Listopia > World Building Book Lists

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Golden Compass by Philip PullmanA Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinMia's Magic Wand by Peter Volkofsky
Best Fantasy: Unique Worlds
638 books — 496 voters
The Final Empire by Brandon SandersonThe Way of Kings by Brandon SandersonThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienThe Name of the Wind by Patrick RothfussA Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Magical Lands
324 books — 187 voters

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienThe Two Towers by J.R.R. TolkienThe Return of the King by J.R.R. TolkienThe Cavalier by Israh Azizi
Fantasy Books with Maps
227 books — 88 voters
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. RowlingThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
What a Wonderful World - A Celebration of Imaginative World-Building
311 books — 60 voters

The Cavalier by Israh AziziWords of Radiance by Brandon SandersonThe Way of Kings by Brandon SandersonThe Name of the Wind by Patrick RothfussDon't Close Your Eyes by Lynessa James
Best Heroes On A Mission
64 books — 57 voters
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingMistborn by Brandon SandersonThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsThe Dragon Dreamer by J.S. Burke
Wonderful World Building
125 books — 53 voters

1984 by George OrwellAnimal Farm by George OrwellBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyThe Man Without Qualities by Robert MusilThe Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke
Books that should be talked about more
168 books — 51 voters
Written in Red by Anne BishopStorm Front by Jim ButcherThe Rook by Daniel O'MalleySky Ghosts by Alexandra EngellmannAmerican Gods by Neil Gaiman
Best Urban Fantasy (not PNR or whatever Hybrids) Series
88 books — 49 voters

Polaris Rising by Jessie MihalikAurora Blazing by Jessie MihalikChaos Reigning by Jessie MihalikDark Horse by Michelle DienerRules of Redemption by T.A. White
Full Length Sci-Fi Romance with a Space Opera Vibe (No YA)
124 books — 43 voters
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingHowl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesFruits Basket, Vol. 1 by Natsuki TakayaStardust by Neil GaimanThe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Feel Good Fantasies
133 books — 23 voters

1984 by George OrwellDune by Frank HerbertThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodThe Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Amazon’s 100 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
102 books — 21 voters
Radiance by Grace DravenThe Bird and the Sword by Amy HarmonA Promise of Fire by Amanda BouchetMaster of Crows by Grace DravenEidolon by Grace Draven
Best Fantasy Romance from 2010 on
40 books — 20 voters

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienDune by Frank HerbertThe Martian by Andy WeirThe Real Boy by Anne Ursu
Vibrant Worlds
63 books — 15 voters
The Golden Compass by Philip PullmanThe Subtle Knife by Philip PullmanPerdido Street Station by China MiévilleThe Amber Spyglass by Philip PullmanIron Council by China Miéville
Fantasy Without Feudalism
24 books — 13 voters

Fury by Laurann DohnerIce Planet Barbarians by Ruby DixonAngels' Blood by Nalini SinghLumberjack Werebear by T.S. JoyceFire in His Blood by Ruby Dixon
Multiple Romance Stories based in One World
115 books — 13 voters
The Quest for Freedom by Matthew D. DevittHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienA Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Amazing World-building Stories
33 books — 13 voters

Abarat by Clive BarkerThe Thief of Always by Clive BarkerAbarat by Clive BarkerThe Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillipThe Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny
phantasmagoria
24 books — 10 voters
Making Magic by Jess WhitecroftMotorcycle Man by Kristen AshleyRaze by Tillie ColeHard Time by Cara McKennaMisfits by Garrett Leigh
Great World Building in Contemporary Romance
44 books — 10 voters

From Here to Eternity by Caitlin DoughtyCollapse by Jared DiamondThe World of the Shining Prince by Ivan Morris1491 by Charles C. MannCourtesans and Fishcakes by James Davidson
Learning About Cultures for SFF Writers
71 books — 6 voters
The Hobbit by Chuck DixonA Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le GuinHis Majesty's Dragon by Naomi NovikBlack Powder War by Naomi NovikThrone of Jade by Naomi Novik
Top Dragon Novels
47 books — 6 voters

ヨコハマ買い出し紀行 1 [Yokohama kaidashi kikō 1] by Hitoshi AshinanoGiant Spider & Me by Kikori MorinoGifts of Wandering Ice - Book One by Olga MakarovaNausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 1 by Hayao MiyazakiAngela's Arm by Roland Allnach
Soft Apocalypse
7 books — 5 voters
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien1984 by George OrwellWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëHolindrian & The Human Revolution by Macaulay ChristianThe Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
Setting Forward
23 books — 4 voters

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. SchwabSix of Crows by Leigh BardugoThe Lightning Thief by Rick RiordanThe Winner's Curse by Marie RutkoskiHeist Society by Ally Carter
Booklist for the Awesome and Wonderful
27 books — 3 voters
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared DiamondVaka Moana, Voyages of the Ancestors by K.R. HoweA Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen OhPhysics of the Impossible by Michio KakuThe World Until Yesterday by Jared Diamond
Worldbuilding Books for Writers
40 books — 3 voters

The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr.The Towers of the Sunset by L.E. Modesitt Jr.The Magic Engineer by L.E. Modesitt Jr.The Order War by L.E. Modesitt Jr.Wellspring of Chaos by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Best High Fantasy with Epic Worldbuilding
45 books — 3 voters
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini TaylorDreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini TaylorOnce Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie GarberThe Ballad of Never After by Stephanie GarberDays of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Beautiful Fantasy Adventures
22 books — 2 voters

Blood of Elves by Andrzej SapkowskiDarkstocking by Tom KlehmThe Last Wish by Andrzej SapkowskiThe Book of Gothel by Mary McMyneSlewfoot by Brom
Dark Fantasy Reads (Not Mainstream)
23 books — 2 voters
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain NeuvelIlluminae by Amie Kaufman
SMART DRAMA & A TWIST OF SCI_FI
2 books — 1 voter

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes LackeyKushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline CareyNaamah's Kiss by Jacqueline CareyKushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline CareyKushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey
Fantasies with the Best World-Building
76 books — 1 voter

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