We love highlighting fantasy books here because, quite honestly, few genres capture the imagination the way fantasy does. It’s the genre that lets you disappear into entirely new worlds, explore impossible magic systems, and follow characters on journeys that feel larger than life. Whether you’re reading to escape, to reflect, or just to enjoy a great story, fantasy consistently delivers.
But with thousands upon thousands of fantasy novels out there, spanning centuries, cultures, and subgenres, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what to read next. That’s where curated lists come in. When done well, they can guide readers toward unforgettable stories and hidden gems. When done poorly… well, they can spark a lot of debate.
This week, we’re taking a closer look at one such list: The Telegraph’s 30 Greatest Fantasy Books Ever Written, compiled by one of their editors; who also happens to be both an avid fantasy reader and a historian. And that second detail becomes very important once you start going through the selections.
Let’s talk about it.
The List at a Glance
The list kicks off with a strong and somewhat surprising choice:
- The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
- The Belgariad by David Eddings
- Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones
- The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
- The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
- The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
- The Dark Tower by Stephen King
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
- Sláine by Pat Mills
- Conan the Barbarian by Robert E Howard
- The Epic of Gilgamesh by Anon
- Saga of the Exiles by Julian May
- Elidor by Alan Garner
- The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
- His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
- Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
- Cerebus the Aardvark by Dave Sim
- Vurt by Jeff Noon
- The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
- The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
- Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
- The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
- Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
- Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
- A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin
- A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
- The Once and Future King by T.H. White
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning
- Beowulf by Anon
At first glance, it looks eclectic. And that’s putting it kindly.
A Strong Start That Quickly Shifts
by Neil Gaiman (Author), Sam Kieth (Illustrator)
Seeing The Sandman at the top is the kind of choice that immediately grabs your attention. It’s bold, it’s modern (relatively speaking), and it acknowledges how graphic novels have reshaped the fantasy landscape. Neil Gaiman’s work absolutely deserves recognition in any conversation about the genre’s best.
But that sense of familiarity and accessibility doesn’t last long.
As you move down the list, it becomes clear that this isn’t a typical “greatest fantasy books” ranking. Instead, it feels more like a historical survey of fantasy as a literary tradition. You start seeing works like The Epic of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and The Blazing World, texts that are undeniably important but not what most readers expect when they click on a list of the “greatest fantasy books ever written.”
And that’s where the disconnect begins.
When “Greatest” Becomes “Oldest”
There’s nothing wrong with including foundational works. In fact, recognizing the roots of fantasy is essential if you want to understand how the genre evolved into what it is today.
But the issue here is balance.
This list leans heavily toward older, more obscure, and often academically significant texts, many of which the average fantasy reader hasn’t read and, realistically, may never read. That doesn’t make them unworthy. It just raises the question: who is this list for?
If the goal is to celebrate the greatest fantasy books of all time, then accessibility, influence, cultural impact, and reader reception should all play a role. Instead, this list feels like it prioritizes historical significance above all else.
And while that’s a valid approach, it should probably be reflected in the title.
The Frustration Builds
As the list progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile its title with its contents.
There are undeniably brilliant works here, His Dark Materials, Perdido Street Station, The Dark Tower, and The Witcherseries all deserve their place in the conversation. But they’re surrounded by choices that feel niche, unexpected, or simply out of step with what most readers would consider “the greatest.”
At a certain point, it stops feeling like a celebration of fantasy and starts feeling like a curated academic syllabus.
And that’s not necessarily what readers are looking for when they want recommendations.
The Saving Grace: Familiar Giants
Just when the list starts to feel completely detached from mainstream fantasy readership, it pulls things back slightly.
Seeing A Song of Ice and Fire included is reassuring. Whatever your thoughts on the series’ unfinished status, its impact on modern fantasy is undeniable. It reshaped the genre, influenced countless authors, and brought fantasy into the cultural mainstream in a way few series ever have.
Then there’s A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, a novel that doesn’t just belong on lists like this but arguably near the very top. Le Guin’s influence on fantasy is profound, from her approach to magic systems to her exploration of identity and balance.
These are the kinds of entries that remind you what a “greatest of all time” list can and should look like.
And Then… The Lord of the Rings
Let’s address the biggest issue.
The Lord of the Rings is not at the top of this list.
It’s hard to overstate how surprising that is. Tolkien didn’t just write a great fantasy series, he defined the genre as we know it. Modern fantasy, from epic quests to detailed world-building, owes an enormous debt to Middle-earth.
Putting The Lord of the Rings anywhere but the top spot is always going to be controversial. Putting it below multiple other entries? That’s going to feel outright wrong to a lot of readers.
Even if you wanted to make a bold or unconventional choice for number one, it’s difficult to justify placing Tolkien’s work anywhere but at the very top tier.
For many readers, that alone is enough to dismiss the list entirely.
What This List Gets Right
To be fair, this list isn’t without merit.
It does something many lists don’t: it expands the definition of fantasy. By including ancient epics, poetry, and lesser-known works, it challenges readers to think about the genre beyond just modern novels.
It also highlights how fantasy isn’t confined to a single format or time period. From graphic novels like The Sandman to experimental fiction like Vurt, there’s an effort here to show the genre’s range.
And that’s valuable.
What It Gets Wrong
The biggest issue isn’t the individual selections, it’s the framing.
Calling this “The 30 Greatest Fantasy Books Ever Written” sets a very specific expectation. Readers expect a mix of beloved classics, modern masterpieces, and influential works that have shaped the genre in visible ways.
Instead, what they get is a list that feels heavily skewed toward older, more obscure texts, with modern favorites sprinkled in almost as an afterthought.
It’s not that the list is objectively “wrong” because taste in books is always subjective. But it does feel misaligned with its audience.
And that matters.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, every “greatest books” list is going to be subjective. No two readers will ever completely agree on what belongs and what doesn’t.
But the best lists strike a balance. They introduce readers to new titles while also honoring the books that have defined the genre for generations.
This list doesn’t quite manage that balance.
Instead, it feels like a reflection of one person’s specific interests, particularly their appreciation for older and historically significant works. And while that perspective is valuable, it doesn’t fully capture what most readers are looking for when they search for the greatest fantasy books of all time.
Still, if nothing else, lists like this get people talking. They spark debates, inspire new reading journeys, and remind us just how vast and varied the fantasy genre really is.
And maybe that’s the point.
What do you think of The Telegraph’s list? Did your favorite fantasy books make the cut or were they completely overlooked? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
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