Autumn draws me back to reading classic fantasy books where it feels like snuggling within a warm blanket or visiting some dear old friends. Join Rediscovered Realms as we power through one of our piles of TBRs and reveal my next fantasy dirty dozen. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to join me in cracking open some of these very covers this season.
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This Week’s Rediscovered Realms Theme Song:
Here’s a beautiful Celtic-acoustic-inspired theme song for this week.
“Rediscovered Realms Calling”
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-3:21
“The PILE”:
And oh, what a pile it is. Full of memories. Full of hopes. Full of dreams.
What is it about piles of books that make the initiated’s hearts quicken and their literary salivary glands water?
Like a superlative mountain, they must be surmounted. These tumble-prone towers that stand as a landmark on our personal horizon can guide our daily direction and provide beauty to our world.
Time tricks us into seeming we are eternal whenever we think about “getting to them” and rewards us with its absent bliss when even just one spine is embarked upon.
Sometimes I wish we were eternal. Just so we could get to read the endless books that are out there.
But for now, I will start with just these 12 . . .
#1 The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende
Ok. How cool is this cover?! (Yes, those are 3-D ornamental corners and a central ouroboros upon the soft pleather.) I’ve never read it but HAD to pick up this special edition when I saw its fancy self online. After re-watching the movie in the theater just a couple months back, I look so forward to reading about Bastion and Atreyu’s journey from the page itself.
#2 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
It’s been quite some time since I revisited Lucy, Susan, Edmund, Peter and Mr. Tumnus. Before the term “portal fantasy” existed, The Chronicles of Narnia scratched that itch for me and millions of others. As with most of the books in this pile, this one has a special place in my heart. It was the FIRST book I ever checked out from my school library (after the librarian set us loose after teaching us the Dewey Decimal system!)
#3 Dungeon of Dread by Rose Estes
I talk often about how powerful the Endless Quest books (and others like them) were to kids back in the day. Being able to CHOOSE what you wanted to do gave us such agency and provided immense fun. The fantasy theme and illustrations took this concept over the top and no surprise, sold millions.
Did you know Rediscovered Realms interviewed the creator of TSR’s Endless Quest Books, Rose Estes?
#4 Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
As “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” was my 1st fantasy book checked out from the library, “Dragons of Autumn Twilight” was my 1st fantasy book purchase from an official bookstore (not counting the Scholastic Bookmobile!) These characters have had free rent within my soul since then, and I STILL can’t get enough of this cover by Larry Elmore. The Dragonlance Chronicles are still one of my all-time favorite fantasy series.
I discovered Gemmell later in life and regret the fact I never became a fan during his lifetime. I would have loved to meet the guy. His style and redemptive hero themes resonate deeply with me, and I recognize I’m veering off what most consider their favorite work of his. “Morningstar” is in my opinion the best standalone fantasy book of all time. Without spoilers, it has EVERYTHING you love in an epic tale. Do yourself a favor and don’t read about it - just read it.
#6 Night Mare by Piers Anthony
Back before they were called “Dad Jokes”, there were these things called “puns”. And my generation not only didn’t get offended by them, but they also actually LOVED them! When you could put them in a fantasy world full of imagination, magic, monsters, humor, mystery, sultry innuendo, and camaraderie, you get Xanth. I started re-reading Piers Anthony’s massive series a few months ago and am now enjoying for the first time in decades his book #6.
#7 Tolkien on Fairy-stories, edited by Verlyn Flieger & Douglas A. Anderson
I had never encountered this book before. But that’s ok, because it’s showing up at the perfect time. Considered a bridge of form & style between The Professor’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”, this essay/lecture speaks to what makes up a Fairy-story, What they are not, and so much more of who Tolkien was. Though not technically a fantasy novel, I’m including it in this list because of its meta fantasy vibes.
Some of the best fairy tale stories I ever read were in Time Life’s, “The Enchanted World” book series:
#8 Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien
This one has a ridiculous sale online and so I bit the bullet. It contains many of Tolkien’s shorter works including: Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, and Leaf by Niggle. The short story nature of these tales appeal to me for when I just feel like reading a little bit. (And you can’t go wrong with enjoying illustrations from Alan Lee!)
