Best Fantasy of the 50s (63 books)

Best Fantasy published in the 1950s. Please do not add books published outside the decade of the 50s.

Some Subgenres:
Best Epic Fantasy
Best Urban Fantasy

Fantasy by Time Period:
Pre-Tolkien Fantasy (Fantasy up through 1937)
Classic Fantasy (Fantasy written before 1980)

Fantasy by Decade:
1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s

Locus Recommended Fantasy:
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Fantasy By Ratings:
More than 100000, 50000 to 99999, 25000 to 49999, 10000 to 24999
1000 to 9999, 100 to 999, Less than 100

Other Fantasy Lists of Note:
Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century
Best Fantasy of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Fantasy of the 20th Century
Popular Highly Rated Fantasy

Related Lists By Topic:
All, Anthropology, Astronomy, Biography, Biology, Children, Classics, Computer Science, Fantasy, Genetics, Graphic Novels, History, Horror, Language, Manga, Military Science Fiction, Music, Mysteries, Non-Fiction, Philosophy, Picture Books, Poetry, Politics, Psychology, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Travel, Young Adult

See also: Under Rated Books with 1000 to 10000 ratings

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.41 avg rating — 3,126,769 ratings score: 7,654, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.50 avg rating — 1,116,313 ratings score: 6,275, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.58 avg rating — 1,032,960 ratings score: 6,162, and 63 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) by C.S. Lewis 4.24 avg rating — 3,130,531 ratings score: 6,133, and 63 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Magician’s Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6) by C.S. Lewis 4.05 avg rating — 601,582 ratings score: 3,422, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia, #5) by C.S. Lewis 3.91 avg rating — 389,770 ratings score: 3,246, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia, #3) by C.S. Lewis 4.09 avg rating — 505,451 ratings score: 3,021, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7) by C.S. Lewis 4.01 avg rating — 304,034 ratings score: 2,713, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Silver Chair (Chronicles of Narnia, #4) by C.S. Lewis 3.95 avg rating — 328,888 ratings score: 2,683, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia, #2) by C.S. Lewis 3.98 avg rating — 481,960 ratings score: 2,598, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.54 avg rating — 727,809 ratings score: 2,466, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-5) by T.H. White 4.07 avg rating — 117,519 ratings score: 2,199, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Chronicles of Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7) by C.S. Lewis 4.28 avg rating — 704,986 ratings score: 1,857, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	I Am Legend by Richard Matheson 4.05 avg rating — 152,092 ratings score: 1,699, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury 4.09 avg rating — 78,170 ratings score: 1,502, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Borrowers (The Borrowers, #1) by Mary Norton 4.03 avg rating — 100,979 ratings score: 1,301, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson 3.87 avg rating — 7,597 ratings score: 1,251, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Gormenghast (Gormenghast, #2) by Mervyn Peake 4.10 avg rating — 14,915 ratings score: 847, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury 4.13 avg rating — 107,403 ratings score: 558, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The 13 Clocks by James Thurber 3.99 avg rating — 8,555 ratings score: 485, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson 3.86 avg rating — 15,252 ratings score: 451, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber 3.80 avg rating — 2,789 ratings score: 385, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Gammage Cup (The Minnipins, #1) by Carol Kendall 3.98 avg rating — 3,418 ratings score: 365, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson 3.77 avg rating — 9,240 ratings score: 360, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis 4.20 avg rating — 79,736 ratings score: 356, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Titus Alone (Gormenghast, #3) by Mervyn Peake 3.45 avg rating — 6,178 ratings score: 343, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Beast Master by Andre Norton 3.99 avg rating — 2,304 ratings score: 338, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Carbonel: The King of the Cats (Carbonel, #1) by Barbara Sleigh 4.23 avg rating — 1,788 ratings score: 332, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 136,160 ratings score: 329, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Little Witch by Otfried Preußler 4.21 avg rating — 11,980 ratings score: 320, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Candle in the Wind (The Once and Future King, #4) by T.H. White 3.87 avg rating — 2,389 ratings score: 276, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Half Magic (Tales of Magic, #1) by Edward Eager 3.95 avg rating — 38,341 ratings score: 270, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Borrowers Afield (The Borrowers #2) by Mary Norton 4.06 avg rating — 12,893 ratings score: 268, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Borrowers Afloat (The Borrowers, #3) by Mary Norton 4.04 avg rating — 7,935 ratings score: 265, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Little Water Sprite by Otfried Preußler 4.07 avg rating — 3,103 ratings score: 217, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Castle of Iron by L. Sprague de Camp 3.66 avg rating — 181 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Victorian Chaise Longue by Marghanita Laski 3.58 avg rating — 1,736 ratings score: 186, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Magic or Not? (Tales of Magic, #5) by Edward Eager really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,719 ratings score: 169, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Knight's Castle (Tales of Magic, #2) by Edward Eager 4.05 avg rating — 5,556 ratings score: 168, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Cloven Viscount by Italo Calvino 3.82 avg rating — 31,691 ratings score: 165, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Nonexistent Knight by Italo Calvino 3.82 avg rating — 25,459 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Blue Star by Fletcher Pratt 3.11 avg rating — 199 ratings score: 145, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Monus de man van de maan by A.D. Hildebrand 3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Strange Evil by Jane Gaskell 3.37 avg rating — 65 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Dying Earth (The Dying Earth, #1) by Jack Vance 3.88 avg rating — 10,842 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Redemption (The Alterran Legacy, #4) by Regina M. Joseph (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 19 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	King's Daughter by Jane Gaskell 3.42 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison 3.74 avg rating — 3,695 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Galaxy of Ghouls by Judith Merril (Editor) 3.62 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The 13th Is Magic by Joan Howard 4.41 avg rating — 46 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Inheritors by William Golding 3.51 avg rating — 5,567 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary (Doctor Dolittle, #11) by Hugh Lofting 3.98 avg rating — 442 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Doctor Dolittle's Puddleby Adventures (Doctor Dolittle, #12) by Hugh Lofting 3.90 avg rating — 264 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling 3.83 avg rating — 20,405 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Duel by Richard Matheson 4.03 avg rating — 2,549 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Hidden Valley of Oz (Oz, Book 39) by Rachel R. Cosgrove 3.34 avg rating — 35 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Pincher Martin by William Golding 3.55 avg rating — 2,588 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Return of Conan by Björn Nyberg 3.74 avg rating — 31 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham by Anthony Armstrong 3.60 avg rating — 30 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Tritonian Ring by L. Sprague de Camp 3.30 avg rating — 227 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop 3.98 avg rating — 309 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Tales from Gavagan's Bar by L. Sprague de Camp 3.73 avg rating — 270 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Hand of Zei by L. Sprague de Camp 3.39 avg rating — 123 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars