Top Ten Fantasy Books Series of All Time

As the summer begins to wind down, I think of spending some warm autumn nights sitting on my porch and reading. To that end, I will share with you my top ten fantasy series! Now the criteria for this list is that the series be more than simply a fantasy trilogy, so you will find that I have adapted the name of some of the series to reflect the entire collection of books set in the universe being written about. I also tried to avoid the overly obvious responses like Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. I also left off any series that is considered as young adult fiction, such as the Potter books.

The reason I have chosen to select from series that have gone beyond the normal trilogy, is the sheer character development and history built into the worlds of these books. No other books have made me want to read the character guides and glossary of terms written into the indices. Some even have basic histories included to help explain references throughout the books. Nothing gives me a thrill quite like reading a subtle reference to another book and knowing I would miss it entirely if I hadn't been reading the series. I know, I sound like a total nerd, but here goes...

10. Roger Zelazny - Chronicles of AMBER: This series or ten novels was the first series I ever read that was more than three or four books long. It was also the series that cemented my interest in the realm of fantasy. An adept mixture of political intrigue and magic as told by wise-ass Corwin in the Corwin Cycle and his even bigger of a wise-ass son Merle in the Merlin Cycle, the story revolves around the royal families of Amber and the Courts of Chaos. Amber is the one true world of which all others are but shadows, and the royal blood of Amber or Chaos is the key to powerful magic and the ability to travel through the shadows. Worth reading again and again and again... and again.

9. Laurell K Hamilton- Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series: Starting with the first book, Guilty Pleasures, Anita Blake raises the dead and helps police solve preternatural crimes while being slowly drawn deeper and deeper into the dark world she abhors. Think of this as a more grown-up Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now at 17 books in the series, the action is rip roaring and every character seems to grow as the series progresses. Unfortunately so does the sex. The only reason this series has slipped down my top ten list is it slowly evolves into soft-core porn, but the author has promised a return to the thrilling action that was a series trademark for the first 9 books. I look forward to the latest release Skin Trade.

8. Mercedes Lackey w/ James Mallory- Books of the Wild Magic series: The most recent addition to my top ten, this consists of the The Obsidian Trilogy and The Enduring Flame trilogy of books. Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory create the most innovative system of magic I have ever read about and encapsulate it in a fantastic world with a rich history behind it. Dark Magic threatens the Nine Cities and only the powers of the Wild Magic and High Magic can prevail. Can Armethaliah be convinced of the danger in time? Can the High Magic be found again?

7. Philip Jose Farmer- World of Tiers Series: Seven books set within a series of artificially-constructed universes, created and ruled by decadent beings who are genetically identical to humans, but who regard themselves as superior, the inheritors of an advanced technology they no longer understand. The overall storyline of the series follows the adventures of two people from Earth who independently discovers gates into the World of Tiers. Dips heavily into greek mythology and borrows much from our own history on earth. An intensely entertaining read, unfortunately leaves one hungering still for more. The last book More Than Fire, was released in 1993, and the announces sequel, the Garden of Evil was never released.

6. Raymond E Feist- Riftwar Cycle: Currently at 22 books in the series (or more if you count the series written on the other side of the rift with Janny Wurts), the series follows the exploits of the orphan boy Pug , in Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master, who becomes the greatest magician and hero of the Kingdom of the Isles and the world of Midkemia when the peace is shattered by an invasion from another world. It is later found that the invasion is nothing more than a symptom of the darkness lurking in the background, as adventure after adventure serves to reveal a little more of the mystery surrounding the evil that is. The series is scheduled for 5 more books before the epic conclusion.