#9 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
I sort of have a problem with collecting different new versions of The Lord of the Rings. The cover, paper, artwork - the differences appeal to me for when I create my own personal library and can have them share shelf space next to each other. Anyway, this new Deluxe illustrated boxed set version of the LOTR is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever encountered and has inspired me to actually dip back into the story. It’s been a few years, at least, since the last read. It’s an emotional investment I don’t take lightly.
#10 The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Still one of my favorite fantasy books (along with The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara), this book gets a lot of heat for being too Tolkien-derivative, but I don’t care. It’s still cool. (In fact, the publishers forced this book to be more Tolkien-like on purpose.)
This incredible cover, illustrated by The Hildebrandt Brothers will always be one of my favorite fantasy pieces.
#11 The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard
This book has been sitting around for a while and deserves some attention. I love that Howard’s original tales are all in one volume with a ton of badass illustrations by Mark Schultz. Interestingly, on the “Praise for Robert E. Howard” page, there is a quote from David Gemmell!
“I adore these books. Howard had a gritty, vibrant style - broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger than life. I heartily recommend them to anyone who loves fantasy.” - David Gemmell
#12 The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern (a.k.a. William Goldman)
And finally, coming in at the bottom of the pile (no indication of importance, just the pile stability), is ANOTHER tale I’ve never read from a movie I love. With raised reflective golden cover print, antiqued beige decorated pages, and charcoal illustrations throughout, this large 30th anniversary deluxe edition feels like a storybook I need to read. I can’t wait.
And that’s it. Of course, other books will probably slip in to take precedence over some in this list to produce a new year-end canon, but such is the nature of such piles.
I invite you to unearth your own copies and revisit these magical lands with me.
If you’re looking for copies for yourself or to give as a gift, most of these can be found on the Rediscovered Realms Amazon1 Storefront in our “Fantasy Novel Favorites” list.
The Wild Hunt is on with Rediscovered Realms’ last of 3 giveaway contests - Make sure to enter “The Witcher Giveaway Contest” while you can.
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This reminded me of playing old school D&D and I just had to share. 😂
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Oh man! These are all excellent recommendations. I actually just recently started re-reading the Dragonlance Chronicles stuff. Dragons of Autumn Twilight was *hugely* influential to my development as a fantasy reader ever since I read it around 5th-6th grade, and it's so much fun to go back and revisit those characters / that world.
Also, for some inexplicable reason, I'd never read the Ursula K LeGuin's Earthsea novels, and a big deluxe omnibus edition illustrated by Charles Vess convinced me It Was Time. Now almost done with Tales of Earthsea and I can see why people have been bugging me for decades to read these things :D.
I tried re-reading the Xanth books several years ago and was stopped dead by all the misogynistic themes I had missed as a kid in the very first book. Considering that and, ah, other predilections of the author, I think I leave my fuzzy memories of the series lie where they are :(
Oh man! These are all excellent recommendations. I actually just recently started re-reading the Dragonlance Chronicles stuff. Dragons of Autumn Twilight was *hugely* influential to my development as a fantasy reader ever since I read it around 5th-6th grade, and it's so much fun to go back and revisit those characters / that world.
Also, for some inexplicable reason, I'd never read the Ursula K LeGuin's Earthsea novels, and a big deluxe omnibus edition illustrated by Charles Vess convinced me It Was Time. Now almost done with Tales of Earthsea and I can see why people have been bugging me for decades to read these things :D.
Here's an artist whose music fits perfectly with almost any fantasy reading activity -- mostly solo Celtic harp, really enchanting stuff, highly recommended. https://andyaquarius.bandcamp.com/album/forest-grimoire
I tried re-reading the Xanth books several years ago and was stopped dead by all the misogynistic themes I had missed as a kid in the very first book. Considering that and, ah, other predilections of the author, I think I leave my fuzzy memories of the series lie where they are :(