[note]This thread collects and ranks fantasy novels. To vote, copy the list at the bottom and give each series or novel you've read, in whole or in part, a rating from 1 to 10 stars, using whole numbers only please.
1 - Unreadable
3 - Poor
5 - Mediocre
7 - Good
10 - Among the finest works in the genre
You can discuss the votes here: discussion thread (http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?51921.last). Anyone should feel free to start separate threads for other media or genre.
A series will only appear on the rankings if it has at least three votes. The collected votes per series by members appears below.[/note]
CBG's Fantasy Book Rankings: | Rank | Book/Series | Avg Score | Votes | Total Score |
| 1 | Song of Ice and Fire | 8.9 | 10 | 89 |
| 2 | Bas-Lag | 8.66 | 3 | 26 |
| 3 | Black Company | 8.4 | 5 | 42 |
| 4 | Lords of Light | 8.33 | 3 | 25 |
| 5 | Stardust | 8.25 | 4 | 33 |
| 6 | Long Sun | 8.25 | 4 | 33 |
| 7 | Neverwhere | 8.2 | 5 | 41 |
| 8 | His Dark Materials | 8 | 7 | 56 |
| 9 | Farseer Trilogy | 8 | 3 | 24 |
| 10 | Discworld | 7.8 | 10 | 78 |
| 11 | Memory, Sorrow, Thorn | 7.8 | 5 | 39 |
| 12 | Malzan Book of the Fallen | 7.75 | 4 | 31 |
| 13 | American Gods/Anansi Boys | 7.72 | 11 | 85 |
| 14 | Vlad Taltos | 7.5 | 4 | 30 |
| 15 | Elric Saga | 7.25 | 4 | 29 |
| 16 | The Tempest | 7.25 | 4 | 29 |
| 17 | The Iliad | 7.25 | 4 | 29 |
| 18 | Chronicles of Amber | 7.2 | 5 | 36 |
| 19 | The Dark Tower | 7.2 | 5 | 36 |
| 20 | The Lord of the Rings | 7.08 | 23 | 163 |
| 21 | Cthulu Mythos | 7 | 6 | 42 |
| 22 | Riftwar Saga | 7 | 5 | 35 |
| 23 | Runelords | 7 | 4 | 28 |
| 24 | Coldfire Trilogy | 7 | 3 | 21 |
| 25 | Chronicles of Thomas Covenant | 6.8 | 5 | 34 |
| 26 | Dracula | 6.8 | 5 | 34 |
| 27 | Frankenstein | 6.66 | 6 | 40 |
| 28 | The Odyssey | 6.57 | 7 | 46 |
| 29 | Conan | 6.5 | 6 | 39 |
| 30 | Harry Potter | 6.31 | 16 | 101 |
| 31 | The Wheel of Time | 6.18 | 11 | 68 |
| 32 | Dragon Riders of Pern | 6.2 | 5 | 31 |
| 33 | Beowulf | 6.14 | 7 | 43 |
| 34 | The Chronicles of Narnia | 5.94 | 19 | 113 |
| 35 | Dragonlance | 5.71 | 7 | 40 |
| 36 | Earthsea | 5.71 | 7 | 40 |
| 37 | Elantris | 5.66 | 3 | 17 |
| 38 | The Vampire Chronicles | 5.5 | 8 | 44 |
| 39 | Epic of Gilgamesh | 5.5 | 4 | 22 |
| 40 | Xanth series | 5 | 7 | 35 |
| 41 | Word & Void | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 42 | Inheritance Cycle | 4.4 | 5 | 22 |
| 43 | Deathgate Cycle | 4.75 | 4 | 19 |
| 44 | Drizzt Saga | 4.66 | 9 | 42 |
| 45 | Belgariad | 4.25 | 8 | 34 |
| 46 | The Sword of Truth | 3.87 | 8 | 31 |
| 47 | Shannara series | 3.62 | 8 | 29 |
| 48 | Cleric Quintet | 3.33 | 3 | 10 |
Votes to DateAbe, Shana- The Drakon
Abraham, Daniel - Long Price Quartet
Alexander, Lloyd - Prydain Chronicles 6 (khyron1144), 6 (Steerpike)
Anderson, Poul - King of Ys
Anderson, Poul - Operation Otherworld
Anderson, Poul - Three Hearts and Three Lions 6 (LordVreeg)
Anthony, Piers - Xanth series 2 (Raelifin), 3 (LordVreeg), 6 (khyron1144), 7 (Pellanor), 7 (Acrimone), 7 (Advachiel), 3 (Llum)
Anthony, Piers - Apprentice Adept 4 (LordVreeg), 7 (khyron1144)
Anthony, Piers - Incarnations of Immortality 5 (LordVreeg), 7 (khyron1144)
Bach, Richard - Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah7 (Phoenix), 6 (Luminous Crayon)
Bach, Richard - The Bridge Across Forever 6 (Luminous Crayon)
Bakker, R. Scott - Prince of Nothing
Barrie, J.M. - Peter Pan 7 (Phoenix)
Barron, T.A. - Great Tree of Avalon
Barron, T.A. - Lost of Years of Merlin
Baum, L. Frank - Oz 5 (khyron1144)
Bellairs, John Anthony - The Face in the Frost 9 (Advachiel)
Berg, Carol - Transformation 8 (Acrimone)
Judith Berman - Bear Daughter 5 (Phoenix)
Bertin, Joanne - Dragonlord series
Black, Holly - The Spiderwick Chronicles 5 (Advachiel)
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Avalon series 9 (Acrimone)
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Atlantean series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Colin McLaren series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Shadow's Gate series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Darkover series 5 (Ishmayl), 5 (Llum)
Gillian Bradshaw - The Wolf Hunt
Gillian Bradshaw - Hawk of May
James Herbert Brennan - Faerie Wars 6 (Advachiel)
Briggs, Patricia - Raven Duology 6 (Acrimone)
Brooks, Terry - Shannara series 3 (Ishmayl), 3 (LordVreeg), 5 (Stargate525), 5 (Pellanor), 6 (Steve Landers), 2 (Acrimone), 4 (Advachiel), 1 (Llum)
Brooks, Terry - Word and Void 5 (Luminous Crayon), 5 (khyron1144), 5 (Steerpike)
Emma Bull - War for the Oaks
Stephen Brust - Vlad Taltos 8 (Ishmayl), 7 (LordVreeg), 7 (Stargate525), 8 (Advachiel)
Chris Bunch - Seer King Trilogy
Chris Bunch - The Dragonmaster Trilogy
Chris Bunch - The Last Legion
L. G. Burbank - Lords of Darkness 5 (Phoenix), 4 (Advachiel)
Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan
Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files
Octavia Butler - Wild Seed 6 (Phoenix)
Orson Scott Card - Alvin Maker 5 (LordVreeg), 7 (khyron1144)
Orson Scott Card - Hart's Hope
Carey, Jacqueline - Kushiel's Legacy 7 (Phoenix)
Carl, Lillian Stewart - Sabazel series
Carl, Lillian Stewart - Lucifer's Crown
Carroll, Jonathan - Answered Prayers Sextet
Carroll, Lewis - Alice series 7 (Phoenix), 9 (sdragon)
C. J. Cherryh - Forge of Heaven 7 (Advachiel)
Cochran, Molly & Warren Murphy - The Broken Sword
Cochran, Molly & Warren Murphy - The Forever King 10 (Phoenix)
Cook, Glen - The Black Company 8 (LordVreeg), 9 (Pellanor), 8 (Steel General), 8 (Acrimone), 9 (Llum)
Crowley, John - Little, Big
Davis, Bryan - Dragons in our Midst
Deary, Terry - Fire Thief Trilogy 3 (Phoenix)
de Camp, Lyon Sprague - Harold Shea
de Camp, Lyon Sprague - Gavagan's Bar
de Camp, Lyon Sprague - Pusadian series
Donaldson, Stephen R. - Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 9 (LordVreeg), 7 (Steve Landers), 6 (Steel General), 6 (Advachiel), 6 (Llum)
Douglass, Sara - Wayfarer Redemption Sextet 8 (Advachiel)
Drake, David - Lord of the Isles
Duane, Diane - Young Wizards
Eddings, David - Belgariad 6 (khyron1144), 1 (Kindling), 5 (Ishmayl), 3 (snakefing), 4 (LordVreeg), 7 (Pellanor), 5 (Advachiel), 3 (Steerpike)
Eddings, David - The Dreamers 6 (Llum)
Eddings, David - The Mallorean 4 (Advachiel), 2 (Steerpike)
