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100 Best Fantasy Books via Time Magazine's Panel
So, Time released it's list of The 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, which it selected with the assistance a panel of leading fantasy authors—N.K. Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, Sabaa Tahir, Tomi Adeyemi, Diana Gabaldon, George R.R. Martin, Cassandra Clare and Marlon James
Below is the list and a meme. Bold the ones, you've read and state if you recommend them, found it memorable, or disliked it and it was skippable, and god knows why it's there. Italicize the ones you own and have been meaning to read. Underline anything of interest and you want more information or a recommendation/review on.
The Arabian Nights
Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory - I found it uninspiring. It's mainly a poem, so that may be it.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - it's kind of a mathematical puzzle book, with lots of rhymes, and poems, the story is kind of interwoven within it.
Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll - I liked it better than Wonderland, but the same description applies.
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit [Never heard of - if you have please advise]
*Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum [I hear the OZ books are very political.]
*Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers [A friend had it - but I was warned off it.]
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - I loved it as a child, not sure how well it holds up now.
* The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola [Never heard of.]
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - The best of the Tolkien books, next to the Hobbit. I loved the journey aspect of it, and the contrasts between the characters.
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola - I don't remember it that well, it's very allegorical and I remember struggling with it.
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien - even in the book, the spider was frightening. Also, it was a bit of trudge at times.
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien - I got bogged down in the battle sequences.
A Hero Born by Jin Yong [haven't heard of this one - anyone read it?]
The Once & Future King by T.H. White - The first half is brilliant, the second half I couldn't get through.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl - loved this - it was read to me in elementary school.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster - I read it, but vague memory of it.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle - Loved this book as a child, the movie wasn't bad - but I prefer the book.
The Wandering Unicorn by Manuel Mujica Lainez
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey - loved the book, but, it has its issues. There's a...well, a non-consensual sex scene that may be troublesome, and a lot of gender issues. In other words, it doesn't hold up well now. But - the science is interesting, as are the dragon/human interaction. Just ignore the romantic elements.
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle - a kind of environmentally conscious fairy tale.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin - I read but can't remember well, although I did adore it.
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart - My favorite of Mary Stewart's novels and the best about Merlin that I've read. It's about Merlin as a child and young man long before he meets Arthur.
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin - don't remember it, did enjoy it.
Watership Down by Richard Adams - vividly remember it - possibly because I also saw the animated film version which is an adept adaptation. This is a brilliant work of allegory and metaphor.
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper - one of my fav's as a child. Don't remember it though.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman - book is better than the movie, weird I know, but there it is.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - saw movie only, not that good. Book may be better. About a boy who can live forever.
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle - don't remember it, but it was good, just not as good as Wrinkle in time.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter - she's an interesting writer, kind of dense though and very allegorical. I read or tried to read "In the Company of Wolves" - this may be better - don't know.
The BFG by Roald Dahl - don't remember it - did read it.
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - seen the movie, own the DVD.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner - excellent, she creates a world filled with swashbucklers. Also it's told in an interesting manner.
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - Be wary of footnotes, Terry Pratchett adores them. Also puns galore. It's good, but the television series is better.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - warning there's sexual violence in Gabaldon's novels, also she subscribes to the boddice ripper line of historical fiction. Although, in this case the rape is a man on man rape, which is different at least. The book is acclaimed for its attention to detail on how a nurse from the 20th century handles the 1600s. The science fiction is time travel, and if you have issues with time travel - this may not be for you.
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - excellent. Pullman basically had issues with CS Lewis's books, so wrote his own as a counter-argument.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - kind of like Alice in Wonderland meets Buffy, underneath London. Quirky characters, rhyme schemes, and a main character who it is hard to care about - but the female protagonist, street girl he hooks up with - will remind you a little of Buffy.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - saw the movie, most likely does not count.
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman - also excellent, part two in the His Dark Materials Series, book one is Golden Compass.
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - my favorite of the Harry Potter's, apparently theirs too.
Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley - not familiar with this one, I read Sunshine.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin - hands down the best of Martin's books. I sloughed through the first two novels in Song of Ice and Fire to get to it. It's violent, but it has fantastic character arcs and is very satisfying read. But you kind of have to read the first two books to understand it.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman - I didn't like this one as much as others did...mainly because I felt the characters weren't quite there. Good exploration of American Mythos and worldbuilding, also the writing is beautiful, but I couldn't care.
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - interesting the books they are picking from Rowling and the order...I agree, but also interesting.
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare [I've seen controversial reviews of Clare's works. A lot of people in the fandom didn't like her - because they believed she used her fanfic or worse, plagiarized. But clearly no one else does.]
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - fascinating tale, about two magicians who fall in love and have to battle each other in magic contest to the death.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Angelfall by Susan Ee
A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Get in Trouble by Kelly Link
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu
Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
Jade City by Fonda Lee
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - okay, my brother and niece absolutely loved this book, I found it disappointing - mainly due to the romances. Although one of them had an ending that admittedly surprised me. Other than that - I liked the world-building and the mythology, my difficulty was with the plot, characterization and well the romances.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Witchmark by C.L. Polk
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James - my brother loved this book and highly recommended it. I keep flirting with it. It's a bit violent.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi - haven't gotten around to reading yet.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez
So, of the books above, which have you read, and which if any do you recommend?
[As an aside, there's a lot of books by the same writers, and a lot by the panelists - who allegedly were not permitted to vote on or nominate their own novels. Which is interesting. Also they left a lot of Hugo winners off that list - such as The Goblin Emperor - which I actually liked better than some of the other selections. These things are terribly subjective, aren't they? Maybe we should all come up with our own list?]
