Importance Score: 25 / 100 🔵
Fantasy Book Series Reign Supreme: Top Picks Revealed
The fantasy genre is currently enjoying a surge in popularity, witnessing a wave of new books, TV adaptations, and motion pictures. However, certain aficionados have remained dedicated to the realm for years, including the team at Fantasy Book Reviews, who recently unveiled their definitive ranking of the top fantasy series of all time. Selecting the best fantasy book series is no small task, and their established criteria helped narrow down the choices.
Selection Criteria: Series Length Matters
During their assessment, a key criterion was that each series must consist of more than three installments. Consequently, the renowned fantasy epic *Lord of the Rings* didn’t make the cut, although it did achieve third position on their list of the 100 finest fantasy books ever written. Earning the coveted top spot was the *Malazan Book of the Fallen* series by Steven Erikson, commencing with its inaugural book, *Gardens of the Moon*, released in 1999.
Malazan Book of the Fallen Takes the Crown
While perhaps not the most broadly recognized fantasy series on a global scale, it has undoubtedly captivated the readers of Fantasy Book Review.
They commented: ” *A Song of Ice and Fire* and Robin Hobb’s trilogy of trilogies (*Farseer, Liveship* and *Tawny Man*) are quite able to put a very strong case forward for their favoured works but few can deny that the quality and ambition of the ten books that make up *A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen* are unmatched within the genre.”
The *Malazan* universe extends significantly beyond this primary series, featuring an additional 20 books, some of which are authored by fellow fantasy author Ian C. Esslemont.
A Song of Ice and Fire Lands in Second Place
George R. R. Martin’s *A Song of Ice and Fire* series, which was adapted into the hugely successful television show *Game of Thrones*, secured the second position on the list. Its passionate fanbase has eagerly awaited the latest book, *The Winds of Winter*, for over a decade.
Similar to the expansive *Malazan* books, *A Song of Ice and Fire* boasts its own extended universe, complete with various supplementary works that enrich the narrative but are not crucial to the main storyline.
The Wheel of Time Spins into Third
Securing the third slot is Robert Jordan’s captivating *The Wheel of Time*, another immense fantasy narrative that has been revitalized through a recent television adaptation.
Avid followers of the genre have lauded the series, stating: “A saga filled with unforgettable characters and a world steeped in rich history and legend. If you truly love the fantasy genre, passing up a chance to read *The Wheel of Time* would be an unbelievable mistake.”
Rounding Out the Top Five
Completing the top five are J.K. Rowling’s *Harry Potter* series and Ursula Le Guin’s *Earthsea Cycle*, claiming fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Fantasy Book Review’s Definitive Ranking: The Best Fantasy Book Series of All Time
- A Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
- A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
- The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula Le Guin
- The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb
- The Duncton Chronicles by William Horwood
- The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman
- The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson
- The Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney
- The Mythago Cycle by Robert Holdstock
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
- Thursday Next by Jasper Forde
- The Dark Tower by Stephen King
- The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
- Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook
- Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist
- The Rigante Novels by David Gemmell
- Discworld by Terry Pratchett
- Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody
- The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe
- A Tale of Einarinn by Juliet E McKenna
- The Drenai Novels by David Gemmell