Not saying it shouldn't be included, but I don't think of Pratchett as epic fantasy. I guess I don't know what to call Pratchett, so maybe epic is the best place for him.

I agree, I think Pratchett is more in the category of comic fantasy and satire.

wow i was looking for another fantasy to read and this helped a LOT (however i hate the word epic when used to describe books, movies, etc.)

I think Diane Duane's work has yet to be acknowledged. She is the kind of author who makes sensible fantasy. With rules. Her universe is beautiful. She never gets as much attention as she deserves.

Any how I'm also quite fond of Madeline L'Engal's work.

"Children's books who can only be enjoyed by children are not very good children's books"
- C.S Lewis

Bit of a stretch to have the foundation trilogy on an epic fantasy list, isn't it?

Guards! Guards! The whole city watch series by pratchet was great as well.

It's not exactly Epic, though, is it?

Ok, got me there.....

Robin Hobb, Soldiers Son series

Not all of these are really that 'epic', oh well.

David wrote: "Bit of a stretch to have the foundation trilogy on an epic fantasy list, isn't it?"

I agree, and it's the same for Ender's Game, which would be more at home in a science fiction list, where I could vote for it.

I guess some people are just voting for books they like, regardless of whether they are even in the right genre.

Wow, this list is pretty damn suspect, there's a lot of pulpy crap in it.

Why are peoples expectations so low when it comes to fantasy as a genre exactly? Sure, not every writer can be a Pullman or a Tolkien or even a Bradley, but Dragonlance pulp novels? Robert bloody Jordan? People are just listing the crap they like, and it's the fact that those awful writers create books that become best sellers that keeps the entire fantasy genre permanantly looked down upon by the rest of the literary world.

Until we as readers start demanding more, fantasy will always be 90% awful.

Make your own list.

When I think of "epic" fantasy I think of long ranging battles that are well epic, elves, castles, swords and great feats of magic. Some of the books in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series definitely fit the bill in my opinion. Beauty and the Beast (while a great story, depending on the interpretation) not so much.

Rora wrote: "I agree, I think Pratchett is more in the category of comic fantasy and satire. "

I agree also. Doesn't belong here.

Florence wrote: "wow i was looking for another fantasy to read and this helped a LOT (however i hate the word epic when used to describe books, movies, etc.)" I KNOW! It's so annoying when someone says,"This is so epic!".

Isaac wrote: "Sure, not every writer can be a Pullman or a Tolkien or even a Bradley, but Dragonlance pulp novels? Robert bloody Jordan?"

You might not like Dragonlance or the Wheel of Time, but the fact that you don't like them doesn't mean they're not epic fantasy. IMHO, more characters, more settings, more heroic and world-changing acts of derring-do = MORE EPIC. In this case, both DL and WoT are more epic than LotR. It doesn't mean they're better--just more epic.

Isaac wrote: "Sure, not every writer can be a Pullman or a Tolkien or even a Bradley, but Dragonlance pulp novels? Robert bloody Jordan?"

I must admit I'm not really a Dragonlance fan either, but what is your beef with Jordan? Have you even READ the WoT? If that's not "epic," well...

shut up

stop talking

How profound, Billy.

When my son was younger he hadn't developed a taste for reading (unusual in our family). I finally got him interested in the Dragon Lance Novels, so while I agree they're not in the same league with LotR I suppose they have their place. One of my all time favorite Epic Fantasies are the Paksanarrion novels. I'm always surprised at how few people have read them.

As for Robert Jordan well, I'm always "suffused" with a sense of "what might have been". The first 6 volumes were great, after that they went way down hill.

At least Brandon Sanderson is finishing them.

I've never even heard of the Paksanarrion novels. Sorry. :(

Like I said, I'm always surprised at that. The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon, that's the omnibus edition of the trilogy. The three books are Sheep Farmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold. Their on my book list and on the Epic fantasy book list.

Can Dune be considered fantasy? I thought it was clearly sci-fi... The boundries of genres aren't that fixed, but still... heh...

I don't know about the "authorities" but there are at least some fantasy aspects to it I'd say. It may not be a typical epic fantasy...but why quibble I suppose.

The Wizard of Oz??

No love for Clive Barker???!!!

Imajica and Weaveworld are easily top ten. This list is a fucking joke!

No Ursula K. in the top ten?

dude! get it together!

Isaac wrote " Sure, not every writer can be a Pullman or a Tolkien or even a Bradley, but Dragonlance pulp novels? Robert bloody Jordan?"

Well Isaac I was infinitely more impressed with the Wheel of Time series than I was with His Dark Materials.

On a different note, I can't understand how Jim Butcher and his Codex Alera series didn't get higher up on the list.

