Over the last 100 years, the fantasy genre has produced some true literary landmarks that have had a profound impact on our social and cultural development as a species. From the complex mythical worlds of high fantasy to the urban narratives that find deeper layers in the world we know, these books may take different approaches, but they have all played a pivotal role in shaping the minds of generations of readers. Many of them have also been successfully adapted into other media, giving us some of the most celebrated films, TV shows, and games of all time.
More than at any time before, the past century has seen fantasy literature grow to new heights, with authors reaching audiences in the millions. And the greatest of these books has become an indelible part of popular culture, fundamentally transforming the way we see the world. Without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of some of the greatest fantasy books of the last 100 years.
8 ‘The Night Circus’ (2011)
Image via Penguin Random HouseWritten by Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus is a speculative fiction novel that revolves around a magical, traveling Victorian circus known as Le Cirque des Rêves, which opens only for a single night. Behind its circus tents, the arena serves as the stage for a deadly game of cunning between two powerful magicians, a world-renowned illusionist, Prospero the Enchanter, and the enigmatic Alexander. When they pit two of their pupils, their own children, against each other, the young magicians fall in love and devise a plan to break free of their mentors’ control.
Originally written for the annual writing competition National Novel Writing Month, The Night Circus became a New York Times Bestseller when it was published, and won an Alex Award. Presented through a non-linear narrative, from different points of view, the novel is surreal, colorful, and well-paced, with short chapters that genre fans would enjoy. A magic realism fantasy novel, The Night Circus has often been compared to the works of Neil Gaiman and contemporary fantasies like Harry Potter and Twilight.
7 ‘A Game of Thrones’ (1996)
Image via HBOA title that is now a global mainstream phenomenon, A Game of Thrones is the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and the fourth novel by George R.R. Martin, which marks his return to prose fiction. Narrated in third person by eight unreliable narrators, the epic fantasy saga follows three intertwined plotlines revolving around the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros — a violent war of succession for the throne of Westeros, a princess in exile raising an army to reclaim her royalty, and a supernatural threat looming large beyond a giant wall of ice that protects the kingdoms.
A Game of Thrones, and eventually the rest of the book series, has become one of the most influential fantasy novels of the 21st century. Often compared to J. R. R. Tolkien’s work as a 21st-century counterpart, the novel is noted for subverting the genre with its gritty, layered characters, grim settings, and heavy political intrigue analogous to the feudal era. The novel was an instant bestseller and won the 1997 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. It has since been a major subject of academic and popular discourse, going on to inspire the HBO franchise of the same name.
6 ‘Mistborn: The Final Empire’ (2006)
Image via Brandon Sanderson / Tor BooksA dark fantasy novel written by Brandon Sanderson, The Final Empire is the first book in the Mistborn novel trilogy, followed by The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages. The novel is set in a dystopian world plagued by ash and mist, in the titular empire, a regime controlled by the immortal Lord Ruler. The story centers on a charismatic rebel leader, Kelsier, and his crew, who recruit a street urchin named Vin and devise a plot to overthrow the Final Empire.
Mistborn: The Final Empire is a thrilling epic fantasy story that centers on a complex magic system, while also exploring themes of systemic oppression and class inequality. The novel was well acclaimed when it was first published and has since been hailed as one of the most influential modern fantasy novels, earning a place on Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The Final Empire launched the Mistborn series, which has since expanded to include audiobooks, video games, and board games, with multiple screen adaptations currently in development at Apple TV.
Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw
Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
🦁Gryffindor
🐍Slytherin
🦡Hufflepuff
🦅Ravenclaw
PLACE THE HAT →
01
What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.
ACourage — I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom — I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.
AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming.
ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.
ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.
ABreak the rules — if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules — but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient?
NEXT QUESTION →
06
What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.
AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant — I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.
AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.
ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever.
REVEAL MY HOUSE →
The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen
After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.
🦁 Gryffindor
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified — especially then.
- Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
- You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
- You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible.
- Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.
🐍 Slytherin
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
- Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
- You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
- You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
- The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.
🦡 Hufflepuff
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
- Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
- You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition — you do what's right because it's right.
- Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
- Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them.
🦅 Ravenclaw
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it.
- Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
- Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet.