Erikson, Steven - Malzan Book of the Fallen 10 (Pellanor), 7 (Acrimone), 5 (Advachiel), 9 (Llum)
Farland, David - The Runelords 7 (Acrimone), 7 (Ishmayl), 6 (Advachiel), 8 (Llum)
Raymond Feist - Riftwar Saga 6 (Ishmayl), 6 (LordVreeg), 8 (Pellanor), 8 (Steve Landers), 7 (Steel General), 5 (Acrimone)
Flewelling, Lynn - Nightrunner series
Flint, Kenneth C - Sidhe series 6 (Steve Landers)
Frankowski, Leo - Cross-Time Engineer 5 (Acrimone)
Friedman, Cecilia S. - Coldfire Trilogy 7 (Acrimone), 7 (Ishmayl), 7 (Steerpike)
Gaiman, Neil - American Gods/Anansi Boys 8 (Phoenix), 10 (Sdragon1984), 5 (Luminous Crayon), 9 (LordVreeg), 10 (khyron1144), 8 (Crippled Crow), 6 (Raelifin), 7 (Acrimone), 6 (Advachiel), 9 (Llum), 7 (Steerpike)
Gaiman, Neil - Good Omens 10 (khyron1144), 8 (Llum)
Gaiman, Neil - Neverwhere8 (Phoenix), 7 (Luminous Crayon), 9 (Raelifin), 9 (Llum), 8 (Steerpike)
Gaiman, Neil - Stardust9 (Phoenix), 9 (Stargate525), 8 (Llum), 7 (Steerpike)
Goldman, William - The Princess Bride 7 (Pellanor), 10 (khyron1144)
Lisa Goldstein - The Alchemist's Door
Goodkind, Terry - The Sword of Truth 8 (Poseidon), 2 (Luminous Crayon), 3 (LordVreeg), 3 (Ishmayl), 6 (Pellanor), 1 (Acrimone), 4 (Advachiel), 4 (Llum)
Edward Gorey - assorted works 8 (Luminous Crayon)
Harlan, Thomas - Oath of Empire 8 (Acrimone)
Harris, Deborah Turner - Caledon of the Mists 7 (Acrimone)
Simon Hawke - Dark Sun: Tribe of One 5 (Ishmayl), 7 (Advachiel)
Stuart Hill - Icemark Chronicles
Hobb, Robin - The Farseer Trilogy 8 (LordVreeg), 8 (Acrimone), 8 (Llum)
Hobb, Robin - Fool's Trilogy 7 (Llum)
Homer - The Iliad 3 (Phoenix), 4 (Elemental_Elf), 9 (LordVreeg), 3 (Higgs Boson), 10 (Acrimone)
Homer - The Odyssey 4 (Phoenix), 7 (Elemental_Elf), 5 (Poseidon), 5 (LordVreeg), 8 (Lath), 8 (Higgs Boson), 9 (Acrimone)
Howard, Robert - Conan 6 (Phoenix), 7 (Raelifin), 6 (LordVreeg), 8 (khyron1144), 7 (Advachiel)
J. V. Jones - Book of Words 6 (LordVreeg), 5 (Acrimone)
J. V. Jones - Sword of Shadows
Jordan, Robert - The Wheel of Time 9 (Phoenix), 6 (Ishmayl), 6 (Raelifin), 8 (Rose Of Montague), 3 (Polycarp!), 4 (LordVreeg), 8 (Crippled Crow), 4 (Pellanor), 8 (Advachiel), 7 (Llum), 5 (Steerpike)
Jordan, Robert - Conan Chronicles 8 (Advachiel)
Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionavar Tapestry 7 (Pellanor)
Garrison Keillor - Lake Woebegone Days 9 (Luminous Crayon)
Katherine Kerr - Deverry Books 6 (Steve Landers
Gregory Keyes - Age of Unreason 7 (LordVreeg)
CaitlÃn R. Kiernan - The Five of Cups
King, Stephen - Dark Tower 9 (Ninja D!), 7 (Ishmayl), 6 (LordVreeg), 6 (khyron1144), 7 (Acrimone), 8 (Llum), 7 (Steerpike)
Katherine Kurtz - Chronicles of the Deryni 6 (LordVreeg)
Lawhead, Stephen R. - King Raven 8 (Stargate525)
LeGuin, Ursula - Earthsea 5 (Phoenix), 6 (Ishmayl), 6 (Raelifin), 4 (LordVreeg), 7 (Pellanor), 5 (Acrimone), 7 (Advachiel)
C.S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia 6 (Phoenix), 6 (Ninja D!), 4 (Higgs Boson), 6 (Ishmayl), 8 (Sdragon1984), 7 (Raelifin), 6 (Rose Of Montague), 5 (snakefing), 7 (Elemental_Elf), 7 (Poseidon), 6 (LordVreeg), 6 (Lath), 7 (Stargate525), 7 (Nomadic), 4 (khyron1144), 4 (Crippled Crow), 6 (Steve Landers), 7 (Acrimone), 5 (Advachiel), 5 (Steerpike)
Lieber, Fritz '" Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser 8 (Steerpike)
Lisle, Holly - Arhel
Lisle, Holly - Glenraven
Lisle, Holly - Bard's Tale
Lisle, Holly - Devil's Point
Lisle, Holly - The Secret Texts
Llywelyn, Morgan - The Elementals
Llywelyn, Morgan - Red Branch
H.P. Lovecraft - Cthulu Mythos 6 (Phoenix), 6 (Raelifin), 8 (Joker), 7 (LordVreeg), 8 (khyron1144), 7 (Steerpike)
Sergey Lukyanenko - Night Watch series 8 (Phoenix)
MacDonald, George - Lilith 6 (LordVreeg)
MacHale, D. J. - The Pendragon Adventure
Malory, Thomas - Le Morte D'Arthur
Juliet Marillier - Saga of the Light Isles 4 (Phoenix)
Martin, George R.R. - Song of Ice and Fire 10 (Phoenix), 10 (Higgs Boson), 10 (Raelifin), 9 (Luminous Crayon), 9 (LordVreeg), 8 (Pellanor), 8 (Steel General), 7 (Advachiel), 9 (Llum), 9 (Steerpike)
McCaffery, Anne - Dragonriders of Pern 5 (LordVreeg), 9 (Lath), 6 (Pellanor), 6 (Acrimone), 5 (Llum)
McGarry, Terry - Illumination
McKiernan, Dennis L. - Iron Tower 5 (LordVreeg), 6 (Steve Landers)
Mieville, China - Bas-Lag series 9 (Kindling), 7 (Crippled Crow), 10 (Steerpike)
Mieville, China - King Rat 9 (Steerpike)
Moon, Elizabeth - The Deed of Paksenarrion 9 (Acrimone)
Moorcock, Michael - Elric Saga 7 (Phoenix), 8 (LordVreeg), 8 (khyron1144), 6 (Acrimone)
Moorcock, Michael - Corum 6 (LordVreeg), 8 (khyron1144)
Moorcock, Michael - Hawkmoon 7 (LordVreeg)
Peter Morwood - Horse Lords
Novik, Naomi - Temeraire 9 (Stargate525), 8 (Llum)
Paolini, Christopher - Inheritance Cycle 5 (Ishmayl), 3 (Stargate525), 5 (Nomadic), 7 (Llum), 2 (Steerpike)
Paver, Michelle - Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
Pierce, Meredith Ann - Birth of the Firebringer
Pierce, Tamora - Circle of Magic 8 (Higgs Boson), 5 (khyron1144)
Prachett, Terry - Discworld5 (Phoenix), 7 (snakefing), 7 (Luminous Crayon), 10 (Joker), 8 (LordVreeg), 8 (Stargate525), 10 (khyron1144), 8 (Crippled Crow), 7 (Advachiel), 8 (Llum)
Pullman, Philip - His Dark Materials 10 (Sdragon1984), 8 (LordVreeg), 8 (Crippled Crow), 9 (khyron1144), 3 (Acrimone), 9 (Llum)
Rawn, Melany - Dragon Prince
Rawn, Melany - Golden Key 7 (LordVreeg)
Rawn, Melany - Sunrunner Saga 5 (LordVreeg)
Rice, Anne - The Vampire Chronicles 8 (Phoenix), 6 (Ishmayl), 4 (Sdragon1984), 3 (LordVreeg), 7 (Lath), 6 (khyron1144), 3 (Pellanor), 5 (Acrimone), 5 (Advachiel)
Rowley, Christopher - Brazil Boketail 6 (Stargate525)
Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter 7 (Phoenix), 4 (Ninja D!), 8 (Higgs Boson), 6 (Ishmayl), 8 (Sdragon1984), 4 (Raelifin), 6 (Elemental_Elf), 5 (Joker), 7 (LordVreeg), 5 (Stargate525), 6 (khyron1144), 9 (Crippled Crow), 6 (Steve Landers), 5 (Acrimone), 5 (Advachiel), 7 (Llum), 5 (Steerpike)
Russell, Sean - Initiate Brother 10 (Acrimone)
Russell, Sean - Moontide and Magic Rise/River Into Darkness 8 (Acrimone)
Russell, Sean - Swans' War 7 (Acrimone)
Saberhagen, Fred - The Book of Swords 4 (LordVreeg), 5 (Steve Landers)
Salinger, J. D. - Catcher in the Rye 8 (Luminous Crayon), 6 (Llum)
Salvatore, R.A. - Cleric Quintet 2 (Phoenix), 3 (Raelifin), 5 (Pellanor)