Possibly simply that it's (the Codex Alera series)a newer series and fewer people have found it.

i agreewith mike! robert jordan went so downhill after the sixth he's one of the only authors that I've stopped reading a series half way through!!! Jim butcher should definetly be wayyyy higher up there one of my favorites :P
and terry goodkind....AMAZING :D

Jenny wrote: "I think Diane Duane's work has yet to be acknowledged. She is the kind of author who makes sensible fantasy. With rules. Her universe is beautiful. She never gets as much attention as she deserves...."

Diane Duane's books are DEFINITELY awesome!!!

True, Robert Jordan's books went downhill after book six - but that was only only the drudgery of the pacing and the increasing cringeworthiness of the characters. The writing itself was still excellent, and he remained true to the storyline and plot. The series is definitely epic fantasy. Goodkind on the other hand... First book was great, second and third a little less so. But at the end? The books were only a soap box for his ideals, preached in a gagworthy manner, plots were non-existent, and characters were so shallow as to barely even be there! I had to force myself through Chainfire just to see how it ended. But again, it would definitely belong on the epic fantasy list. Just a little lower down.

One of the interesting things about Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books is that there is an epic tale lurking in the background that one doesn't notice until one has already read a few of the novels in the series.

So, what makes an Epic Fantasy? My thoughts:
1. A Hero
2. A Villain
3. A Quest
4. Big Battles
5. Big supporting casts
6. Personal issues that are connected to the quest
7. Betrayal
Your thoughts?

I think a fundamental property is that there are large conflicts with the fate of nations--or even entire species--in play.

Someone, or something, deleted the single-volume version of The Lord of the Rings from its high place on the list. I'm trying to see what can be done about it. We librarians are threatened with dire consequences if we delete something improperly.

Absolutely ridiculous. The fact that The Lord of the Rings is first goes to shew how silly people can be. I love the Harry Potter series as much as the next man, but it doesn't lay a finger on Tolkien. Likewise, the idea that The Hobbit would be rated higher on this list, when it is a short children's novel, is sad and equally laughable.

Lord of the rings is about the best series I have read in my life.I don't think fantasy can get much better than that!!

Jenna wrote: "Lord of the rings is about the best series I have read in my life.I don't think fantasy can get much better than that!!"

Modern Fantasy is the invention of Tolkien, and no one has ever topped him.

Logan wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Lord of the rings is about the best series I have read in my life.I don't think fantasy can get much better than that!!"

Modern Fantasy is the invention of Tolkien, and no one has ev..."

Agreed. As it is one novel in 6 parts, I think it should be listed as Lord of the Rings and not as the artificial Fellowship, Two Towers,Return...

The Amber series started it for me, great list, and a great resource to find rich new series. Thanks

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "When my son was younger he hadn't developed a taste for reading (unusual in our family). I finally got him interested in the Dragon Lance Novels, so while I agree they're not in the same league wit..."

I wouldn't be a reader today without Dragonlance - it has a place in my opinion.

For me, an epic has to have all of these: massive back story, huge detailed world, long story, severe consequences, engaging characters and deep immersion. I chose 3 that meet these requirements: Lord of the Rings, Dune and the Amber novels. I include in these a variety of sequels/prequels by the same author. Other books/series would serve but ultimately my choices are a matter of what I've read and liked.

Seregil wrote: "Can Dune be considered fantasy? I thought it was clearly sci-fi... The boundries of genres aren't that fixed, but still... heh..."

Dune is an interesting case. I would consider it a hybrid in that it has both sci-fi and fantasy elements. It does belong here but then not entirely either. However, it is here, so I'll vote for it since it is at least epic.

WOW! this list has almost all the greats!!

I find it curious that all of the candidates for "Whether a single book or a series, what do you think is the best epic fantasy of all time? " are recent works, i.e. within the last hundred years or so. How about La Morte d'Arthur?, maybe Homer's Trojan War/Odyseus or the Norse Eddas (where would Tolkien be without those!). Is the Bible an epic fantasy? (running and ducking ;^) )

Jenny wrote: "I think Diane Duane's work has yet to be acknowledged. She is the kind of author who makes sensible fantasy. With rules. Her universe is beautiful. She never gets as much attention as she deserves...."

I agree about Diane Duane, and feel the same thing can (and should) be said about Diana Wynne Jones.

Owen wrote: "I find it curious that all of the candidates for "Whether a single book or a series, what do you think is the best epic fantasy of all time? " are recent works, i.e. within the last hundred years o..."

You're funny! No need to run and duck either. The Bible qualifies as epic certainly. The question of fantasy gets really sticky. I live in the Bible Belt of the south. Most people here would jump up and down about labeling the Bible as fantasy. Of course, the tragedy is that regardless of what most people say, the way the message of the Bible is treated displays most clearly the majority opinion.