5. Mercedes Lackey- Chronicles of Valdemar: The Herald is a guardian of the country of Valdemar who rides a white horse-like partner called a companion. A Herald is possessed of special abilities, such as mind-speech or empathy, but is also chosen by the companions for inner qualities that set them apart from the normal people of Valdemar. The most prolific writer of the top ten, this series has 33 books so far. Each book or series can be read independent of the others, but each also contains references to historical events written or implied in other books or even the short story collections. The complexity of the Valdemaran universe astounds me, and Lackey's ability to maintain a pretty accurate timeline and history is no less than amazing to me. Even the laws regarding the systems of magic are well-thought out and explained and remain consistent throughout the series. As the only writer to have 2 series in my top ten, and more series perilously close to hitting this top ten, Lackey is my favorite overall writer working today.

4. Mickey Zucker Reichert- The Renshai Chronicles: This is a difficult series to sum up, so I turned to MickeyZuckerReichert.com for help. "In this sweeping epic, covering six volumes, we encounter a universe of Nordic gods. But this world exists in a universe quite unlike ours. Magic and magical creatures exist, but are not commonplace. There are powerful forces holding the balance between law and chaos, forestalling the Ragnarok. The system that has held for over a hundred centuries is crumbling, holding the fate of the world in the balance. And the time of the gods is passing. These stories chronicle the destruction and rebirth of the Renshai people, the restoration of the Western monarchy, the end time of the gods, and the rise of a Renshai-born demigod to his place as the Golden Prince of Demons, challenger to Odin himself."
Even though this series is concluded, I continue to hold my breath for a new series to be set in this world of Renshai once again. The description of battle was breathtaking, and the character development was such that I was invested emotionally in each character introduced by the end of each book and wanted more. Truly a work of wonder here.

3. Terry Pratchett- Disc World series: Comedic fantasy set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle. The books frequently parody J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft and William Shakespeare, as well as mythology, folklore and fairy tales, often using them as satire with current cultural, political and even scientific issues. The stories can be read as stand alone books, but feature the interweaving of grand story arcs involving the characters of Rincewind, Death, the Witches and more. I cannot even begin to describe the various tales from Discworld, suffice it to say that it was the bestselling series in the U.K. before Potter came around, and the series is still drenched in awards. There was also a recent mini-series based on the first two books, "The Colour of Magic", starring Sean Astin of LOTR fame.

2. Robert Jordan- Wheel of Time Series: Could have easily been number one on my list if not for Jordan's untimely death leaving the series incomplete. They have since hired someone to finish the last book, but I'm sure his work will pale in comparison to Jordan. Jordan Wheel of Time series is soaked in description and details. There is multiple heritages mixed throughout, each with their own languages and histories that Jordan has fleshed out in appendices that help explain details in case a reader gets lost. The character development is slow and deeply rich, and never stops. The books get thicker and thicker as the series progress, but the author skips nothing, misses no detail, lets not even the shortest amount of time pass without description. The history of the world is as important to the story as the upcoming events, since the ages come and go and come again as the wheel wills. Never has there been an epic so complex and intricately woven.

1. Terry Brooks- The Shannara Series: Recently, Terry Brooks took his books of the Word Series and intricately and ingeniously intertwined them into the Shannara World with such genius and aplomb, that it shot this series into the number one spot from number six. Now numbering 22 books, the series takes our world on the verge of the apocalypse (The Word and the Void Series) and beyond into its rebirth (The Shannara Novels) in a world where the ruins of technology are hinted at, but magic has risen in it's place. The Druids of Paranor are guiding the four lands, stopping evil from destroying the world again, by virtue of the elven blood of the Shannara family passed from generation to generation. If you have not read Terry Brooks, you cannot truly consider yourself a fan of the fantasy genre.

Series that probably should have made the list but instead get an HONORABLE MENTION include: The Runelord Series by David Farland, The Pern Novels by Anne McCaffery, and the Farseer Novels by Robin Hobb, and of course the Hitchikers Guide by Douglas Adams. Very engrossing writers and reads that have me reserving their books before they are released for sale.

So, the sheer number if books I've outlined here should keep the most avid reader of fantasy busy for a season of reading. I hope you enjoy this list, and encourage your responses to this list!