Salvatore, R.A. - Drizzt Saga 3 (Phoenix), 3 (Raelifin), 8 (Elemental_Elf), 8 (Joker), 5 (Pellanor), 4 (Acrimone), 4 (Advachiel), 4 (Llum)
Sanderson, Brandon - Elantris 8 (Phoenix), 3 (Ishmayl), 6 (Advachiel)
Sanderson, Brandon - Mistborn 10 (Phoenix)
Shakespeare, William - A Midsummer Night's Dream 4 (Phoenix), 8 (khyron1144)
Shakespeare, William - The Tempest 4 (Phoenix), 8 (Elemental_Elf), 7 (khyron1144), 10 (Acrimone)
Shelly, Mary - Frankenstein 5 (Phoenix), 6 (Raelifin), 8 (Rose Of Montague), 6 (Stargate525), 7 (Acrimone), 8 (Llum)
Stoker, Bram - Dracula 5 (Phoenix), 8 (LordVreeg), 6 (Crippled Crow), 7 (Acrimone), 7 (Steerpike)
Stroud, Jonathan - Bartimaeus Trilogy 8 (Crippled Crow), 7 (Llum)
Swift, Jonathan - Gulliver's Travels 5 (Phoenix)
Tolkien, Christopher - Children of Hurin 8 (LordVreeg)
Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Lord of the Rings and other Middle Earth 9 (Phoenix), 5 (Ninja D!), 9 (Higgs Boson), 6 (Sdragon1984), 9 (Raelifin), 8 (Polycarp!), 8 (Elemental_Elf), 9 (Poseidon), 8 (Luminous Crayon), 5 (Joker), 9 (LordVreeg), 6 (Lath), 4 (Stargate525), 9 (Nomadic), 5 (khyron1144), 9 (Steve Landers), 5 (Pellanor), 6 (Crippled Crow), 9 (Steel General), 9 (Acrimone), 8 (Advachiel), 7 (Steerpike)
Turtledove, Harry - Videssos Cycle 8 (Acrimone)
Vance, Jack - Tales of the Dying Earth 9 (Steerpike)
Vance, Jack - Lyonesse 8 (snakefing), 9 (Steerpike)
Walton, Evangeline - Children of Llyr
Weiss, Margarett - Deathgate Cycle 4 (Ishmayl), 3 (LordVreeg), 7 (Pellanor), 5 (Llum)
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Dragonlance series 4 (Ishmayl), 10 (Higgs Boson), 5 (LordVreeg), 5 (Pellanor), 7 (Steve Landers), 6 (Acrimone), 3 (Llum)
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - War of Souls 10 (Higgs Boson)
Wellington, David - Monster Trilogy
White, T. H. - Once and Future King
Whyte, Jack - Camulod Chronicles 5 (Ishmayl)
Williams, Tad - Memory, Sorrow, Thorn 9 (Ishmayl), 7 (Rose Of Montague), 8 (LordVreeg), 6 (Steve Landers), 9 (Advachiel)
Wolfe, Gene - Long Sun 9 (snakefing), 8 (Raelifin), 9 (LordVreeg), 7 (Advachiel)
Wolfe, Gene - New Sun 7 (snakefing)
Wolfe, Gene - Soldier series 9 (snakefing)
Wurtz, Janny - Cycle of Fire 4 (Luminous Crayon)
Zelazny, Roger - Chronicles of Amber 8 (Luminous Crayon), 7 (LordVreeg), 7 (Steel General), 7 (Advachiel), 7 (Steerpike)
Zelazny, Roger - Creatures of Light and Darkness 8 (Steel General)
Zelazny, Roger - Lords of Light 10 (LordVreeg), 9 (Steel General), 6 (Advachiel)
Zindell, David - Ea Cycle
unknown author - Epic of Gilgamesh 4 (Phoenix), 6 (Elemental_Elf), 5 (LordVreeg), 7 (Acrimone)
unknown author - Beowulf 4 (Phoenix), 5 (Raelifin), 6 (Polycarp!), 7 (Elemental_Elf), 3 (LordVreeg), 9 (Lath), 7 (Acrimone)
various authors - L5R: Clan Wars Saga 7 (Elemental_Elf)
[spoiler=List of Works to Vote on]Shana Abe - The Drakon
Daniel Abraham - Long Price Quartet
Lloyd Alexander - Prydain Chronicles
Poul Anderson - King of Ys
Poul Anderson - Operation Otherworld
Poul Anderson - Three Hearts and Three Lions
Piers Anthony - Xanth series
Piers Anthony - Apprentice Adept
Piers Anthony - Incarnations of Immortality
Richard Bach - Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Richard Bach - The Bridge Across Forever
R. Scott Bakker - Prince of Nothing
Barrie, J.M. - Peter Pan
T.A. Barron - Great Tree of Avalon
T.A. Barron - Lost of Years of Merlin
L. Frank Baum - Oz
John Anthony Bellairs - The Face in the Frost
Berg, Carol - Transformation
Judith Berman - Bear Daughter
Bertin, Joanne - Dragonlord series
Black, Holly - The Spiderwick Chronicles
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Avalon series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Atlantean series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Colin McLaren series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Shadow's Gate series
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Darkover series
Gillian Bradshaw - The Wolf Hunt
Gillian Bradshaw - Hawk of May
James Herbert Brennan - Faerie Wars
Briggs, Patricia - Raven Duology
Terry Brooks - Shannara series
Terry Brooks - Word and Void
Emma Bull - War for the Oaks
Stephen Brust - Vlad Taltos
Chris Bunch - Seer King Trilogy
Chris Bunch - The Dragonmaster Trilogy
Chris Bunch - The Last Legion
L. G. Burbank - Lords of Darkness
Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan
Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files
Octavia Butler - Wild Seed
Orson Scott Card - Alvin Maker
Orson Scott Card - Hart's Hope
Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel's Legacy
Lillian Stewart Carl - Sabazel series
Lillian Stewart Carl - Lucifer's Crown
Jonathan Carroll - Answered Prayers Sextet
Lewis Carroll - Alice series
C. J. Cherryh - Forge of Heaven
Cochran, Molly & Warren Murphy - The Broken Sword
Cochran, Molly & Warren Murphy - The Forever King 10 (Phoenix)
Cook, Glen - The Black Company
Crowley, John - Little, Big
Davis, Bryan - Dragons in our Midst
Deary, Terry - Fire Thief Trilogy
de Camp, Lyon Sprague - Harold Shea
de Camp, Lyon Sprague - Gavagan's Bar
de Camp, Lyon Sprague - Pusadian series
Donaldson, Stephen R. - Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
Douglass, Sara - Wayfarer Redemption Sextet
Drake, David - Lord of the Isles
Duane, Diane - Young Wizards
Eddings, David - Belgariad
Eddings, David - The Dreamers
Eddings, David - The Mallorean
Erikson, Steven - Malzan Book of the Fallen
Farland, David - The Runelords
Raymond Feist - Riftwar Saga
Flewelling, Lynn - Nightrunner series
Flint, Kenneth C - Sidhe series
Frankowski, Leo - Cross-Time Engineer
Friedman, Cecilia S. - Coldfire Trilogy
Gaiman, Neil - American Gods/Anansi Boys
Gaiman, Neil - Good Omens
Gaiman, Neil - Neverwhere
Gaiman, Neil - Stardust
William Goldman - The Princess Bride
Lisa Goldstein - The Alchemist's Door
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth
Edward Gorey - assorted works
Harlan, Thomas - Oath of Empire
Harris, Deborah Turner - Caledon of the Mists
Simon Hawke - Dark Sun: Tribe of One
Stuart Hill - Icemark Chronicles
Hobb, Robin - The Farseer Trilogy
Hobb, Robin - Fool's Trilogy
Homer - The Iliad
Homer - The Odyssey
Robert Howard - Conan
J. V. Jones - Book of Words
