The Top 40 GREATEST Fantasy Series EVER Written. And There Is NO Debating This Majestic List.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2024
- Wherein our hero Durfee counts down the top 40 greatest fantasy series of ALL TIME! Just an FYI, I only put series on my list that I had read the ENTIRE series. So some of your favorites might not be here. #fantasy #fantasybooks #topten
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Flash man by George McDonald Fraser is the best series”lies of lock lamamora is better then lord of the rings also were was the First law series by joe Abercrombie in this book line up that one is also probably better then lord of the rings”
40. Kings of the wyld
39. The way of shadows
38. The prince of thorns
37. The baker's boy
36. Off armageddon reef
35. Legend - david
34. The last of the renshai
33. V.e schwab series
32. The dark tide
31. The mirror of her dreams
30. Shadowmarch - tad williams
29. Shadow and claw - gene wolfe
28. Thieves world
27. Black sun rising -
26. Chronicles of the cheysuli
25. Dragon prince
24. Kings dragon
23. The Golden Key
22. Michael moorcock series
21. Deryni rising - katherine kurtz
20. Nevernight
19. Robin hobb series
18. Jhereg - steven ..
17. The book of three - lloyd alexander
16. Dragons of autumn twilight
15. Harrypotter
14. Tigana
13. Magician apprentice
12. Lord foul's bane
11. Pawn of prophecy
10. The forgetting moon
09. The lies of locke lamora
08. Gardens of the moon
07. The name of the wind - patrick
06. The way of kings - brandon
05. The sword of shannara
04. The eye of the world
03. A game of thrones
02. The drangonbone chair - tad williams
01. J . R. R. Tolkien
Several I haven't heard off(including Brian), probably a 3rd I have heard off but never read but all the ones I have read I did like. Huge Eddings fan back in the day but I don't think they have aged very well.
Nice to see a shout out dragonbone chair, great series.
Always loved The Magician by Fiest. Perhaps the 500 follow up books put people off?
First time I see someone with my same 1 and 2, Tolkien (The Lord of The Rings and Silmarillion in my case), and Tad Williams (Memory, Thorn and Sorrow, four books, The Dragonbone Chair is just the first one, The Last King of Osten Ard, the continuation, the second part of the saga, another four books, and The Heart of What Was Lost, the linking books between the two parts). And the third, is dispute in my case between Song of Ice and Fire (Martin) and the Geralt of Rivia saga by Sapkowsky or Elric of Melniboné by Moorcok, and Olvidado Rey Gudú, I do not know if it's translated into English, I think it isn't, the tittle would be Forgotten King Gudú, by Ana María Matute a Spaniard author.
@@CnoacdeTara someone thank me for the list |
Thanks for making this list 😃
I wish I could do lists this fast. I have to talk about each one for 5-7 minutes. Some good ones on here and a handful I haven't heard of.
I'm desperately trying to keep all me vids between 10-20 minutes. I kinda feel I'm talking to fast in some and too slow in others. I'm still working on this youtube thing
Brian Lee Durfee Reviews I would love to hear you elaborate on these dope ass series a little more! Your enthusiasm is infectious!
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS Don't worry about talking fast. Most people on the booktube talk so damn slow like they're talking to a group of 'tards , even at x2 its stupidly slow. I don't fucking get it.
Read 24 out of 40. Haven't read anything written after the 90s. Except Potter
man i'm hyped up on caffeine in this video
horses with glowing red eyes?? i am sold sir
No way can a Top 40 List exclude Joe Abercrombie! Great work man!
First law is waaaaaaay better than dragonlance 🤦♂️😭
It would be funny if Brandon Sanderson ends up finishing a song of ice and fire
Threaten me with a good time.
Oh he will. One things for certain, Martin won't.
Unlikely. Martin has said he doesn’t want anyone else finishing his work.
@@jgamer2228 hopefully Martin's editor makes the right choice after he passes without finishing the book.
@@jgamer2228 And Brandon is also very conservative in comparison with GRR.
I know I am really late on this vid but just wanted to say thank you for mentioning The Belgariad. No one ever talks about it and it's one of the best fantasy series of all time. Also, your books sound great, looking forward to getting and reading them soon.
Thanks
Hear hear!
Gotta love Eddings. The Elenium and the Belgariad were my introduction to fantasy
A fabulous series, I have read it a few times. However, when you say no one dies you are incorrect. In actuality one of the main characters is killed by Belgarion himself and that would be Ashrak aka. Chamdar. He was burned alive when Garion found out that Chamdar killed his parents. Also, Ctuchik killed himself when he tried to unmake the Orb.
I have only read about 1/2 of the books on your list and some I have never heard of but will be looking them up. However, I feel there are 2 series that should have been on the list and those are Jack Chalker's Well world series, and not just the original 5 but all of the well world books, and Ed Greenwoods The Elminster series
Yeah Silk was of the best characters ever created.
Your taste is near perfection. So happy to see 80s/90s fantasy being recognized and recommended. I absolutely adore the Elric saga.
Great list! Some other standout authors that could have been included: Ursula K. Le Guin, Mervyn Peake, Roger Zelazny, Robert Silverberg, Lois Mc Master Bujold, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, R.A. Salvatore, C.S. Lewis, Fritz Leiber, Robert E. Howard.
What about Julian May?
Very inspirational. Your enthusiasm has caused me to seek out several books on your list. Thank you for putting this together for all of us. 👏
Man, I thouroughly enjoyed this video Brian! It feels like I opened a magical chest and discovered glimmering treasures inside. I love how you highlight the cover artists as well, thank you!
Thanks so much for the kind words
Thank you for putting Tad Williams so high on your list. Haven't read Memory, Sorrow & Thorn for a long time but its stays with me as being one of the most amazing book journeys I have taken.
Just found first two books getting ready to read
I stumbled across your channel about a month ago, but haven't had a chance to come back until recently. I really love your energy. When I was a kid, I used to wander the fantasy and horror aisles of Waldenbooks as often as I was able in in the 80's. I remember seeing so many of these covers and I loved them all. The beautiful scenes on the cover really ignite the imagination and prime you for the fantastic worlds waiting for you inside. Your obvious love of books really resonates with me and I look forward to watching many more of your videos. Thank you for making them, they are a joy to watch.
Dragonlance was the first "real" novel that I read that wasn't an assignment in school and I was amazed that reading to be so much fun. Larry Elmore is a legend and his work on those books...they still take me away.
Thanks for putting this list together. It puts recommendations into better perspective when you have a better understanding of what the recommender really likes. Plenty to add to my purchase and reading list, including yours.
I love fantasy books so i wanted to make a list. i could have but a few dozen more on the list but my video would have been too long
The moment you had Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn as #2 I knew I had to read all of your work. Haha. So good. Loving The Forgetting Moon so far, Brian!
I love that you show such love to those who came before. Most TH-cam channels now a days only talk about what " new and hot" and it's so tiring. When I see people go I can't find any good fantasy to read I send them to your channel and their minds get bloen
Great list. Definitely adding some of those to my TBR, including your book! I wish I could like this video 1000 times!
thanks. you are too kind
Nice plug! Never be afraid to pump your own sales.
So happy I found your channel. Just getting into fantasy and you've given some great recommendations. Thank you!!!
Mirror of her dreams! Wow I don’t know anyone else who’s read it. Great.
My husband and I read Mirror of Her Dreams, Brian Durfee, and you make four who have read it!
Kudos to us!!!👏
Wow, the memories, I was introduced to Tolkien in high school; the toughest, and best read ever to this day, but I also started with Salvatore and the companions have grown with me from high school to my age of 50 and they are like family to me. As well as Dragonlance, the fun I had growing with Raistlan and Caramon. I had trouble with Stephen Donaldson in the Covenent series, but the Mirror of her Dreams took me by surprise and I could not let that book down, read the two when I was in London. The Belgariad, though, bout that series in Germany when I was going on a week maneuvers, to this day one of the greatest reads ever. I just picked up Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress thrist shop and looking forward to diving in that world again. Finally, Jordan and Martin, still reading them and cannot wait to see how Sanderson wrapped up Jordan's books, and maybe just get me hooked on Sanderson himself than. Thanks for sharing and helping me relive my reading through the years.
I just bought JV Jones’ Baker Boy. And I’m continuing my Dragonlance read. I plan on picking up Melanie Rawn’s books too. This list is like a shopping list for fantasy novels. Love it!
I agree J.V. Jones has some great novels that a lot of people don’t know about. Bakers Boy was one of my favorite stories of hers! Some really sick and evil plots & great heroes! Absolutely loved it!
I am going to have to rewatch this and write these down. Some I have on my shelf but haven’t read yet. Great recommendations!
So many great classic recommendations! Thank you!
SO glad to see this list! I was yelling "YES!" at the TV screen when you mentioned the Mordant's Need duology ("Mirror of Her Dreams" is the first book) by Donaldson, Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson, etc. Oh, and Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books - no one ever mentions them and they are SO GOOD. I'd also recommend her Adept series if you haven't read those - really terrific! So many of my favorite authors, including these, seem to be missing from Booktube these days. It was awesome to see them finally get a mention! If you ever expand the list - can I recommend Andre Norton's "Witch World" books? Your SF list was great, too!
Man, thanks so much for this list, and for remembering things that were written before 2000! You're sending me back to all-nighters of magic and nail biting. I'm not debating you! I'm not debating you! Okay, I am debating you on Eddings and Zelazny, and Gavriel Kay has a trilogy, but that's not really debating, is it. It's just agreeing some more. Thanks for remembering Friedman and Kurtz! Nobody talks about them anymore. That's it for me. I'm subscribing :)
I’ve watched a lot of your videos and this is your best one. Heavy hitting, enthusiastic recommendations. I’m in awe of your geeking out over books I’ve loved, ones I’ve seen, and some I’ve never heard of. Amazing collection and I’m jealous. I want to return to reading Feist and brooks now. I really loved Feist collaboration with wurts, daughter of the empire series. I was fully immersed. I like that you put your work at 10. I’ll buy the audiobook and physical copy. And you inspired me to finally read Crispin’s solo story. Excited for that. If you haven’t read ravens shadow series by Anthony Ryan, it’s great. First book is phenomenal. I need to grab more 80s fantasy novel. You made me love their covers all over again. Thank you!
I did read the first Anthony Ryan novel. And thanks so much for the kind words. !!!!
Added so many books to my wish list.. your reading experience really shows. Lots of love. Can’t wait to get to your book!!
Thank you for putting so many new series on my radar! Havent heard of many of them but going to chekc them out for sure!
So many fantastic memories here and a few journeys that I have yet to embark! I seem to have similar fantasy tastes as you so I'm going to check the few out that I haven't. And yes, Tad Williams definitely deserved his two spots on this list. You really can't go wrong with any of your suggestions.
Amazing ranking. This list inspired me to read fantasy even more.
Great video! This helped me remember some book series I read in the '80's that I had forgotten! Also glad to see Belgariad so high.
Glad u liked the list
Wow, your joy when talking about your own book is infectious. Just the way you said “my own book!” with the biggest grin made me smile. Looking forward to reading your books
I was trying to figure out what I like so much about your narrative style in these videos, and I just realized what it is: You could (perhaps even should) be a voice actor for the series Rick and Morty. Just wonderful :)
Love your taste. I like how you like all kinds of fantasy and are not snobby about it. You like complex stuff and simple fun fantasy that has tropes. Too many people on goodreads seem to knock anything with tropes or that isn’t dark and complex. I already have read many of these and have many on my to-read list . Now I’m adding the ones you mention to my list. I’m loving this channel , you seem to have the same taste as me. I’m going to have to check out your books . I’m going to buy the forgetting moon ASAP. Oh , and so glad to see ShadowMarch on here it’s so underrated and doesn’t get mentioned enough
Tad Williams is the MAN
"Too many people on goodreads seem to knock anything with tropes or that isn’t dark and complex." - you know what the hallmark of a good book is? If you enjoyed it. That's it. That's all.
This was a WONDERFUL list! The nostalgia hit me and I need to go on a re-reading journey. I believe I have the full Belgiard series and A LOT of Raymond Feist!
Brilliantly diverse list Brian, loved it. great hearing the artists getting a mention too. The best thing about this list is how unpretentious it is.
I'm taking notes for books I may want to read. Thanks for the video, nice and swift too!
The BEST list I've seen. Okay, part of that is because I agree with you - thanks for mentioning so many of the books I read in the 70s and 80s. David Eddings - I've re-read so many times I've had to repurchase the books. And Thieves World!!! Alexander Lloyd. David Weber.
Watched loads of best fantasy reads recently and yours is the only one that actually has stuff on I’ve read before (Eddings Gemmell Brooks ) and much more. I’ll definitely look at other authors on your list I haven’t read . Thanks 👍🏻
Thanks for the list, found a couple I had not read, including your book that are now on my to read list.
awesome list ! I have read alot of stuff on the list. (the older fantasy doesn't get much love in the book reviews ) great video !
People should pay attention to this list! Brian, I am impressed that you put Kathryn Kurtz's Deryni Chronicles on your list. This is a great older series that a lot of younger people will not know about. Also, you are correct that anyone that is into fantasy needs to read "the Lord of the Rings" and Michael Moorcock's "Elric of Melniboné" series. Another older series that is also excellent is the "Xanth" novels by Piers Anthony, starting with "A spell for Chameleon". A newer series that is only on Kindle and Audible is "the Spellmonger" series by Terry Mancour and it is fantastic.
Because you mentioned Lord Foul's Bane, The Belgariad and Magician's Apprentice, I will buy your book!! Thanks for your list!
Great list. I am definitely going to use it for a must read while I might definitely argue with the order of some of the books none of the books that you mentioned that I have read don't deserve to be on a to fantasy list somewhere. So I look forward to trying out those on your list that I haven't read yet especially number ten
Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
I always enjoy your reviews.
Pawn of Prophecy!!! I’ve been trying to remember the name of it for a couple decades!! Thank You!
Thank you! I've got about 30 more series to add to my reading list (including yours, which I already own). I'm especially excited about some of the older ones that aren't talked about as much.
I'm so glad I found your channel.
I'm hyped!! Thank you for your videos, keep me going in these trying times💗
WHAT A REFRESHING VIDEO! Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series so high up and I'm nodding my head in intense agreement. Thank you for this. There's no debating indeed.
Props for putting Sword of Shannara on your list. Lotta fantasy readers like to bash Terry Brooks, especially Sword of Shannara. Sure, it's a straight rip of LOTR, but when it came out in the 80's it was the first things I found and read and went YES, finally something in the same vein as Tolkien, epic, fun, a total blast to read. I didn't care that it was basically the same story, it was great, and the sequels, even better.
You gave me some good recommendations. Thanks
The advantage of a more 'mature' reviewer is that you've included many of my favourite series of the 80s and 90s that many of the good younger reviewers haven't discovered yet.
Btw not all of Guy Gabriel Kay's works are standalone. Also some of his standalones are set in the same world but different eras.
Agree! Guy Gavriel Kay's 'Fionavar Tapestry' is an outstanding series.
Who are the younger reviewers you follow?
Thank you very much! Great memories of novels I forgot. Rewatching with a pen to revisit or try with major gems! I prefer the more fun but also get dark. That’s quite dark. Can’t wait!
This list brought me back to my youth. So many I remember reading and loving. I may get bog down with a lot of rereads coming soon. In the meantime I am glad that booktubers recommend your series. I just started and am already hooked.
Great list! Thank you!
I appreciate you shedding light on mainly book series before my time. (Born in 2000.) I'm still surprised Narnia, Percy Jackson or The Sea of trolls series aren't in the top 40.
Thank you for this! I'm getting back into fantasy and this gives me so much to read!
getting into fantasy this season so thanks
Subscribed 👍👍
Finally a top fantasy books list, with many great books in it.
Great list Brian! Love your enthusiasm 😉
Thnx
Amazing top.Wasn't expecting lotr on 1st place though.Thought it's gonna be either game of thrones or the way of kings and I had no ideea you are such a great author yourself. 😁
I LOVE Memory Sorrow and Thorn and it makes me so happy to see it so high up your list. People don’t talk about that series enough.
Yes great book, I personally wouldn't have placed it so high on my personal list bit excellent never the lesd.
Not nearly enough. I think most people online are two young to remember him unfortunately.
Great to see The Renshai Chronicles get some love. I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Thank you for the recommendations. The bucket list has increased
My god those book covers! You are so lucky to have those classic editions! Great list too.
Yup pawn of prophecy is amazing. I love your channel. When i was given these books i read the mallorean first. Didnt know what else was in the big box of books. I think it was my first Fantasy
Look up David Eddings on wikipedia He is a child abuser
Fantastic list and great presentation! And NO hurt feelings! I wonder how Stephen Donaldson made your list twice but you didn’t mention his Gap Cycle, his longest and most popular series -it immediately became one of my favorites! I have only read the Gap Cycle, so will gleefully anticipate the others you mentioned are even better!
I can’t wait to dig into some of these other series I’d never heard of. thank you!!
It's science fiction
Great list!!
Seeing how high you put the Belgariad on your list automatically makes me trust your judgement. David and Leigh Eddings were my introduction to fantasy and i haven't looked back.
Mate i had to give you a sub. You hit almost every series I read as a teen, Brooks, Eddings, Gemmell, Jordan. Sword of Shannara was my first fantasy novel i read after cutting my teeth on the Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone choose your own adventure books.
Dude. I dig your enthusiasim, I love how patioante you are about fantasy. One of my favourits is the Amber series by Roger Zelazny.
Love your recommendations, I'm only 17 so most of these are very new to me but all of them seem like very good books
love that sindarin on your arm as well^^
I love that you have books that are so spread out in time & that there are so many women writers on your list! Your list is so different from others (outside of the top 10). I love that! There are so many great books out there, and it's a blast to see your enthusiasm for your favorites. Thank you for sharing! (I love Tad Williams!)
Recently discovered your channel, because I was looking for some Deryni reviews.
And now TH-cam suggests me every once in a while some of your other videos.
You have a special kind of delivery, like those old NWA or Memphis wrestling promos hahaha.
And you look like a grizzled version of Jason Tarpey, vocalist of Eternal Champion and author of The Godblade.
Don't know if it's done on purpose, but the reflection of the blinking red light in the horse's eye is a great detail.
But I almost forgot the best part: the fact that the fantasy saga I started out with is your number 2 and my favorite series of all time your number 3.
I'm totally gonna add The Forgetting Moon to my reading list. Might take a while before I can actually pick it up though, cause I'm right in the middle of Paksenarrion. Anyway, great channel and unique approach. Don't change and I will pass by more regularly.
Good list. I’ve been looking for a new book. Gonna order yours.
great list. i havnt read most of them. would definitely take into consideration. i hope theres available audiobook.
Thank you, Brian! That is so cool of you to mention my series. And it's Chey-SOO-li. 8-)
Thank you for writing the series, Jennifer. And also The Lady Of The Forest which I consider the best Robin Hood book ever written. And Tiger and Del are awesome too
OMG, you're on youtube! I just want to say thank you for the really wonderful times your books gave me as a teenager, for all the fun I had reading them, the great memories, and making my school days so much more bearable! Thank you so much, Jennifer, I'll always treasure those books and hope you'll write many more! ❤
@@Maren617 You are very welcome! Thank you for being a fan!
Feist, Weddings, Brooks, Gemmel and Donaldson. Great days! And thanks for mentioning the covers which I like to collect. So few reviewers point out cover art. Yet many of them like Geoff Taylor and Hypgnosis produced rock album covers
This is a great list! I love the mix of all times !
Thanks
I watch this video like once a week. Love this list. I haven't heard of most of these but since watching this about two months ago. I have hunting down and bought about 15 of these. My bookshelf is really filling up. Have you ever gave Joe Dever's Lonewolf series a read? I came across 20 of them for a dollar a peice.
Love the video, a lot of new great fantasy series that i did not known. And of course I became excited to read the Forgetting Moon a story that unfortunately we dont have in portuguese but its no going to stop me. Greetings from Brazil.
The Elric Saga was my introduction into the fantasy genre. I was curious about Moorcock because he was listed as co-writer on some Blue Oyster Cult songs. He is still one of my favorites. Great to hear someone give him credit.
Cool
Elric was mine too (though the cover art shown is NOT how I imagine him!). I picked up bits of various Moorcock series (Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum) from a pile of books in my uni halls social area (30+ years ago). Didn't click to the link between them all until I read Pheonix in Obsidian though...
I remember as a teenager lying on my bed reading the very end of the series when the power of the sword was revealed. I threw the book up in the air and rolled off the bed! Blew my mind!
Really loved the reread of the Belgariad I did last summer. Totally scratched that itch.
I just got The Forgotten Moon, can't wait to read it. Booktuber Mike's book review sold me on it.
Really nice! Thank you!
And thank you too
I've only heard of like 15% of these, and i loved this video. I will definitely come back to it frequently when getting new fantasy novels. I'm years late on this, I know. But, better late than never.
You are a hoot. I love your energy. I'll buy your books.
The Black Sun series by C.S. Freidman was one of the most influential series of my youth.
Great series, from what I remember.
Great video! Keep up the good work!
Such a great list! I learned a lot from it XD Would you do something like it for Fantasy-Comics?
Haha loved this video, man. Dragonlance 'Chronicles' will always be in my top 5, dude. I'm sad the early Drizzt books didn't make the cut ;( I'm def gonna check out some of these...many I've seen around many time. Dave
I want to be a Green Knight type Paladin.
I love the David Eddings love. To this day, he is still one of my favorite fantasy authors. IMO, the Elenium trilogy is better than the Belgariad. The Elenium is one of the few series where the protagonist is a middle age adult. And one who is a successful warrior at the start of the series.
I mean, Sparhawk set the template, didn't he?
A middle age dude who hangs out with a loli. /JK. I loved those books too.
Awesome video Brian! I've found some incredible books here - looking forward to reading yours, too! 😉
Thanks
Love to see Thomas Covenant getting a spot on the list!
love this list, i needed some new reads, now I've got lots of ideas
This was a blast- thank you.
You're enthusiastic about many of the series that I'm enthusiastic about. I intend to follow up on some of the ones you mentioned that I haven't read. In the mean time, I just ordered your book, The Forgetting Moon, as an ebook through Kobo (via your website).
Thanks