# Top 10 SF/Fantasy Series IMHO **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135 "2003-06-06T18:03:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/1 "2003-06-06T18:03:44Z")
I was going thru my book collection last night and this idea occoured to me, if I had to rate all my books how would I do so? I am also always looking for a good book or series so if you have any of your own suggestions, please provide them!! And if this is not the right forum for this…apologies in advance! So off we go… 1. Belgarid - David Eddings The classic poor lonely boy becomes the central figure to saving the world. I dont consider Eddings to be a great author but this series is one of the best. 2. Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Stephen Donaldson A great tragic, unwilling hero story. Not your typical fantasy stuff, but extremly well written and the Land is amazing. 3. Rose of the Prophet - Wies and Hickman Not a very well known series by a pair of well known authors but an excellent story told against a very ‘Arab’ background 4. The Burning Stone - Kate Elliott A large cast and a great story, but what I love most is the parallel btwn current Christianity and the books religon. Very well done! 5. Legends - Wies and Hickman This story continues the tale of the Carm and Raist and is just an amazing tale. Full of all the good things of fantasy 6. Dragonlance - Wies and Hickman As you can see I love those two authors! But this series is the perfect example of what fantasy should be. 7. Into Darkness - Harry Turtledove The story of WWII told in world were magic works. These books are huge and ecompass a large cast of people. But he makes it all work. A great story!! 8. Eye of the World - Robert Jordan I add this one with a small cavet…Im only counting the first seven books!! The first seven books are just simply amazing the last 3-4 seem like a waste of paper to me. Even with all that however I still consider this one of the best. 9. Lord of the Rings - Tolkien Of course I have to have this in any list! The ones that started the current era of fantasy…'nuff said. 10. Storm of Swords - George Martin If you havent started on this series, you should be ashamed first, then second, go buy them!! This is not just one of the best fantasy books of all time, but just one of the best stories. So thats my list! Even if you dont agree with it, I would recommend to anyone to read all of those books. ---
**Author:** ![Nate\_the\_Great](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ea924/32.png) [@Nate\_the\_Great](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nate_the_Great)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/2 "2003-06-06T18:30:52Z")
Where would any top 10 SF list be without The _Foundation_ Series by the Good Doctor? ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/3 "2003-06-06T18:34:17Z")
> [@](#): > > The Foundation Series ack! good point, that is an incredible series as well. ---
**Author:** ![Tiram](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Tiram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiram)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/4 "2003-06-06T22:30:20Z")
Ursula K. Guin’s “Earthsea” novels. T.H. White’s “The Once and Future King”. Lloyd Alexander’s “Prydain” tales. Alan Garner’s “The Owl Service”. Katherine Kurtz’ “Deryni” chronicles. The first two are classics! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/5 "2003-06-07T01:09:01Z")
Your list seems more fantasy than science fiction. How about David Brin’s Uplift series or Lois McMaster Bujold’s Barrayar series? ---
**Author:** ![Tiram](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Tiram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiram)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/6 "2003-06-07T01:30:01Z")
“Non-stop” by Brian Aldiss. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/7 "2003-06-07T01:30:39Z")
A few that seem to be notably missing: “Dune”. At least the first 3 books deserve to get the series a mention. “Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy” and “Discworld” if we can include comedy. Narnia chronicles ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/8 "2003-06-07T02:00:24Z")
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden Universe novels Steven Brust’s Taltos novels Susan Cooper’s “The Dark is Rising” series Juliet McKenna’s Tales of Einarinn ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/9 "2003-06-07T02:05:48Z")
Well, at least nobody’s yet nominated “Invasion Earth.” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/10 "2003-06-07T02:34:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*Well, at least nobody’s yet nominated “Invasion Earth.” \*\* GYARRRRGHHHH! I’d nominate Eddings or Goodkind or even Terry Brooks before nominating anything by L. Ron! Heck, even Piers Anthony!!! I’d add Tad Williams’ **Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn** trilogy to the list. Also **the Skylark series** and **the Lensman series** by “Doc” Smith. ---
