Top Ten Fantasy Books
This genre of literature has as its main features, magic, the paranormal and monsters and special powers.
“Alice in Wonderland”(1865)Lewis Carroll. This is one of the pre runners of all fantasy novels, a tale of a girl named Alice who falls into a rabbit hole into a world full of fantastical and peculiar creatures. However, the tale is deep rooted in logic and is thus popular till this day among adults and children alike.
“The Hobbit”(1937)J.R.R.Tolkien. The book set between the “dawn of the fairies and the dominion of men” follows the quest of the Bilbo Bagins to procure the treasure guarded by the dragon.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”(1964)Roald Dahl. This is considered to be one of the most beloved books for children worldwide. It is about a boy in a chocolate factory of the crazed candy-maker Willy Wonka.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”(1997)J.K.Rowling. This is the first book of the vastly celebrated “Harry Potter” series. This book relates how this boy wizard discovers his true identity and begins his education as a wizard, meanwhile avenging the murder of his parents.
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”(1950)C.S.Lewis. The book tells the story of four children who discover a hidden wardrobe which leads them to the fantasy land of Narnia, which is under the spell of an evil Witch.
“The Fellowship of the Ring”(1954)J.R.R.Tolkien. It is the first volume of the epic novel “The Lord of the Rings” and is the best read. It is set in the fictional middle-earth and traces Bilbo’s effort to destroy the magical ring.
“Mary Poppins”(1934)P.L.Travers. This is a series of eight books which follow the adventures of a vain and magical English nanny with the Banks family and their children.
“Life of Pi”(2001)Yann Martel. In the story, the protagonist, an Indian boy, who is shipwrecked for 227 days, explores spirituality and religion with fantastical creatures and carnivorous islands.
“The Last Unicorn”(1968)Peter S.Beagle. The story follows the journey of a unicorn who believes she is the last of her race and tries to discover what happened to the others. On her way she meets a host of fantasy characters.
“The Black Swan”(1999)Mercedes Lackey. This fantasy novel is a retelling of “The Swan Lake”. The story is told from the point of view of a young sorceress. A feministic novel, its plot revolves around how women who disrespected men were cursed.