91 - 100 - the Top 100 fantasy books of all time

I’ve made it clear that the earlier Discworld books by Terry Pratchett aren’t as good as the latter. But when does “early” become “latter”? It happens with book number twenty, Hogfather, and continues into the twenty first novel, and the fourth City Watch story, Jingo.

Jingo: A Discworld novel (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Terry Pratchett
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 413
Publication date: 1998-11-05
Publisher: Corgi Books

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Jingo is the 20th of Pratchett's Discworld novels, and the fourth to feature the City Guard of Ankh-Morpork. As Jingo begins, an island suddenly rises between Ankh- Morpork and Al-Khali, capital of Klatch. Both cities claim it. Lord Vetinari, the Patrician, has failed to convince the Ruling Council that force is a bad idea, despite reminding them that they have no army--"I believe one of those is generally considered vital to the successful prosecution of a war." Samuel Vimes, Commander of the City Watch, has to find out who shot the Klatchian envoy, Prince Khufurah, and set fire to their embassy, before war breaks out.

Pratchett's characters are both sympathetic and outrageously entertaining, from Captain Carrot, who always finds the best in people and puts it to work playing football, to Sergeant Colon and his sidekick, Corporal Nobbs, who have "an ability to get out of their depth on a wet pavement". Then there is the mysterious D'reg, 71-hour Ahmed. What is his part in all this, and why 71 hours? Anyone who doesn't mind laughing themselves silly at the idiocy of people in general and governments in particular will enjoy Jingo. --Nona Vero
Amazon.co.uk Review

The Blade Itself is the first in a trilogy of books from up and comer Joe Abercrombie. Being new to the fantasy genre I was unsure what to expect, however, I need not have worried as from the first chapter I was intrigued and by the second I was hooked. Abercrombie is a true story teller and allows you to get to know the characters and actually care what happens to them. I think The Blade Itself will have a broad appeal as the fantastical is woven subtly at first, allowing you to be drawn into the beautifully twisting plots that run parallel with the three main characters before switching up a gear as the characters start to come together.

The Blade Itself: Book One Of The First Law (Gollancz S.F.) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Joe Abercrombie
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 544
Publication date: 2007-03-08
Publisher: Gollancz

RRP: £7.99
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The Elenium consists of six books and The Diamond Throne is the first book in this series. David Eddings is an author who is both loved and criticized in seemingly equal measure but no-one can deny that he writes enjoyable fantasy tales. The Elenium continues in the next volume, The Ruby Knight.

The Diamond Throne (The Elenium) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: David Eddings
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 496
Publication date: 1990-07-12
Publisher: Voyager

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The Wandering Fire is set six months after the events in The Summer Tree. Back in Toronto, Jennifer is expecting the god Rakoth Maugrim's child and she and Paul cross back to Fionavar after being persued by Galadan, the Wolf Lord.

The Wandering Fire (Fionavar Tapestry) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 352
Publication date: 2006-02-06
Publisher: Voyager

RRP: £6.99
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The conclusion of Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry is reached with The Darkest Road.

The Darkest Road (Fionavar Tapestry) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 448
Publication date: 2006-02-06
Publisher: Voyager

RRP: £6.99
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Armageddon had visited the world 300 years earlier and it is within this post-apocolyptic nightmare that we are introduced to the Jerusalem Man, Jon Shannow.

Wolf in Shadow (Jon Shannow Novel) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: David Gemmell
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 336
Publication date: 1987-12-10
Publisher: Orbit

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Jon Shannow is the only one capable of finding the Sword of God that can close the gateway between the past and the present. The Stones of Power continues with The Last Guardian.

The Last Guardian (Jon Shannow Novel) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: David Gemmell
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 288
Publication date: 1990-04-19
Publisher: Orbit

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The Wounded Land by Stephen Donaldson begins The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant as Thomas Covenant once more returns to the Land. It has been four thousand years since Thomas Covenant fought and threw down Lord Foul. The Land was saved but the time that has elapsed since has been unkind and human sacrifice and corruption is a plague on the Land.

The Wounded Land (The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Stephen Donaldson
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 512
Publication date: 1980-10
Publisher: Voyager

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The Light Fantastic is the second Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett and picks up the story that was begun in The Colour of Magic. A red star has appeared in the sky and the Discworld is heading right towards it. There is only one person who can save the world; but unfortunately this is the rather inept and cowardly wizard called Rincewind who was last seen falling of the edge of the world.

The Light Fantastic: A sequel to 'The Colour of Magic' (A Discworld Novel) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Terry Pratchett
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 216
Publication date: 1986-09-05
Publisher: Corgi Books

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The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite Empire has splintered into decadent city-states lead by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan – poet, diplomat; soldier – until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.

The Lions of Al-Rassan (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 528
Publication date: 2005-07
Publisher: Eos

RRP: £9.55
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Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.

Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.