J. V. Jones - Sword of Shadows
Jordan, Robert - The Wheel of Time
Jordan, Robert - Conan Chronicles
Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionavar Tapestry
Garrison Keillor - Lake Woebegone Days
Katherine Kerr - Deverry Books - 6
Gregory Keyes - Age of Unreason
CaitlÃn R. Kiernan - The Five of Cups
Stephen King - Dark Tower
Katherine Kurtz - Chronicles of the Deryni
Stephen R. Lawhead - King Raven
Ursula LeGuin - Earthsea
C.S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia
Lieber, Fritz '" Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
Lisle, Holly - Arhel
Lisle, Holly - Glenraven
Lisle, Holly - Bard's Tale
Lisle, Holly - Devil's Point
Lisle, Holly - The Secret Texts
Llywelyn, Morgan - The Elementals
Llywelyn, Morgan - Red Branch
H.P. Lovecraft - Cthulu Mythos
Sergey Lukyanenko - Night Watch series
MacDonald, George - Lilith
MacHale, D. J. - The Pendragon Adventure
Malory, Thomas - Le Morte D'Arthur
Marillier, Juliet - Saga of the Light Isles
Martin, George R.R. - Song of Ice and Fire
McCaffery, Anne - Dragonriders of Pern
McGarry, Terry - Illumination
McKiernan, Dennis L. - Iron Tower
Mieville, China - Bas-Lag series
Mieville, China - King Rat
Moon, Elizabeth - The Deed of Paksenarrion
Moorcock, Michael - Elric Saga
Moorcock, Michael - Corum
Moorcock, Michael - Hawkmoon
Peter Morwood - Horse Lords
Naomi Novik - Temeraire
Paolini, Christopher - Inheritance Cycle
Michelle Paver - Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
Meredith Ann Pierce - Birth of the Firebringer
Pierce, Tamora - Circle of Magic
Prachett, Terry - Discworld
Pullman, Philip - His Dark Materials
Rawn, Melany - Dragon Prince
Rawn, Melany - Golden Key
Rawn, Melany - Sunrunner Saga
Rice, Anne - The Vampire Chronicles
Rowley, Christopher - Brazil Boketail
Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter
Russell, Sean - Initiate Brother
Russell, Sean - Moontide and Magic Rise/River Into Darkness
Russell, Sean - Swan's War
Saberhagen, Fred - The Book of Swords
Salinger, J. D. - Catcher in the Rye
Salvatore, R.A. - Cleric Quintet
Salvatore, R.A. - Drizzt Saga
Sanderson, Brandon - Elantris
Sanderson, Brandon - Mistborn
Shakespeare, William - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare, William - The Tempest
Mary Shelly - Frankenstein
Bram Stoker - Dracula
Jonathan Stroud - Bartimaeus Trilogy
Swift, Jonathan - Gulliver's Travels
Tolkien, Christopher - Children of Hurin
Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Lord of the Rings and other Middle Earth
Turtledove, Harry - Videssos Cycle
Vance, Jack - Tales of the Dying Earth
Vance, Jack - Lyonesse
Walton, Evangeline - Children of Llyr
Weiss, Margarett - Deathgate Cycle
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Dragonlance series
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - War of Souls
Wellington, David - Monster Trilogy
White, T. H. - Once and Future King
Whyte, Jack - Camulod Chronicles
Williams, Tad - Memory, Sorrow, Thorn
Wolfe, Gene - Long Sun
Wolfe, Gene - New Sun
Wolfe, Gene - Soldier series
Wurtz, Janny - Cycle of Fire
Zelazny, Roger - Chronicles of Amber
Zelazny, Roger - Creatures of Light and Darkness
Zelazny, Roger - Lords of Light
Zindell, David - Ea Cycle
unknown author - Epic of Gilgamesh
unknown author - Beowulf
various authors - L5R: Clan Wars Saga[/spoiler]
Edit: Last update with a Llum.
My votes appear on the list in the first post. My name's first, because I'm maintaining the list :1337:
Series Author Rating
Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien 5
Harry Potter J.K. Rowling 4
The Dark Tower Stephen King 9
Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis 6
Higgs votes:
Cronicles of Narnia - S.S. Lewis - 4
Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling - 8
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien - 9
Song of Ice and Fire - George R.R. Martin - 10
The Dragonlance Chronicles - Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - 10
The War of Souls - Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - 10
The Circle of Magic - Tamora Pierce - 8
Neat Idea - I'm going to add a couple series myself. I doubt anything will get a 10 for me, as I think 10 should ideally represent some sort of "enlightenment, and the alteration of a mindset." Nine is, to me, just one step short of perfection, in terms of writing style, originality, story-telling, etc. There are several "big deals" in this list that I won't rank quite as high as what I imagine other people would, and I'll be happy to explain my reasoning if anyone is interested.
Camulod Chronicles - Jack Whyte - 5
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis - 6
Dark Tower - Stephen King - 7
Earthsea - Ursula LeGuin - 6
Elantris - 3
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling - 6
Inheritance - Christopher Paolini - 5
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien - 5
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn - Tad Williams - 9
Shannara - Terry Brooks - 3
Vampire Chronicles - Anne Rice - 6
Vlad Taltos Series - Steven Brust - 8
The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan - 6
I'm curious at why people dislike The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series. I personally thought they were both great.
My votes on what I've read, with a small comment on each. Hopefully the comments help explain the reason for my rankings, but I didn't feel any of them warranted an entirely new thread.
American Gods/Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman - 10
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis - 8
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling - 8
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman - 10
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien - 6
Vampire Chronicles - Anne Rice - 4
Edit- The reasons were copied into the discussion thread.
I don't dislike either - I ranked LotR as "average" and HP as "slightly above average." But I don't love them either. Tolkien, I believe has a good story, and a good mythology, but his writing style is not very interesting to me, and I can't really re-read his works at all. HP is fun, and well-written, but I never can get into the whole "Scooby Doo this-is-how-we-solved-the-mystery" way of story telling.
