Best Fantasy Series, Trilogies, and Duologies
Vote for your favorite fantasy series, trilogies, and duologies. Please do not add science fiction or supernatural-romance series. If not in an omnibus or boxed set, please only vote for the first book in the series.
See also:
Best Fantasy Series Hidden Gems.
See also:
Best Fantasy Series Hidden Gems.
1,966 books ·
12,048 voters ·
list created July 17th, 2008
by Rora.
Comments Showing 1-50 of 79 (79 new)
message 1:
by
Luke
(new)
Dec 09, 2008 07:34PM
![Luke](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1220566925p1/887476.jpg)
reply
|
flag
![Greyweather](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1254660107p1/1154130.jpg)
Removed The Witchwood Cradle by Esther M. Friesner as it is the third book in the series. Please re-submit your vote as the first book, Mustapha and His Wise Dog.
Removed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling as it is the third book in the series.
Removed The Unicorn Creed by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough as it is the second book in the series. Please re-submit your vote as the first book, Song of Sorcery.
Removed both Arrow's Flight and Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey as they are the second and third books in the series. Please re-submit your vote as the omnibus Queen's Own: Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall.
Removed The Shadow of Albion by Andre Norton, Rosemary Edghill as the Carolus Rex series does not meet the three book minimum for the list.
Removed I,Q by Roland Smith as the Carolus Rex series does not meet the three book minimum for the list, and is not fantasy.
Removed Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist as it is not part of a series.
Removed Kit's Wilderness by David Almond as it is not part of a series, his books are all stand-alone.
Removed Silverfin by Charlie Higson as it and the rest of the Young James Bond series are not fantasy.
Removed Spy X: The Code by Peter Lerangis as it and the rest of the Spy X series are not fantasy.
there are quite a few books on here that I don't believe should be. Vampire Romance? Please.
![Greyweather](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1254660107p1/1154130.jpg)
THE
TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAGA"
Quote: (No science fiction or supernatural series)
Twilight = vampires = supernatural
![Xenophon Hendrix](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1237611661p1/2026345.jpg)
![Wealhtheow](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1178337774p1/76129.jpg)
People have voted for the LoTR trilogy, Fellowship, Two Towers, and Return, each separately. The same problem has befallen several other series, most notably GRRMartin's Game of Thrones. Can we either delete the extras, or combine them into one?
![Oskar](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1246730614p1/1772106.jpg)
I can't see why it would be bogus.
![Xenophon Hendrix](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1237611661p1/2026345.jpg)
![Crysta S.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1287867871p1/3154281.jpg)
![Sarah Gagnon](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1248275888p1/2546509.jpg)
Added: Son Of Avonar - Book 1 of The Bridge Of D'Arnath
Transformation - Book 1 of the Rai-Kirah trilogy
both by Carol Berg
Also added the first of the Thieves World series of anthologies and the introductory novel of the Merovingen Nights anthologies- Angel With A Sword by C.J. Cherryh.
Transformation - Book 1 of the Rai-Kirah trilogy
both by Carol Berg
Also added the first of the Thieves World series of anthologies and the introductory novel of the Merovingen Nights anthologies- Angel With A Sword by C.J. Cherryh.
![Phoenixfalls](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1385841241p1/3265230.jpg)
Dune, by Frank Herbert
The Silver Metal Lover, by Tanith Lee
And there are a few titles that I would quibble with, but know that others probably disagree with me:
Archangel, by Sharon Shinn, implies that it is science fiction in the first book and is explicitly science fiction in the second book and all books set later in the timeline.
Same goes for Anne McCaffrey's Pern series, though in that case the majority of the books written fall in the part of the timeline where the only science fiction element is the prologue (which does EXPLICITLY make the books science fiction, however!)
Same also goes for Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series, and in that case the majority of the titles are set in the part of the timeline where the low-tech planet is in contact with the high-tech empire and it is explicitly set in a science-based future.
My two cents; I wouldn’t have those series on this list, but that’s just me.
![Mike (the Paladin)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1528431476p1/2187043.jpg)
![Xenophon Hendrix](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1237611661p1/2026345.jpg)
![Xenophon Hendrix](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1237611661p1/2026345.jpg)
I've not read them, but the Wikipedia article indicates a fantastic setting, so they are fantasy.
![Nathan](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_25x33-8a3530ed95c3dbef8bf215b080559b09.png)
I've not read them, but the Wikipedia article indicates a fantastic setting, so they are fantasy."
The books are set in fictional places but that doesn't make them fantasy. Nothing fantastic occurs in the series other than the children's fantastic bad luck.
![mark monday](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1572672245p1/131922.jpg)
personally, i'd say that science fantasy should be on the list (Dying Earth, Book of the New Sun). same with series in fantastic settings with no actual fantasy occurring(like, say, the strange versions of england in Gormenghast & A Series of Unfortunate Events). on the other hand, Dune & Darkover are clearly science fiction. but that's just my opinion. and what the heck is The Tick doing here? that was funny to see that one listed.
![Xenophon Hendrix](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1237611661p1/2026345.jpg)
![Angela](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1465202399p1/148928.jpg)
![Raza](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_25x33-8a3530ed95c3dbef8bf215b080559b09.png)
Dragon Wing
Elven Star
Fire Sea
Serpent Mage
The Hand of Chaos
Into the Labyrinth
The Seventh Gate
![Becky](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1567547640p1/6316460.jpg)
The list isn't for the single best fantasy series over time, but your favorite. The HP books are actually quite well written, with a believable hero who isn't perfect (often lacking in both children and adult books). They create a magnificent, consistent, world.
And sometimes its your favorite because you didn't have to struggle a lifetime through it. Favorite books aren't necessarily life shattering.
That being said I didn't vote for it, I merely take offense to your snootish "Hail the Pottertards" comment. As if someone reading one set of books is actually better than someone reading another. Ridiculous. I'm just happy when people are reading. Its not a pissing contest.
![Kelly Bostic](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1331089542p1/8071237.jpg)
![Kayleigh](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1213124884p1/1225848.jpg)
![Zak](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1416616941p1/8137614.jpg)
![Kayleigh](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1213124884p1/1225848.jpg)
What it actually says is "please do not add supernatural-romance series." That doesn't mean urban fantasy such as the Dresden Files series is excluded from the list, since there's nothing in the rules that says "no urban fantasy."
However, something like the Twilight saga, which is primarily a high school romance with a few supernatural creatures thrown in to ramp up the drama, is not fantasy (in my opinion at least), but romance, and therefore shouldn't be on this list.
That's my interpretation of the rules, anyway.
![Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1325201543p1/5229326.jpg)
![Dawn](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1245558919p1/1012671.jpg)
I noticed a tendency to put in the 1st book of a series (Dealing with Dragons) and also the entire series as boxed set/omnibus (Enchanted Forest Chronicles). Fairly confusing, but don't know if anything can be done.
![Charity](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1359173465p1/16809793.jpg)
That being said, I would consider both Sci Fi and paranormal romance to be sub-genres of fantasy, though I understand the inclination to exclude them.
![Charity](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1359173465p1/16809793.jpg)
Damon wrote: "harry potter as #1? seriously?! hail the pottertards!"
Agreed, Becky, for the most part. But HP in front of LotR is just disgraceful.
Related News
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...
Anyone can add books to this list.