I really want to read some classics, but I don't know to start. Any suggestions?

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   1. 83

      tmbridgelandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      'The Wind In The Willows' is tops!
      The Hobbit.

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2. 69

   Pearldiverposted 12 years ago

   For me... I found great inspiration in these excellent works:
   
   'The Very Hungry Gatorpiller'
   
   'The Owl and the Pussycat's Hooters'
   
   and my favorite..
   
   'The Hair of the Tortoise'
   
   My writing here would not have progressed at all, if I hadn't been traumatized by these!

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3. 87

   CrazedNovelistposted 12 years ago

   Lol. Thanks a lot! I'll definitely give those a read. What about Science Fiction? I'm hoping to get into that too...

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   1. 69

      Pearldiverposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The only one I read was: 'The Ozard of Wiz' - but I didn't get to finish it on account of the Thinman!

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   2. 93

      RachaelLeflerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I really liked A Wrinkle In Time when it comes to sci-fi.

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4. 69

   nakmeisterposted 12 years ago

   Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
   Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
   
   These two are the original classics of the genre. Modern classics include:
   
   'Magician' by Raymond E. Feist + 20 sequels, but original is best.
   
   'Belgariad' by David Eddings. Starting with 'Pawn of Prophecy'
   
   'The Wheel of Time' by Robert Jordan, starting with 'The Eye of the World'
   
   'A Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin
   
   David Gemmell, Terry Brooks & Robin Hobb are also good authors to try.
   
   If you are after comic fantasy, Terry Pratchett is a great starting point. Try 'Mort' first.

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5. 84

   WriteAngledposted 12 years ago

   In terms of fantasy, the Wizard of Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin is so superior to Harry Potter, Unfortunately, Ursula Le Guin never got selected for the advertising hype given to the tedious crap spewed out by Rowling.

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6. 86

   JayeWisdomposted 12 years ago

   Does anyone other than me remember the Lord of the Rings series?

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7. 60

   liveandlaughposted 12 years ago

   I agree that J. R. R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Robert Jordan are great examples of amazing fantasy authors. I would like to add Brandon Sanderson to the list with his Mistborn trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed those books.

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8. 75

   Jean Rogersposted 12 years ago

   Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
   The Death Gate Cycle series
   
   Great fantasy, dragons, other worlds type of series.

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   1. 68

      jcdelfinoiiiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Of Course J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are wonderful, not sure if 20 years ago counts as classic but I really enjoyed Piers Anthony and R.A. Salvatore (forgotten realms novels).
      
      R.A. Salvatore was a model in my early writing.

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9. 49

   Josh Puetzposted 12 years ago

   A Song of Ice and Fire is pretty good. George R. R. Martin

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10. 78

    Greekgeekposted 12 years ago

    It's aimed at young adult readers, but I strongly suggest Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising series drawing on Celtic and Arthurian mythos. It's one of the most well-written fantasy series out there. I still reread it from time to time, much like Tolkien (although obviously he's a writer of a different caliber.)
    
    Also, every lover of fantasy should read Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn, if only for Molly Grue, the best Maid Marian ever.

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11. 60

    Clark-Savage-jrposted 12 years ago

    What about the Pern series by Anne McCaffery? It's Science Fiction in that it's set on another planet, But the culture and the existence of Dragons has always thrown this into the Fantasy genre for me.
    
    Another old series that is firmly in the fantasy end of the spectrum, I'd recommend is the Mary Stewart "Arthurian Saga." This is about the life of Merlin and the Camelot legend, but told from a perspective of when it might really have happened (shortly after the roman period) if it were real. Book 1 is "The Crystal Cave" and my copy has been read over a dozen times.

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    1. 76

       IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I am totally with you here - the Pern series was fantastic - might even say - out of this world!
       Tolkien as well, obviously, and there is another trilogy I read years ago that was wonderful too (sci-fi)  - Donaldson? Does that ring a bell with anyone?
       
       Ahhh, good old Google - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chroni … s_Covenant

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12. 72

    Reality Bytesposted 12 years ago

    Terry Goodkind, The Sword of Truth series

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13. 76

    Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

    I really enjoyed the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis.
    
    Out of the Silent Planet
    Prelandra
    That Hideous Strength
    
    But I guess it's more sci-fi. I was never that into fantasy.

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