Discover 10 genre-shaping fantasy books to read before kicking the bucket

Rothfuss and a Rising Legend

Patrick Rothfuss began writing The Name of the Wind while studying English for his bachelor’s degree. He aimed to move away from familiar patterns in heroic and epic fantasy, then created a story about a gifted young musician.

The musician recounts his path toward legend, his fight to stay alive and his pursuit of those responsible for his family’s deaths. The novel is praised for its lyrical prose, world-building, character work and themes, though readers have waited 15 years for the third Kingkiller Chronicles installment.

Power and Satire in Fantasy

George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones follows an honorable lord investigating a suspicious death. His inquiry sets off a devastating contest for control of Westeros’s Iron Throne.

The novel helped establish a darker, grittier and more mature approach to epic fantasy beyond Tolkien’s influence. Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch takes a different route: its City Watch commander is sent 30 years into the past and must guide a city-wide rebellion through the night.

The 29th Discworld novel combines sharp satire with a tense, dark story. It can be read on its own, offering an entry point to the series and to comic fantasy.

Earthsea’s Inner Journey

Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea begins with an arrogant young mage who accidentally releases a shadow from the spirit world. He travels across Earthsea’s islands to face the danger he has unleashed.

The book brought psychological depth and artistic complexity to fantasy, while demonstrating the genre’s capacity for thematic nuance. It appeared when many fantasy books followed Tolkien’s example or offered pulp adventures.