- You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
- Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
5 ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ (2005)
Bestselling author Rick Riordan’s very first children’s novel, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, is an action-adventure mythological fantasy that’s the first installment in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series. The story follows the titular 12-year-old boy, who discovers that he is a demigod and the son of the Greek god Poseidon. To keep him safe from deadly monsters, he is sent to Camp Half-Blood, where he sets out on a quest with other demigods to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt and prevent a catastrophic war among the gods.
A riotous quest of heroism and self-discovery, The Lightning Thief is fun and thrilling with a new take on ancient gods and monsters. The book paved the way for a series of coming-of-age fantasy adventure novels that eventually grew into the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles media franchise. The book has also been adapted into a 2010 fantasy adventure film by Chris Columbus, starring Logan Lerman as the titular hero, and more recently adapted for the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, co-created by Riordan.
4 ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ (1964)
Image via Parnassus PressWritten by Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea is a classic fantasy novel and a widely influential piece of children’s literature, especially within the fantasy genre. Set in the titular fictional archipelago, the book follows the story of Ged, a young and impulsive mage whose recklessness unleashes an evil shadow into the world. The story centers on his journey to master his powers and confront the shadow to finally restore the balance of the world.
Presented like a traditional epic, A Wizard of Earthsea is followed by five more books that collectively make up the Earthsea Cycle. The novel has since become a pioneering work of modern fantasy that established the magical academy setting and subverted the genre with its deep philosophical themes and Taoist motifs. Winner of the 1969 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and one of the final recipients of the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1979, A Wizard of Earthsea is truly a thrilling and beautifully written coming-of-age fantasy that draws readers of all ages.
3 ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (1997)
Image via Warner Bros.J.K. Rowling’s debut novel and first in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the US), follows the titular orphan, who learns on his 11th birthday that he is a wizard and is invited to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he befriends two fellow wizards, Ron and Hermione, and together, they set out to stop a dark wizard from stealing the titular stone.
The enduring success of Harry Potter as a mainstream media franchise began with the first book, which was a massive international bestseller. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone became the fourth best-selling book of all time and has since been translated into 85 other languages and adapted into a feature film, which in turn is now considered one of the best fantasy films of the 21st century. One of the few fantasy novels to achieve a long-lasting global fan following, the Harry Potter book series has even been cited in educational techniques and sociological analysis.
2 ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (1950)
Image via Walt Disney Pictures A grand, coming-of-age portal fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, and is followed by six more novels. Set during WWII, it follows four siblings who are relocated from London to a large country estate, where Lucy, the youngest child, finds a magical wardrobe that transports her to Narnia, a fantastical world trapped in perpetual winter by the evil White Witch. Lucy and her siblings set out to explore the mythical kingdom and fulfill an ancient prophecy to save Narnia. While it is the first published book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, the later editions mark The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as the second volume, per the stories’ internal chronology.
Ever since it was first published in 1950, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been hailed as a quintessential portal fantasy for genre fans, which introduced the idea of everyday objects serving as gateways to a fantastical land. Ranked among Time Magazine’s 100 best English-language novels published since 1923, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has also been adapted into a feature film in 2005 by Andrew Adamson, which was also quite well-received among critics and fans for its faithfulness to the original novel.
1 ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (1954)
Image via New Line CinemaAn epic high fantasy masterpiece by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings is a sequel to his previous hit, The Hobbit, beginning with the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, and followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Set in the fictional universe of Middle-earth, the story follows hobbit Frodo Baggins, who inherits a magic ring, and, after he learns of its true evil nature, leaves his peaceful home in the Shire to embark on a perilous mission to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom.
The Lord of the Rings is unarguably the most significant and groundbreaking fantasy work in 20th-century literature, with The Fellowship of the Ring laying the foundations of high fantasy as a subgenre. What began as a sequel to The Hobbit evolved into a literary and cultural phenomenon of a much greater scale, with its rich tapestry of characters, motifs, and the tremendous battle between good and evil. The Fellowship of the Ring and the other books in the series have since spawned a hugely successful multimedia franchise that includes three of the most iconic fantasy films of the 21st century.
Release Date December 19, 2001
Runtime 178 Minutes
Producers Barrie M. Osborne, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Mark Ordesky, Robert Shaye, Tim Sanders
English (US) ·