Quote from: IshmaylI don't dislike either - I ranked LotR as "average" and HP as "slightly above average." But I don't love them either. Tolkien, I believe has a good story, and a good mythology, but his writing style is not very interesting to me, and I can't really re-read his works at all. HP is fun, and well-written, but I never can get into the whole "Scooby Doo this-is-how-we-solved-the-mystery" way of story telling.
I second this. I also added a discussion thread. ;)
Song of Ice & Fire - George R. R. Martin - 10
Lord of the Rings - Tolkien - 9
Conan the Cimmerian - Robert E. Howard - 7
Chronicles of Narnia - Lewis - 7
Frankenstein - Marry Shelly - 6
Various - Lovecraft - 6
Wheel of Time - Jordan - 6
Beowulf - 5
Harry Potter - Rowling - 4
Wizard of Earthsea - Le Guin - 6
Other Earthsea Books - 3
Drizzt Books - Salvatore - 3
Cleric's Quintet - Salvatore - 3
Xanth - Peirs Anthony - 2
I feel like I haven't read enough. I hope this thread will give me ideas on what to pick up this summer. :yumm:
Note that I ranked these (generally) based on how meaningful they've been to me as a worldbuilder. I can enjoy the humor of Xanth, or the characters of Harry Potter, but I don't see them having much of a lasting influence.
Rose of Montague votes:
The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan - 8
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn - Tad Wiliams - 7
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis - 6
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley - 8
More after I finish reading Conan this summer...
Phoenix, you have LotR twice in your rankings so far.
Book of the Long Sun - Gene Wolfe - 9
Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolfe - 7
Both of these are series, and the books can be a little uneven within the series, but I really liked Book of the Long Sun. Tough reading, though.
Chronicles of Narnia - 5
First book is okay, but they get progressively sillier and more preachy as you go.
Various - Terry Pratt - 7
I'm surprised no one has mentions Terry Pratt yet. But it has been so long I couldn't recommend any one in particular. They are all fun light reading.
Edited to add:
Lyonesse - Jack Vance - 8
Long Sun - Wolfe - 8
I didn't finish this one, and I didn't include it because I thought it was Sci-Fi. Great writing, though.
Quote from: RaelifinI didn't finish this one, and I didn't include it because I thought it was Sci-Fi. Great writing, though.
It is kind of a borderline case, for sure. The setting is definitely sci-fi, but a lot of the feel is kind of a gritty fanstasy.
Haven't heard of most of these as I don't read a lot of fantasy, but here are my two votes.
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien - 8
A little dense at times, but a great world, a fun style, and generally a great read and re-read. Gets maximum points for originality.
The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan - 3
The first book was good, but I'm rating the series, which falls precipitously in quality as it goes on.
Beowulf - Some guy - 6
All I have to say about this is HWÆT
Quote from: IshmaylPhoenix, you have LotR twice in your rankings so far.
No, that's a misreading. He has LotR and Lords of Darkness.
I may have had a typo at some point. Should be up to date with Polycarp.
Edit: You mean Terry Prachet, snakefig?
yeah, right... my bad.
More Phoenix votes:
Beowulf - 4
Drizzt - 3
Cleric Quintet - 2
Cthulu - 6
Drizzt Series - RA Salvatore: 8
Harry Potter Series - JK Rawling: 6
Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien: 7*
The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien: 9*
Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis - 7
Iliad - Homer: 4
Odyssey - Homer: 7
Beowulf - ??? - 7
Gilgamesh - ??? - 6
L5R: Clan Wars Saga - Various Authors - 7
The Tempest - Shakespeare: 8
* If forced together, I would give the 4 books an 8.
Ach, EE no editing your votes like that, please.
If anyone really must change their vote, make a new post stating the old vote and what you're changing it to so I can keep the running tally up to date.
Lord of the Rings - 9
Sword of Truth (Terry Goodkind) - 8
Hobbit - 8
Odyssey - 5
Chronicles of Narnia - 7
Quote from: PhoenixAch, EE no editing your votes like that, please.
If anyone really must change their vote, make a new post stating the old vote and what you're changing it to so I can keep the running tally up to date.
Sorry about that, I had a change of heart (i figured no one was watching in the short amount of time it took me to edit it), it won't happen again! :)
Okay, lemme see.
George R. R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire series - gets a 9. I will not be giving anything a higher score.
Garrison Keillor - Lake Woebegon Days and other similar stories - gets a 9. No joke. This is how you do worldbuilding.
Roger Zelazny - Amber series - gets an 8. Damn, I wish he had lived to finish the Merlin arc.
J. R. R. Tolkien - Middle Earth (all assorted writings) - gets an 8.
Edward Gorey - assorted works - get an 8. Because damn, man, jeez.
J. D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye - gets an 8.
Terry Pratchett - Discworld series - gets a 7.
Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere - gets a 7. You should read this, if you haven't already.
Richard Bach - Illusions, The Bridge Across Forever - get a 6, but my feelings about these books are constantly shifting.
Terry Brooks - The Word and the Void series - gets a 5, but I'll clarify that my main complaint is that I wish there were more of it.
Neil Gaiman - American Gods - gets a 5. I think the world-building and the characters (some of them, at least) outshine the plot.
Janny Wurtz - Cycle of Fire series - gets a 4. A lot of worn-out tropes, but masterfully executed. The prose gets higher marks here than the worldbuilding does, but I can taste the salt of the sea in the pages.
Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth series - gets a 2. I really tried to like these books, but they wouldn't let me.
There, that's the list of things on my bookshelf at the moment. I listed the ones that I think are most interesting, whether I liked them or not. I'll be glad to discuss these rankings if you have questions. I'll even go ahead and assert that they're all fantasy books. Even the Keillor, the Bach, and the Salinger.
P.S. - The edit was just for formatting.
Lord of the Rings - 2
Harry Potter - 5
Drizzt Saga - 8
Cthulhu Mythos - 8
Discworld - 10
The Hobbit - 9
These are the only series' I've actually read from that list (I am working my way through Beowulf and am trying to get some such as Frankenstein and Dracula).
AArg. I am NOT going down into the basement to check the library. I will work from memory only.
Tolkien-LotR-9
Rawlings-Potter-7
Martin-Fire and Ice-9
Jordan-Wheel of Time-4
Lewis-Narnia-6
Rice-VAmpire-3
Le Guin-Earthsea-4
Beowulf-3
Gaiman-Gods/Anansi-9
Howard-Conan-6
Lovecraft-Cthulu-7
King-Dark Tower-6
Weis/Hickman-Dragonlance-5
Pratchett-Discworld-8
Stoker-Dracula-8
Moorcock-Elric-8
Moorcock-Hawkmoon-7
Moorcock-Corum-6
Gilgamesh-5
Pullman-His Dark Materials-8
Tolkien-The Hobbit-6
Tolkien-The Silmarillion-7
Homer-The Illiad-9
Book of the Long Sun-9
Homer-the Odysee-5
Brooks-Shannara-3
Goodkind-the Sword of Truth-3
Brust-Taltos series-7
Anthony-Xanth-3
Anthony-Blue Adept-4
Anthony-INcarnations of Immortality-5
Feist-Krondor-6
Glen Cook-The Black co-8 (the definition of gritty)
Chris Tolkien-Children of Hurin-8
Kurtz-Deryni-6
Williams-Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn-8
Rawn-The Golden Key-7
Saberhagen-Book of Swords-4
Rawn-Sunrunner saga-5
Mccaffery--Pern-5
Donaldson-Covenent first 4 books-9, then stop reading them
Keys-Age of UNreason-7
Zelazney-Amber/corwin-8
Zelazney-Amber/Merlin-6
Zelazney-Lord of Light-10
Hobb-Assassin series-8
Card-Alvin AMker-5
Jones-Master of the Word-6
Macdonald-Lilith-6
Mckiernann-Mithgar-5
Maybe more tomorrow
I forgot about Goodkind... I said there are rarely books that I can't finish (speaking of Elantris).... Sword of Truth was a series I couldn't finish. Books 1-6 at least held my interst, with 2 of the books (Temple of the Winds, Faith of the Fallen) being almost decent (5) and the other four being mostly gag-worthy (3). Book 7, I put down in disgust, and then attempted just to read book 8 without reading 7, and sold it the day after I bought it. I will not finish that series. Overall, I rank it as a 3 max.
