A while back I mentioned that -- for an unnamed publication, and for an unnamed sum -- I'd agreed to name the six greatest fantasy novels of all time. The post got some great comments, a lot actually, and I think I promised I'd say when the piece actually came out.
Now it can be told. The unnamed publication was The Week. The unnamed sum was zero dollars. The piece is here.
I waited a while to link to it, because while I knew it was basically impossible to make a list like that, I didn't realize it would be that impossible. In the end all I could do was make sure that there was a mix of newer and older books, and male and female authors, and that every book on there was not only an absolute indisputable classic, that I personally loved, but one that completely changed the game when it was published.
The list, minus annotations, looks like this (it's non-ordered):
-- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
-- The Once and Future King by T.H. White
-- Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories
-- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
-- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
-- Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
It's hard to look at it now and not think about the near-infinite list of great books that was left off it. Also that they edited out my joke about my celeb-u-crush on Tilda Swinton. But you know, a promise is a promise.
And traffic is traffic.
More on Time.com:
Yeah, it was because of that earlier thread that I picked up a copy of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell...and with a long weekend coming up, I should be able to make a dent in it.
grape_crush
Nov. 24, 2009 12:05:pm
at 12:05:pm
Not that I actually expected either to be in your list, but I was a little sad to not see Wheel of Time or Game of Thrones.
Ill be sure to add those listed above that I havent yet read to my "to read when I get a chance" stack of books, which is already tall enough that it falls over on occassion.
doubleang
Nov. 24, 2009 13:17:pm
at 13:17:pm
@doubleang re: WoT I just can't go there. I made it eight books, but I just couldn't stick with it.
re: GoT it could have gone either way. Let's check back when he's finished...
Lev Grossman
Nov. 24, 2009 13:56:pm
at 13:56:pm
I still think you should have put The Magicians on the list. For funsies...
Kemper
Nov. 24, 2009 14:23:pm
at 14:23:pm
re: WoT; Eight books seems to be the magic number. Everyone I know who started the series and left it quit at eight; I dont necessarily blame em, it slowed down before picking up again the last couple books. You have to admit though, the first book is pretty awesome.
doubleang
Nov. 24, 2009 14:47:pm
at 14:47:pm
Magic for Beginners over Stranger Things Happen? True, I can't say for sure if I prefer STH because that was my first encounter with Link's work.
rellimarual
Nov. 24, 2009 14:50:pm
at 14:50:pm
Clarke's Strange & Norrell is one of the most fascinating books of this age. There are levels of imagination built into each chapter. I've re-read it now at least 4 times - once solely to read through the footnotes. Great choice.
edoc918
Nov. 24, 2009 15:27:pm
at 15:27:pm
I'm sure everyone will have their list of favorites... One series that should not be missed is the Malazan Books of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. If you liked the first 5-6 books of WoT, then I am positive you will enjoy these, particularly from the second book on. In fact, I would recomend starting on book 2, then going back to the first later on in the story. Fantastic reads, each and every one.
dadon72
Nov. 24, 2009 15:43:pm
at 15:43:pm
You wanna piss off Nyarlathotep the crawling chaos, its your eternal darkness between dream and waking, I guess.
byron12
Nov. 24, 2009 19:05:pm
at 19:05:pm
Lev, pick up the newest WoT book by Brandon Sanderson. It's got solid pacing, good characterization, great plot developments. It's the best WoT book since The Fires of Heaven. I had doubts, but Sanderson blew me away. You could catch up on the wiki and then just go right into it.
masurix
Nov. 24, 2009 20:52:pm
at 20:52:pm
byron12: You tell'im!
karuben
Nov. 25, 2009 02:37:am
at 02:37:am
Considering your criteria (absolute indisputable classic and a game changer), it's hard to argue with your list, but I think 2 of Lewis' more obscure books are more deserving of the "great" title: That Hideous Strength from the adult fantasy series, and, especially, Till We Have Faces, the retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, from the pov of Psyche's older sister.
Also wish more people were familiar with Charles Williams' weird psychological religious fantasies.
Agree with the Belgariad, and a little surprised it had so many supporters in the original thread. And I'm with grape-crush on the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Occupied my waking thoughts as much as any other fantasy novel.
I look forward to reading Jonathan Strange
And how come over here in techland we don't have preview, which we do over in the swampland? You would think...
kathy
Nov. 25, 2009 07:13:am
at 07:13:am
I slogged through Jonathan Strange. It felt like work, and I never got into it. It was kind of like one of those things I felt I 'should' read, so I did. That's the best thing I can say about it.
masurix
Nov. 25, 2009 12:39:pm
at 12:39:pm
You should do something similar with Science Fiction genre. Frank Herbert's Dune would probably top it.
nemerzain
Nov. 27, 2009 00:56:am
at 00:56:am
If you're looking for an "indisputable classic" and "game changer," you have to include William Hope Hodgson's House on the Borderland (talk about influencing many subgenres and authors, including Howard and Lovecraft, and definitely Leiber). Also, John Crowley's Little, Big, and Tim Power's The Anubis Gates.
Kelly Link? She is a good author, but has not authored one of the top 5, by any means. Not to mention Magic of Beginners is not a novel. Also, "Jonathon Strange", while amazing is far too recent to be considered a game changer. If you're allowing relatively recent books, then Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy should be way up there.
rowanws
Nov. 27, 2009 22:46:pm
at 22:46:pm
Judged by my subjective emotions, Fata Morgana by Kotzwinkle could belong in the list. It certainly cannot compete in terms of books sold.
nikkeld
Nov. 28, 2009 00:03:am
at 00:03:am
Raymond E. Feist's - Riftwar Saga ... Pug & Tomas will always have a special place in my heart. The other darker fantasy would be Michael Moorcock's titles which is hard to read at times but the sadness is tremendous.
tekk0
Nov. 30, 2009 16:16:pm
at 16:16:pm
Your lack of Pratchett is an epic fail.
zenke0
Dec. 2, 2009 23:38:pm
at 23:38:pm
I've been aware from reading your articles Lev. Grad school and all. I have been at a loss reading opinions that reflect my own. I keep hearing great things about Jonathan Strange. I lack a good sense of whether or not I will like a book. WIth films and video games never really need a critic to guide me. Literature has been around for so long that I am always looking for familiar themes but with fresh settings, characters, and narratives. Not to mention rapid sharp wit. I tend to be disappointed and in need of suggestions from sources I can trust. I love to read but I don't always have the time to sit and read for my personal enjoyment as opposed to school. I am looking for a good book during the Christmas break to help me forget grad school and Jonathan Strange shall be it.
lostepic
Dec. 11, 2009 10:28:am
at 10:28:am
Good list; thank you for sparing us the regurgitated Tolkien (Jordan, Brooks, et.al.).
Although, I must agree with masurix regarding Jonathon Strange. The book was work to get through. I had an easier time reading the unabridged Tale of Genji and Gravity's Rainbow. While the story is interesting the intentionally stylized prose made it difficult to get at.
nikohakkila
Dec. 11, 2009 13:30:pm
at 13:30:pm
More challenging than Gravity's Rainbow? Now you're peaking my interest even more.
lostepic
Dec. 12, 2009 10:07:am
at 10:07:am