The 18 Greatest Epic Fantasy Series of All Time

Sprawling sagas of warring kingdoms, intricate magic systems, and decades-spanning quests stand shoulder to shoulder. Towering canon classics meet grimdark upstarts and beloved cult picks. Which series reigns supreme?

1

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien's foundational saga of Middle-earth that defined the entire epic fantasy genre.

1000pts

2

The Broken Empire

Mark Lawrence's dark trilogy following the ruthless, brilliant young prince Jorg Ancrath.

749pts

3

A Song of Ice and Fire

George R.R. Martin's sprawling, morally complex saga of warring noble houses that inspired Game of Thrones.

645pts

4

Malazan Book of the Fallen

Steven Erikson's vast, dense ten-book saga famed for its scale, ambiguity, and military epics.

645pts

5

The Inheritance Cycle

Christopher Paolini's bestselling dragon-rider saga that began with Eragon.

645pts

6

His Dark Materials

Philip Pullman's acclaimed trilogy of parallel worlds, daemons, and a war against authority.

599pts

7

The Dark Tower

Stephen King's genre-blending magnum opus following the gunslinger Roland's quest across worlds.

599pts

8

The Earthsea Cycle

Ursula K. Le Guin's poetic series of wizardry, balance, and coming of age in an island world.

599pts

9

The First Law

Joe Abercrombie's grim, cynical trilogy that helped define modern grimdark fantasy.

599pts

10

The Wheel of Time

Robert Jordan's fourteen-volume epic of prophecy, balance, and the rebirth of a savior.

545pts

11

The Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis's beloved seven-book series of children entering the magical land of Narnia.

545pts

12

The Kingkiller Chronicle

Patrick Rothfuss's lyrical tale of the legendary Kvothe recounting his own rise and fall.

545pts

13

The Realm of the Elderlings

Robin Hobb's interconnected sixteen-book saga celebrated for its assassins, dragons, and deep characters.

479pts

14

The Stormlight Archive

Brandon Sanderson's ongoing epic of knights, storms, and shattered oaths on the world of Roshar.

479pts

15

The Witcher

Andrzej Sapkowski's series following the monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia through a brutal Slavic-inspired world.

399pts

16

Mistborn

Brandon Sanderson's series built on a clever allomantic magic system and a heist against a god-emperor.

399pts

17

The Riyria Revelations

Michael J. Sullivan's fan-favorite saga following two charismatic thieves caught in a kingdom's intrigue.

399pts

18

The Belgariad

David Eddings's classic coming-of-age quest series beloved for its warmth and humor.

399pts