Quote from: Luminous CrayonGarrison Keillor - Lake Woebegon Days and other similar stories - gets a 9. No joke. This is how you do worldbuilding.
I love anything that comes out of this man's mind or mouth.
great... i get to follow up ^that^
well a slightly shorter list, with some oldies.
LOTR - 6
Hobbit - 7.5
Narnia Series - 6
Dragon Riders of Pern - Anna Mcaffrey 9 <- how has this not been listed yet?
Vampire Lestat - 6
Memnoch the Devil - 8
Oddessy-Homer - 8
Beowulf - 9 (The ORIGINAL, not a novel... thank you English Lit...)
Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien = 4
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling = 5
Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis = 7
Discworld - Terry Prachett = 8
Frankenstein - Mary Shelly = 6
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien = 7
Inheritance - Christopher Paolini = 3
Shannara - Terry Brooks = 5
Vlad Taltos - Steven Brust = 7
new ones (not explicitly fantasy, some of 'em.):
Temeraire series - Naomi Novik = 9
King Raven Trilogy - Stephen R. Lawhead = 8
Bazil Broketail Series - Christopher Rowley = 6
Stardust - Neil Gaiman = 9
Please keep the voting to whole numbers, guys. I'll average those, but I don't want to start averaging .5 and .25 and .3333 bars. Thanks ;)
Definitely very cool to see the rankings coming out more - I like the placement of a lot of those, and dislike others, but that's how the real world works. Neat to see what people really think of fantasy books. I wish I had read Gene Wolfe and Discworld, now. As well as Song of Ice and Fire, but I will NOT read that until it's done - I'm not having anymore Jordanic experiences with endless waiting for a book to come out so I can see if my character lived or died on that last page...
The Oddessy - Homer - 8
The Illiad - Homer - 3
Just doing ones from memory right now (may well have read others I can't recall).
Tolkien
Lord of the Rings - 9
The Hobbit - 8
The Silmarillion - 8
Paolini
Inheritance - 5
Lewis
Chronicles of Narnia - 7
This is just crazy, but somehow I forgot to include:
Soldier series - Gene Wolfe - 9
Really, the best of Wolfe's writing I think. Wolfe's use of the unreliable narrator is particularly compelling here.
Some additional votes for me (mostly stuff that got added after I voted):
Iliad 3
Odyssey 4
Tempest 4
Gilgamesh 4
Anansi Boys 8
Elantris 8 (just finished it last night and I really enjoyed it, especially the second half when it picks up speed)
Discworld 10
American gods/ Anansi Boys 10
Vampire Chronicles 6
Conan 8
Elric 8
Corum 8
Harry Potter 6
Lord of the Rings 5
Alvin Maker 7
The Tempest 7
Belgariad 6
Cthulhu Mythos 8
Xanth 6
Incarnations of Immortality 7
Blue Adept 7
Chronicles of Narnia 4
Word and the Void 5
Circle of Magic 5
Dark Tower 6
Prydain Chronicles 6
Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare 8
Oz by L. Frank Baum 5
By the way: It should be Alvin Maker by Orson Scott Card not Alvin Amker.
Also, the series title for Blue Adept by Piers Anthony is The Apprentice Adept, or at least that's what I remember being in the books or on them as far as a series title.
Is there a reason that Lloyd Alexander's Prydain chronicles (The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron) hasn't come up yet? How about Oz? Midsummer Night's Dream?
khyron, you can add any books you want that are fantasy, and anyone else that has read them, hopefully that will jar their memory and make them vote.
QuoteIs there a reason that Lloyd Alexander's Prydain chronicles (The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron) hasn't come up yet? How about Oz? Midsummer Night's Dream?
By the way: It should be Alvin Maker by Orson Scott Card not Alvin Amker.[/quote]
Thanks. I didn't know the work and found nothing when I tried to look it up.
Quote from: IshmaylDarkover series - Marion Zimmer Bradley - 5
Dark Sun - Tribe of One series - 5
Deathgate Cycle - Margarett Weiss - 4
Dragonlance (original series, can't remember name) - 4
Riftwar Saga - Raymond Feist - 6
Thanks Ishy. I'm continuing to compile a list of fantasy novel series or noteworthy individual books. Any others I've missed?
what's the lowest possible score? Cause I want to give that to the Belgariad.
PS. and the highest possible score, or near enough, for the Bas-Lag books.
Quote from: Kindlingwhat's the lowest possible score? Cause I want to give that to the Belgariad.
PS. and the highest possible score, or near enough, for the Bas-Lag books.
The lowest is 1 - unreadable.
The highest is 10 - pinnacle of the genre
What is Bas-Lag? Who is the author?
It's the world in which most of China Mieville's books are set.
I added it to the list.
Wow, Belgariad a "1," really? I would love to hear your explanations for that over in the discussion thread. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a shining work of exquisite literature, but I don't think it's "throw in the dumpster" either...
In fact, I just realized I hadn't rated it yet, so I'll go ahead and give it a solid 5.
The Belgariad - David Eddings - 5
Quote from: IshmaylWow, Belgariad a "1," really? I would love to hear your explanations for that over in the discussion thread. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a shining work of exquisite literature, but I don't think it's "throw in the dumpster" either...
In fact, I just realized I hadn't rated it yet, so I'll go ahead and give it a solid 5.
The Belgariad - David Eddings - 5
Updated with you and Kindling's Belgariad votes. The second post should now reflect current votes for everyone I have them from.
Well, I'd give the Belgariad a 3. Barely readable.
Phoenix, I don't know if you saw these - I accidentally originally posted them over in the "Discussion" thread. If you have them, let me know, I"ll delete this post:
Darkover series - Marion Zimmer Bradley - 5
Dark Sun - Tribe of One series - 5
Deathgate Cycle - Margarett Weiss - 4
Dragonlance (original series, can't remember name) - 4
Riftwar Saga - Raymond Feist - 6
Quote from: IshmaylPhoenix, I don't know if you saw these - I accidentally originally posted them over in the "Discussion" thread. If you have them, let me know, I"ll delete this post:
Darkover series - Marion Zimmer Bradley - 5
Dark Sun - Tribe of One series - 5
Deathgate Cycle - Margarett Weiss - 4
Dragonlance (original series, can't remember name) - 4
Riftwar Saga - Raymond Feist - 6
Yep, I actually copied your post from that thread to this one (a half dozen or so posts up from here).
eddings-belgariad-4 (the personalities save it-the story is puerile)
three hearts and three lions---been a while...say a 6. Good for it's time.
weiss-DEathgate-3
From what I've heard Three Hearts and Three Lions had a big influence on Gygax. While I can't say the D&D fluff ever really appealed to me, that does make me curious what the books were like.
Neil Gaiman - American Gods: 8
Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time: 8
C.S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia: 4
China Mieville - Bas-Lag series: 7
Terry Prachett - Discworld: 8
Philip Pullman - His Dark Materials: 8
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter: 9
Bram Stoker - Dracula: 6
Jonathan Stroud - Bartimaeus Trilogy: 8
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings: 6
Hmm, my opinions on different works seem to be somewhat alike...
Anyway: read Mieville!
