# Top 5 Book series of all time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713 "2018-10-09T17:51:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/41 "2018-10-11T22:18:33Z")
The **Winds of War** and **War and Remembrance** , Herman Wouk ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/42 "2018-10-11T22:39:54Z")
For adolescent fantasy, special mention goes to “School for Good and Evil.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/43 "2018-10-12T03:04:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Four good choices then you ruined it. 😛 In my defense, I’m referring to the entire Middle Earth mythology, not just the trilogy & prequel. Hard to find a more expansive job of world building. The First Age stories are glorious and heartbreaking. Just ask Feanor. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/44 "2018-10-12T03:05:14Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > For adolescent fantasy, special mention goes to “School for Good and Evil.” For adolescents of a now certain age: The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Tom Swift The Bobsey Twins The Rover Boys All created by Edward Stratemeyer and published under pseudonyms. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/45 "2018-10-12T03:11:36Z")
Phone Bible Black Sports Face ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/46 "2018-10-12T05:20:54Z")
Grand Central Arena by Ryk Spoor Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson is fun if you’re into Humanity Fuck Yeah stories. The Alastair Stone Chronicles by our very own **Infovore** The Night’s Dawn trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/47 "2018-10-12T08:17:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The Anno Dracula series - Kim Newman > The Commonwealth series - Peter F. Hamilton > > **The Flashman series - George MacDonald Fraser > The Nantucket trilogy - S.M. Stirling > The Vorkosigan series - Lois McMaster Bujold** I’m with you, re the three which I’ve bolded (never heard of the other two, I’m afraid). Stirling’s companion _Emberverse_ series has IMO, become beyond-awful. I’d add: The Matthew Shardlake historical thrillers by C.J. Sansom Richmal Crompton’s _Just William_ books – “for kids from seven to ninety-seven” ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/48 "2018-10-12T10:11:26Z")
Hasn’t been mentioned yet, but I rather enjoyed The Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/49 "2018-10-12T10:47:11Z")
The Malazan books by Steve Erikson is the best sustained series I can think of - ten books. It has periods of extreme wobbliness, but overall it maintains an impressive narrative momentum. Hardest working man in literature - 10 doorstoppers published in 12 years, which must be part of the reason why it manages to keep its impetus, most other epic fantasy series end up going off a cliff at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/50 "2018-10-12T12:06:03Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > The Malazan books by Steve Erikson is the best sustained series I can think of - ten books. It has periods of extreme wobbliness, but overall it maintains an impressive narrative momentum. Hardest working man in literature - 10 doorstoppers published in 12 years, which must be part of the reason why it manages to keep its impetus, most other epic fantasy series end up going off a cliff at some point. Ah, the series I’m too intimidated to begin. I wonder how well acted out the audio books are. I keep trying to convince myself to read them, but I am too intimidated. I heard you need to take notes on who is who and what is going on in order to follow it. I don’t know if I have that in me. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/51 "2018-10-12T14:36:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ah, the series I’m too intimidated to begin. I wonder how well acted out the audio books are. I keep trying to convince myself to read them, but I am too intimidated. I heard you need to take notes on who is who and what is going on in order to follow it. > > I don’t know if I have that in me. He has an easy, digestible style but it’s true there is a lot going on - I actually picked them up just as the last one was published so read them all straight through, so it wasn’t a problem, but prob most people would prefer not to do this. The first book is a real gatekeeper-type of novel - seems to be a strong love / hate response to it. He doesn’t spend much time framing or building the story, just throws you into it. I think if you read that you’d likely either never read him again or get stuck into all ten. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/52 "2018-10-12T15:04:31Z")
Another great series (which I’m halfway through) is Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/53 "2018-10-12T16:35:32Z")
The Hitman/Keller series by Lawrence Block Fletch series by Greg McDonald Kingkiller Series by Patrick Rothfuss Twenty Palaces by Harry Connolly Jumpers by Stephen Gould Honorable Mentions: Wearing the Cape by Marion Harmon Travelers Gate series by Will Wight Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne (though the final book leaves a sour taste) Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny Grimnoir Trilogy by Larry Correia (another trilogy pending!) ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/54 "2018-10-12T18:21:41Z")
There’s no hiding where my tastes lie (at least recently): Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie) Inspector Alleyn (Ngaio Marsh) Inspector Grant (Josephine Tey) Inspector Wexford (Ruth Rendell) And two more: Inspector Banks (Peter Robinson) Inspector Diamond (Peter Lovesey) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/55 "2018-10-12T21:21:50Z")
I forgot to add the EarthSea works by Ursula LeGuin, although it weakens a little at the end. Basically invented the young man at the school of wizards genre. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/56 "2018-10-13T04:01:32Z")
These are the most literate mystery series that I have read: DCI Wexford series, by Ruth Rendell. A nice long series, which takes him into retirement. Slow Horses series, by Mick Herron. Actually British spies, but it fits into this by story content. Only 4 books so far, but he’s still writing. Also check out his other books. David Loogan series by Harry Dolan. Only 3 so far, but he’s still writing. Ed Loy series by Declan Hughes. Set in Dublin, contemporary. Quirke series, by Benjamin Black. Set in Dublin in the 50s. And less literate but still very enjoyable: Bryant and May (or Peculiar Crimes Unit) series by Christopher Fowler. Very old men. Think Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart as the main characters. Gets a bit repetitive though. Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd. Post WWI detective with shell shock. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/57 "2018-10-13T08:59:32Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > La Comédie humaine, by Honore Balzac > Les Rougon-Macquart, by Emile Zola > The Chronicles of Barchester, by Anthony Trollope > Vanity Fair (and its prequels/sequels), by William Makepeace Thackeray I’ve only read Zola but Balzac is next on my to do list. And I put The Malazan Book of the Fallen right up there with Zola. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/58 "2018-10-13T11:42:13Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > 1. Jack Reacher - Lee Child Or the original version, Conan, by Robert E Howard. There are worthy late additions to the series by John Maddox Roberts, Robert Jordan, and a couple others, and also some pretty bad ones by several others. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/59 "2018-10-13T12:10:04Z")
Terry Pratchett, Discworld Patrick O’Brian, Aubrey/Maturin Walter Mosley, Easy Rawlins Robert Crais, Elvis Cole/Joe Pike George Pelecanos, D.C. Quartet ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713/60 "2018-11-30T05:43:01Z")
Harry Harrison’s **Stainless Steel Rat** series is lots of fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-book-series-of-all-time/822713.md?page=4)