We can all remember the great fantasy books from our childhood. Some of us have gone back to these very same books as adults and enjoyed them over and over again, sometimes with the helping of a large dose of nostalgia. However, there are a few of these that stand the test of time and maturity and still read as well today as they did when we were younger.
JRR Tolkien, Julie Andrews, CS Lewis, Enid Blyton. The list is endless and we all have our favourites. In recent times JK Rowling and Philip Pullman have brought more great fantasy novels for the delight of children and adults delight.
This is list of the four fantasy books that I remember best from my own childhood, please feel free to email me with any books that you feel are a must read for the budding fantasy reader.
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Travel to the magical land of Narnia and rejoin the four children as they join Prince Caspian and Reepicheep the mouse to battle the evil King Miraz. This is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Narnia series and in my opinion the best.
Duncton Wood by William Horwood
Enter the magical world of Bracken and Rebecca and all the moles of Duncton Wood. This is an enchanting story of a community losing it’s soul but being saved by courage and love.
Watership Down by Richard Adams
One of the best stories ever written and it’s about rabbits. Follow a warren of rabbits as they search for a safe place to live when their own warren is destroyed by man. This is a touching, enthralling piece of work that can be read again and again.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The tale of a comfort loving hobbit who unwillingly gets drawn into adventures involving dwarves, treasure and a dragon called Smaug the Magnificient. A must read for anybody with an imagination. Read our full review of The Hobbit here.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I’ll add 4 more:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia present the adventures of children who play central roles in the unfolding history of the fictional realm of Narnia, a place where animals talk, magic is common, and good battles evil. Each of the books (with the exception of The Horse and His Boy) features as its protagonists children from our world who are magically transported to Narnia, where they are called upon to help the lion Aslan handle a crisis in the world of Narnia .
Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
Uglies trilogy follows the high-tech adventures of Tally Youngblood. As an ugly, then a pretty, and finally a special, Tally works to take down a society created to function with perfect-looking people who never have a chance to think for themselves.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Lyra and Will, children from different worlds, share two common bonds, the loss of parents and the possession of objects which give them unique access to knowledge. One is an object which communicates truth about any situation to any person wise enough to be able to read it and the other an instrument which can cut open windows to other worlds.
Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini
Fifteen year-old Eragon discovers his destiny as a Dragon Rider. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and his dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.
These 4 series are VERY popular in the US with teens these days.