Piers Anthony - Xanth series: This is a good light series, with plenty of puns. 7
Terry Brooks - Shannara series: I loved this series back in junior high, but could get back into it a few years ago. 5
Glen Cook - The Black Company: This is an amazing series, I can't believe how few people have read it. 9
Steven Erikson - Malazan Book of the Fallen: Nobody else has read this series?!? Really now, go read it. The setting is amazing, with great characters. I have nothing but praise for these books. 10
David Eddings - Belgariad: Enjoyed it back in high school, haven't read it since. 7
Raymond Feist - Riftwar Saga: This was my favourite series for a long time, and still ranks pretty high. While the depth of storytelling from some other books isn't there, I always enjoy reading it. 8
William Goldman - The Princess Bride: A classic, which I haven't read in ages. If you haven't seen the movie, do yourself a favour and watch it asap. 7
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth: Another I used to really be into, but haven't kept up with. 6
Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time: We once counted 29 different plot arcs going on at the same time. Great setting, horrible to read the later books. 4
Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionavar Tapestry: An interesting story which I'm surprised isn't on the list yet. 7
Ursula LeGuin - Earthsea: Despite being a "childrens" story this book has a very well done setting and good character development. 7
George R.R. Martin - Song of Ice and Fire: I think everybody here already knows how good this series is. 8
Anne McCaffery - Dragonriders of Pern: A decent series that doesn't really stand out in my memory. 6
Anne Rice - The Vampire Chronicles: Didn't enjoy this series. 3
R.A. Salvatore - Cleric Quintet: Put this one in the "I liked it back in highschool" stack. 5
R.A. Salvatore - Drizzt Saga: Same with this one. 5
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings and other Middle Earth: Despite the amazing world, I just don't like Tolkien's writing style. 5
Margarett Weiss - Deathgate Cycle: A very unique setting, though the plot and characters are nothing too special. 7
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Dragonlance series: Nothing too special here. 5
You haven't listed my vote on Bas-Lag yet! Give that slice of genius cake a nine!
My votes -
LOTR - 9
Hobbit - 6
Narnia - 6
McKiernans - Iron Tower Trilogy - 6
Fiest's - Riftwar Saga - 8
Kenneth C Flint - Sidhe series - 6
Harry Potter Series - 6
Saberhagan - Book of Swords - 5
Memory Sorrow & Thorn - 6 (Would be higher, but I didn't like the end!)
Dragonlance Chronicles - 7
Donaldson - 1st Covenant Trilogy - 8
Donaldson - 2nd Covenant Trilogy - 6
First Shannara Trilogy - 6
Katherine Kerr - Deverry Books - 6
Up to date now.
Looking at the updated list, here's a few that I don't think I voted on the first time around:
William Goldman - The Princess Bride 10
Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchet - Good Omens 10
Phillip Pullman - His Dark Materials 9
My latest:
Frankenstein 5
Stardust 9
Lewis Carrol's Alice books: 9
Neverwhere (Gaiman) - 9
Anansi Boys (Gaiman) - 6
Song of Ice & Fire - 8
Lord of the Rings - 9 (only because it "set the standard")
Wheel of Time - 6
Not sure if we can list others or not, but I will...
Chronicles of the Black Company - 8
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (1st Set) - 6
Riftwar Saga - 7
Quote from: Steel GeneralSong of Ice & Fire - 8
Lord of the Rings - 9 (only because it "set the standard")
Wheel of Time - 6
Not sure if we can list others or not, but I will...
Chronicles of the Black Company - 8
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (1st Set) - 6
Riftwar Saga - 7
You can sure add series we've missed SG. Those are all actually on the list already (check below the table for the complete list). Items only appear on the table when at least 3 people have voted for them, so that a single vote doesn't skew the results.
Of the ones listed on the table:
His Dark Materials - 3
American Gods/Anansi Boys - 7
Elric Saga - 6
Riftwar Saga - 5
The Dark Tower - 7
The Lord of the Rings - 9
Conan - 5
Dragon Riders of Pern - 6
Harry Potter - 5
The Tempest - 10
Frankenstein - 7
Dragonlance - 9 (first six), 6 (total franchise)
The Odyssey - 9
The Chronicles of Narnia - 7
Beowulf - 7
The Vampire Chronicles - 5
Earthsea - 5
Drizzt Saga - 6 (the first three), 4 (the entire saga)
Epic of Gilgamesh - 7
The Iliad - 10
Xanth series - 7
The Sword of Truth - 1
Shannara series - 2
Others that come to mind, some of which are on the bottom list, though like many others here I am not going to go raid the bookshelves... for I would be typing all day, and several of which need to be added to the list:
Simlmarillion - 10
Conrad Stargard Series (Frankowski) - 5 (but terribly fun)
Paksenarrion Books (Moon) - 9
Initiate Brother/Gatherer of Clouds (Russell) - 10
Flattery Series (Russell, 2x2book series) - 8
Swansea Trilogy (Russell) - 7
Coldfire Trilogy (Friedman) - 7
Farseer books (Hobb) - 8
Oath of Empire Series (Harlan) - 8
Runelords Books (Farland) - 7
Transformation (Berg? Bergen?) - 8
Raven's Strike/Raven's Shadow (Briggs) - 6
Caledon of the Mists et seq. (Harris) - 7
Videssos Cycle (Turtledove) - 8
Mists of Avalon (Zimmer-Bradley) - 9
Malazan Book of the Fallen (Erikson) - 7
Chronicles of the Black Company (Cook) - 8
Dracula (Stoker) - 7
The Hobbit - 9
Note: List updated to reflect information retrieved from the spoiler-boxed list in the first post
Hey guys, thanks for the votes. I'll finish updating tomorrow.
It's helpful for those with many votes to please copy the bottom (spoilered) list, so that the votes are in order by author, rather than my having search for the author. :)
Oh yeah, and we're evaluating all related works together. So things like Silmarrilion, Hobbit, and LotR are treated like any other series, as a single vote for all of them (for those that voted separately I averaged their votes).
I completely missed the list below the table... *note to self, read posts more closely*
and I have a couple of additional votes;
Chronicles of Amber (Zelazny) - 7
Lord of Light (Zelazny) - 9
Creatures of Light & Darkness (Zelazny) - 8
Updated with Acrimone.
Acrimone:
I can't add this to the list without knowing the author, and I can't google the author for such a general title.
Transformation (Berg? Bergen?) - 8
Flattery Series (Russell, 2x2book series) - 8
What's the actual name of the series?
Wikipedia lists the following book series for Sean Russell:
Initiate Brother, Moontide and Magic Rise, The River into Darkness, Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner, and Swan's War
Howdy! Sorry about the vagueness.
The Sean Russel "Flattery Series" is actually two 2-book series: Moontide and Magic Rise, and the River into Darkness. They're essentially one story, so if *I* were running the poll (which I'm not, I realize) I'd put the entry as "Moontide and Magic Rise/River Into Darkness".
The others really deserve separate entries -- they aren't set in the same world at all. "The Initiate Brother" is a proto-Asian fantasy series composed of two books -- The Initiate Brother and Gatherer of Clouds. And the Swan's War trilogy is what I was thinking about above when I typed "Swansea". That was just a mistake of memory, as I was typing my list on the fly.
Let me go look on the shelf for Transformation.
(rummages) (sound of falling books)
Here it is.
"Transformation", by Carol Berg. Published by Roc, 2000.
Thanks Acrimone. I've updated the votes with that information.
Latest votes:
Fire Thief Trilogy 3
Neverwhere 8
I really wanted to like the Fire Thief, being a story about Prometheus--but it was just too kiddie. I can dig a children's book like Harry Potter or Narnia, but not if it's written down with lots of childish asides.
Neverwhere was very lively, though I loved Stardust even more.
Coldfire Trilogy (Friendman) - 7 (Can't believe I forgot about this
Runelord Series (Farland) - 7
I'm just copying and pasting this list and deleting the ones I have not read. Some of these I have not read in a long time, and I'm going from memory, is that O.K.?