**Author:** ![eutactic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@eutactic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eutactic)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/11 "2003-06-07T04:09:16Z")
For different categories: **Steven Erikson** ’s _Malazan Book of the Fallen_ series is shaping up to be the best epic fantasy out there–yes, better than **Martin**. _The Black Company_ novels by **Glen Cook** are another stand-by on my shelves. I never get tired of re-reading these. **Daniel Keys Moran** ’s _A Tale of the Continuining Time_ books are spectacularly immersive, and a joy to read. For Young Adult fantasy I’d nominate **Pullman** ’s _His Dark Materials_. Nice, dark fantasy. Finally, I’m just going to go ahead and mention **Guy Gavriel Kay** , even though most of his novels are stand-alones. There are loose connections between them, but they’re not a formal series as such. (Barring _The Fionavar Trilogy_ and _The Sarantine Mosaic_.) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/12 "2003-06-07T04:46:09Z")
_The Chronicles of Narnia_ by **C.S. Lewis** _Hyperion_ series by **Dan Simmons**. _The Reality Dysfunction_ by **Peter F. Hamilton** _Magician_ series by **Raymond E. Feist** ---
**Author:** ![sciguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@sciguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciguy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/13 "2003-06-07T04:51:10Z")
Well, now that I’m home and can look over my bookshelf, here’s some other good ones not yet mentioned: **A. A. Atanasio** ’s Arthurian series (Dragon & the Unicorn, Eagle & the Sword, Wolf and the Crown, Serpent & the Grail). Wonderful mix of fantasy, electromagnetic physics, and quantum mechanics. **Orson Scott Card**. The _Alvin Maker_ series and the Ender books are good (although I’m not sure about the newer “Shadow” books). **Ian Douglas** ’s “Heritage Trilogy”. Space marines, “Ancient Astronauts” and antimatter, oh my! This series also includes some of the better near-future technology advances I’ve seen, at least as far as military hardware goes. **Neil Gaiman** ’s _Sandman_ comics. Pretty pictures or not, this is some damn fine writing. **Harry Harrison** ’s _Stainless Steel Rat_ books. More comedy and social commentary than strict sci-fi, but I always use them for a quick laugh. **Larry Niven** ’s…well anything. 🙂 but if we stick with series, I’ve gotta go with the Ringworld trilogy: _Ringworld_, _Ringworld Engineers_, and _Ringworld Throne_. And a fourth book is scheduled for next year. Woo hoo! **Spider Robinson** ’s Callahan and Lady Sally series. I’m not sure if it really counts as a series, as most of them are a collection of short stories with some continuity, but more groan-inducing puns I’ve never come across. Well, groan-inducing _good_ puns, Piers Anthony has the market cornered on bad ones. And I’m going to a bit out on a limb and expand **Dob** ’s Weiss and Hickman to include _everything_ they’ve done together. _Dragonlance Chronicles_ and _Legends_ stand head and shoulders above anything else, but I have to admit that I even liked the _Darksword_ books. The _River of Souls_ series had the bonus of taking all the DL “Age of Mortals” stuff and thowing it out the window by the time it was finished. By the way, can you tell I alphabetize my bookshelf by authors?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/14 "2003-06-07T05:05:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eutactic \* > Finally, I’m just going to go ahead and mention **Guy Gavriel Kay** , even though most of his novels are stand-alones. I’ve really tried to like this guy but I just can’t get into his books (I’ve tried though). Just personal taste I suppose but I’m a big fan of sci-fi/fantasy and I would think a book on this list should be able to be liked by the vast majority of fans of the genre. As such I don’t think GGK should make the list. Just IMHO of course. I noticed that somone mentioned Narnia before me…sorry for the repeat. I would also add: _The Amber Series_ by **Roger Zelazny**. These books seem hard to dig up these days though but if you come across the set jump on it. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/15 "2003-06-07T05:36:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Nemo \* > \*\*How about David Brin’s Uplift series or Lois McMaster Bujold’s Barrayar series? \*\* Love Barrayar! ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/16 "2003-06-07T05:45:02Z")
Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001 and Rama Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis and Patternist Terry Pratchett’s Discworld of course Sherri S. Tepper’s True Game series (is it fantasy, is it sci-fi, is it social commentary?) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/17 "2003-06-07T14:41:04Z")
Hmm, no mention of Harry Potter? I’d agree with a lot of the suggestions here. One series that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the _Oz_ books by Frank Baum (which are even available [online](http://www.literature.org/authors/baum-l-frank/).) They may be a little juvenile, a little dated, but there’s some fun stuff there. ---
**Author:** ![Nate\_the\_Great](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ea924/32.png) [@Nate\_the\_Great](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nate_the_Great)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/18 "2003-06-07T18:00:38Z")
I second Clarke’s _Rama_ books. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/19 "2003-06-07T21:49:47Z")
King’s _Dark Tower_ series. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135/20 "2003-06-07T23:10:55Z")
I second Larry Niven’s _Ringworld_. A fourth book? Yay! I hope it turns out to be a good one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-sf-fantasy-series-imho/180135.md?page=2)