Below is the list and a meme. Bold the ones, you've read and state if you recommend them, found it memorable, or disliked it and it was skippable, and god knows why it's there. Italicize the ones you own and have been meaning to read. Underline anything of interest and you want more information or a recommendation/review on.
The Arabian Nights
Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory - I found it uninspiring. It's mainly a poem, so that may be it.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - it's kind of a mathematical puzzle book, with lots of rhymes, and poems, the story is kind of interwoven within it.
Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll - I liked it better than Wonderland, but the same description applies.
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit [Never heard of - if you have please advise]
*Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum [I hear the OZ books are very political.]
*Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers [A friend had it - but I was warned off it.]
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - I loved it as a child, not sure how well it holds up now.
* The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola [Never heard of.]
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - The best of the Tolkien books, next to the Hobbit. I loved the journey aspect of it, and the contrasts between the characters.
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola - I don't remember it that well, it's very allegorical and I remember struggling with it.
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien - even in the book, the spider was frightening. Also, it was a bit of trudge at times.
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien - I got bogged down in the battle sequences.
A Hero Born by Jin Yong [haven't heard of this one - anyone read it?]
The Once & Future King by T.H. White - The first half is brilliant, the second half I couldn't get through.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl - loved this - it was read to me in elementary school.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster - I read it, but vague memory of it.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle - Loved this book as a child, the movie wasn't bad - but I prefer the book.
The Wandering Unicorn by Manuel Mujica Lainez
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey - loved the book, but, it has its issues. There's a...well, a non-consensual sex scene that may be troublesome, and a lot of gender issues. In other words, it doesn't hold up well now. But - the science is interesting, as are the dragon/human interaction. Just ignore the romantic elements.
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle - a kind of environmentally conscious fairy tale.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin - I read but can't remember well, although I did adore it.
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart - My favorite of Mary Stewart's novels and the best about Merlin that I've read. It's about Merlin as a child and young man long before he meets Arthur.
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin - don't remember it, did enjoy it.
Watership Down by Richard Adams - vividly remember it - possibly because I also saw the animated film version which is an adept adaptation. This is a brilliant work of allegory and metaphor.
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper - one of my fav's as a child. Don't remember it though.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman - book is better than the movie, weird I know, but there it is.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - saw movie only, not that good. Book may be better. About a boy who can live forever.
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle - don't remember it, but it was good, just not as good as Wrinkle in time.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter - she's an interesting writer, kind of dense though and very allegorical. I read or tried to read "In the Company of Wolves" - this may be better - don't know.
The BFG by Roald Dahl - don't remember it - did read it.
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - seen the movie, own the DVD.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner - excellent, she creates a world filled with swashbucklers. Also it's told in an interesting manner.
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - Be wary of footnotes, Terry Pratchett adores them. Also puns galore. It's good, but the television series is better.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - warning there's sexual violence in Gabaldon's novels, also she subscribes to the boddice ripper line of historical fiction. Although, in this case the rape is a man on man rape, which is different at least. The book is acclaimed for its attention to detail on how a nurse from the 20th century handles the 1600s. The science fiction is time travel, and if you have issues with time travel - this may not be for you.
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - excellent. Pullman basically had issues with CS Lewis's books, so wrote his own as a counter-argument.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - kind of like Alice in Wonderland meets Buffy, underneath London. Quirky characters, rhyme schemes, and a main character who it is hard to care about - but the female protagonist, street girl he hooks up with - will remind you a little of Buffy.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - saw the movie, most likely does not count.
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman - also excellent, part two in the His Dark Materials Series, book one is Golden Compass.
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - my favorite of the Harry Potter's, apparently theirs too.
Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley - not familiar with this one, I read Sunshine.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin - hands down the best of Martin's books. I sloughed through the first two novels in Song of Ice and Fire to get to it. It's violent, but it has fantastic character arcs and is very satisfying read. But you kind of have to read the first two books to understand it.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman - I didn't like this one as much as others did...mainly because I felt the characters weren't quite there. Good exploration of American Mythos and worldbuilding, also the writing is beautiful, but I couldn't care.
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - interesting the books they are picking from Rowling and the order...I agree, but also interesting.
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare [I've seen controversial reviews of Clare's works. A lot of people in the fandom didn't like her - because they believed she used her fanfic or worse, plagiarized. But clearly no one else does.]
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - fascinating tale, about two magicians who fall in love and have to battle each other in magic contest to the death.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Angelfall by Susan Ee
A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Get in Trouble by Kelly Link
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu
Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
Jade City by Fonda Lee
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - okay, my brother and niece absolutely loved this book, I found it disappointing - mainly due to the romances. Although one of them had an ending that admittedly surprised me. Other than that - I liked the world-building and the mythology, my difficulty was with the plot, characterization and well the romances.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Witchmark by C.L. Polk
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James - my brother loved this book and highly recommended it. I keep flirting with it. It's a bit violent.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi - haven't gotten around to reading yet.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez
So, of the books above, which have you read, and which if any do you recommend?
[As an aside, there's a lot of books by the same writers, and a lot by the panelists - who allegedly were not permitted to vote on or nominate their own novels. Which is interesting. Also they left a lot of Hugo winners off that list - such as The Goblin Emperor - which I actually liked better than some of the other selections. These things are terribly subjective, aren't they? Maybe we should all come up with our own list?]