Xanth series - 7
John Anthony Bellairs - The Face in the Frost - 9 (I'm glad other people have read this)
Black, Holly - The Spiderwick Chronicles - 5
James Herbert Brennan - Faerie Wars - 6
Brooks, Terry - Shannara series - 4
Stephen Brust - Vlad Taltos - 8
L. G. Burbank - Lords of Darkness - 4
C. J. Cherryh - Forge of Heaven - 7
Stephen R. Donaldson - Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - 6
Sara Douglass - Wayfarer Redemption Sextet - 8
David Eddings - Belgariad - 5
Erikson, Steven - Malzan Book of the Fallen - 5
Farland, David - The Runelords - 6
Gaiman, Neil - American Gods/Anansi Boys - 6
Goodkind, Terry - The Sword of Truth - 4
Simon Hawke - Dark Sun: Tribe of One - 7
Howard, Robert - Conan - 7
Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time - 8
Ursula LeGuin - Earthsea - 7
C.S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia - 5
George R.R. Martin - Song of Ice and Fire - 7 (so far)
Terry Prachett - Discworld - 7
Rice, Anne - The Vampire Chronicles - 5
Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter - 5
Salvatore, R.A. - Drizzt Saga - 4
Sanderson, Brandon - Elantris - 6
Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Lord of the Rings and other Middle Earth - 8
Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow, Thorn - 9
Gene Wolfe - Long Sun - 7
Zelazny, Roger - Chronicles of Amber - 7 (love the series, hated the ending)
Zelazny, Roger - Lords of Light - 6
Unmentioned thus far:
Robert Jordan - Conan Chronicles - 8 (The definitive Conan stories, imo)
David Eddings - The Mallorean - 4
You know, I was thinking.... this may be the single best list of fantasy works to be found on the net. GOOD JOB PHOENIX!!!!
Updated with Advachiel. Thanks for the votes (and putting them in order really did make it easier, thanks).
Did you get my two newest votes?
Quote from: AcrimoneYou know, I was thinking.... this may be the single best list of fantasy works to be found on the net. GOOD JOB PHOENIX!!!!
Thanks, that's always nice to hear.
Now, I expect all guilders to have read this reading list by the start of the new semester. There will be a test on your summer reading list.
And in place of a captcha, we will now use a reading survey to filter out which members/bots we really want ;)
Cochran, Molly & Warren Murphy - The Forever King 10 (Phoenix)
It was just one of those I never wanted to put down even when it was desperately past time I went to sleep. And that's a good thing. Somehow the style just drew me in so much.
Am I the only one here that has read, let alone enjoyed, Lewis Carrol?
Definitely on my list of things to read :)
Some of my newer reads:
Stoker, Bram - Dracula 5
(good potential, but kind of slow for my modern tastes)
Carroll, Lewis - Alice stories 7
(way better than his other works)
Barrie, J.M. - Peter Pan 7
(more fun than I expected)
Anthony, Piers - Xanth series 3
Bradley, Marion Zimmer - Darkover series 5
Brooks, Terry - Shannara series 1
Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game 7
Orson Scott Card - Ender's Shadow series 9
Orson Scott Card - Homecoming series - 1
Cook, Glen - The Black Company - 9
Donaldson, Stephen R. - Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (I've only read the first book so far) 6
Eddings, David - The Dreamers - 6
Erikson, Steven - Malzan Book of the Fallen - 9
Farland, David - The Runelords - 8 (for the first trilogy) and 5 (for the later books)
Gaiman, Neil - Good Omens - 8
Gaiman, Neil - Neverwhere - 9
Gaiman, Neil - Stardust - 8
Gaiman, Neil - American Gods - 9
Gaiman, Neil - Anansi Boys - 7
Goodkind, Terry - The Sword of Truth - 4 (It only gets this high of a rating because the first and second last books)
Hobb, Robin - Assassins Trilogy - 8
Hobb, Robin - Fool's Trilogy - 7
Jordan, Robert - The Wheel of Time 7 (would be higher but he should have finished it in the last book)
King, Stephen - Dark Tower - 8 (I've only ready the first four)
Martin, George R.R. - Song of Ice and Fire - 9
Anne McCaffery - Dragonriders of Pern - 5
Naomi Novik - Temeraire - 8
Paolini, Christopher - Inheritance - 7
Prachett, Terry - Discworld - 8
Pullman, Philip - His Dark Materials - 9
Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter - 7
Salinger, J. D. - Catcher in the Rye - 6
Salvatore, R.A. - Drizzt Saga - 4
Shelly, Mary - Frankenstein - 8
Stroud, Jonathan - Bartimaeus Trilogy - 7
Weiss, Margarett - Deathgate Cycle - 5
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Dragonlance series - 3
[ooc]
The best books I've ever read are all science fiction, Under the Skin by Micheal Faber, Blindsight by Peter Watts, When the Wind Blows/The Lake House by James Patterson or contemporary fiction, The Butterfly Revolution, I forget who wrote this, but it is by far the best book I've ever read.[/ooc]
I'll finish updating the list with Llum's picks soon. Thanks for the votes Llum.
By the way, there is a separate sci-fi book ranking thread (not maintained by me) for choices like:
Sci-Fi
Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game 7
Orson Scott Card - Ender's Shadow series 9
Orson Scott Card - Homecoming series - 1
Right sorry, my bad I got a little distracted >_<
Updated with all of Llum's picks. This added a few new entries to the table, too!
Already on the main ranking...
Song of Ice and Fire 9
Stardust 7
Neverwhere 8
His Dark Materials 9
American Gods 7
Chronicles of Amber 7
Chronicles of Narnia 5
The Dark Tower 7 (I'd give Gunslinger a 9, but Song of Susannah and The Dark Tower, book 7, more like a 5 or 6)
The Lord of the Rings 7
Cthulu Mythos 7
Harry Potter 5
The Wheel of Time 5
Belgariad 3
Dracula 7
And on the longer list... (and one or two that aren't yet on it)
Alexander, Lloyd '" Prydain Chronicles 6
Brooks, Terry '" Word and Void 5
Eddings, David '" Mallorean 2
Friedman, Cecilia S. '" Coldfire Trilogy 7
Lieber, Fritz '" Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser 8
Mieville, China '" Bas-Lag Series 10
Mieville, China '" King Rat 9
Paolini, Christopher '" Inheritance Cycle 2 (I usually abstained from ranking series I hadn't finished, but I feel passionate about the Inheritence Cycle... it really, really annoys me)
Vance, Jack '" Lyonesse 9
Vance, Jack '" Tales of the Dying Earth 9
I, on the other hand, am sometimes willing to rank a series having read only a couple of books from it.
My latest:
Bach, Richard - Illusions 7
Prachett, Terry - Discworld 5 (I feel like I was missing something as to why everyone thinks it's so wonderful)
I'll probably update the rankings tonight or tomorrow.
Updated with new votes.
So some reading from my trip.
Milton - Paradise Lost 4
Anthony - Xanth 4
Lisle - Secret Texts 5
Sharon Shinn - Archangel 6
Everworld series, K.A. Applegate - 6 for an adult read, 9 for a YA read, so I'm giving it a 8, seeing as it was intended for YA.
Not updating with new votes right now, but I'll add a few more.
Rice, Anne - Mayfair 6
Dickens - Christmas Carol 7 (it's kind of fantasy)
Some recent readings:
First Law Trilogy - Abercrombie, Joe: 9. Very entertaining series. A very good read if you need a break from some of the more hardcore works.
Last Wish - Zapkowski, Andrzej: 7. The story of the Witcher. Interesting if not overwhelmingly so.
The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray - Wooding, Chris: 8. Pretty good, although not particularly deep (which might be a requirement for some).
Hunter's Moon - Devereux, David: 5: Decent, but seeing as it is supposed to be fantasy-ish there wasn't near enough supernatural stuff involved. The villain ended up using plain old brainwashing. Some very cool magic objects in it though.
By the way, can i boost my Mieville - Bas-Lag rating from 7 to 8?
EDIT: Ah, just noticed the "no updating" post. So nevermind the boost.
I think the no updating post was saying no editing old posts to update your votes. This is because I had no way of knowing and thus changing the rankings.
If you believe it's important enough to change your vote, a new post is fine. And it's helpful when, like yours, it says change it from X to Y so I don't have to scan through four pages to find the old one (to recalculate totals).
But since I'm not currently updating the totals, it's all kind of moot ;)