Where to begin? I think we should talk about criteria. There are many amazing works of fantasy out there. Much like my movie list, there are three key categories to mention. The first is if the story, no matter what period it was written, still stands as a great read today. Many books are trapped in their era, and as such don't make a long term impact. Mention Lord Foul's Bane, and chances are only a few people will remember that book. Mention Lord of the Rings however, and you'll find a much broader audience and impact on our culture.
The second criteria is if the book represents or breaks ground in fantasy. For example, a story type is introduced, or it's influence is still felt today. In comics, Watchmen is the standard every comic writer tries to achieve. There are books in fantasy that are measuring sticks. Those that can stand in their own way will be here.
Finally, personal taste. I have my favorites, and won't be shy to admit them. And hey, let's be honest. I don't expect anyone to completely agree with my list. My definition of fantasy is a bit broader than sword and sorcery (though there will be plenty of it, I promise.) But it's my list, and that's the point.
Alright? Alright. Let's begin.
Let's get two obvious writers out of the way. JRR Tolkien and JK Rowling. Tolkien is credited for bringing what is called high fantasy into the mainstream. Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit both are great works of literature and each should be on the list for various reasons. Lord of the Rings is the format for many writers in fantasy. This is the template Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Stephen Donaldson, George Lucas and many others have followed. The trilogy, while not unknown, was defined and made into a plausible reality. Tolkien invented a format many writers still use today. Lord of the Rings, for the tone it created and for how well it stands the test of time is on the list.
The Hobbit makes it simply because it is an amazing standalone novel and in my view, Tolkien's best work. It's my favorite of his books. It may not be in there for historical reasons, but I say read the novel yourself. I think you'd find it still stands as an amazing read today.
JK Rowling makes the list simply because Harry Potter encouraged reading once again. She reinvented how to tell a solid young adult novel that appeals to everyone. Harry Potter became a cultural phenomenon. Even though the series has come to a conclusion, Rowling's impact is still felt. How many academy type stories are going on in YA? How many people have been impacted by the movies and merchandise?
Which Harry Potter though? I could put in the whole series, but my favorite is still Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry grows up quite a bit in this book and honestly, with possibly the finale as an exception, I don't think any of the HP books comes close to this one.
Here's my list.
1. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - I'd be surprised if this was below this on any list.
2. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling - my favorite potter book. See above for reasons why.
3. Perceval by Chretien De Troyes - Simply put, almost every main character in high fantasy especially, is perceval. Spider Man, Eragon, Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins. You name any main character in fantasy, you will see traits from Perceval.
4. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis - arguably the best YA series ever. It's still an amazing read, as Lewis captures the nature of good and evil, and it has inspired many great works including The Imaginarium Geographica series by James A. Owen, and books like the Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.
5. The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time series is the best Tolkien clone out there. Robert Jordan wrote compelling characters and developed a world as complex as any you'll find in fantasy. Every fantasy enthusiast should give this series a try. While I like all the books, The Shadow Rising is my favorite of the series. I don't think Jordan hit things on all cylinders quite like he did here.
6. A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin - Martin writes an amazing series. I love the realism in it. Main characters die and stay dead. But this series emphasises characterization and is the modern equivalent to Tolkien. Give this series a try if you haven't.
7. Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett - Humor is the second hardest thing to write, but if you like seeing fantasy as we know made fun of, while tying together some very human issues, Discworld is a must. On a personal note, humor is one of the hardest things to write well. Pratchett never fails to entertain and like the best comedians, make you change your perspective. Start with The Color of Magic and work your way down.
8. Wizard and Glass by Stephen King - In my opinion, this novel is king's best work. Based off Robert Browning's poem, the Dark Tower series is about a gunslinger who is trying to find a Dark Tower, and in the process he rediscovers who he is. This is the halfway point of the series, and in it Roland tells the story of his first love. It's a coming of age story, but a tragedy as well which sets the course of Roland's life. There is magic and mystery, but at heart this is a love story. And a beautiful one.
9. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien - Probably the best standalone high fantasy novel I've ever read.
10. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare - I could have picked several plays, but this one seems to influence a great deal of things, and it's truly fantasy at it's best. It's comical, poignant, magical and still oddly relevent. Books from authors such as Neil Gaiman, and contemporary authors seem to feed of this play in particular. Shakespeare in spite of the language still makes strong connections and fantasy wouldn't be the same without him.
This is my top ten. Chances are this isn't yours. That's okay. Like I said, this is my list. That said, I'd love to see yours.