Books like Imajica
30 fantasy books to read after Imajica, by Barker, Clive, the closest match first.
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1. The Folding Knife
by Parker, K. J.
- On the same lists
One of the more complex fantasy works on this list, The Folding Knife is another one of those epics that don't initially made the standard epic fantasy criteria until you...
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2. The Thief Of Always
by Barker, Clive
- Same author
A tale for the ages: a young boy, unhappy with his life, desires to live in a place free from any responsibilities. He finds that place through a creepy tunnel...
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3. Lord Of The Rings
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
The quintessential Fantasy trilogy draws from medieval history as well as its European folklore.
Yep, had to include it. Most people have probably read this series and even more authors have written hackneyed copies of it, but this series is the original father epic...
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4. The Last Unicorn
by Beagle, Peter S.
- On the same lists
A beautiful, beautiful tale that will haunt you for the rest of your life. It's a simple story with a hell of a lot of heart. There's a good reason...
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5. American Gods
by Gaiman, Neil
- On the same lists
Neil Gaiman is an ever-popular writer who's branched into cinema, comics, and books. Quite a few people will argue that Neverwhere or Stardust is better than American Gods, but I...
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6. The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
An unforgettable story and a tale that never gets old. It's not as broad in scope as Lord of the Rings which is not really a standalone, nor does it...
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7. Good Omens
by Gaiman, Neil
- On the same lists
Fantasy has never been so clever or funny as it is in the brilliant Good Omens.Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen form a super team and pen one of the funniest...
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8. 11/22/63
by King, Stephen
- On the same lists
The best Stephen King in a decade, and even a coin toss for his best work yet. King takes a well-known historical event, the Assassination of JFK, and does something...
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9. The Book Of Joby
by Ferrari, Mark J.
- On the same lists
Oh this is a clever one. The premise is that God and Satan make a bet, a bet they have made countless times. But this time, the cards are stacked...
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10. The Name Of The Wind
by Rothfuss, Patrick
- On the same lists
Kvothe is a legend, and the man who now runs a quiet inn under another name is not eager to talk about it. When a chronicler tracks him down, he...
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11. Lord Of The Flies
by Golding, William
- On the same lists
A plane carrying schoolboys crashes on an uninhabited Pacific island with no adults left alive. Ralph, who is elected leader after blowing a conch to gather the others, tries to...
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12. The Martian
by Weir, Andy
- On the same lists
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Brilliant . . . a celebration of human ingenuity [and] the purest example of real-science sci-fi for many years . . . utterly compelling.”—The...
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Chronicle Of The Fallers book 1 Start here
13. The Abyss Beyond Dreams
by Hamilton, Peter F.
- On the same lists
A self-proclaimed prophet is haunted by visions of a lost civilisation, and the Commonwealth's founder, Nigel Sheldon, goes to find out whether they come from the Void, the vast region...
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14. The Dark Defiles
by Morgan, Richard
- On the same lists
The Dark Defiles is best of the series. Morgan built a fascinating world, dirt and all, and populated it will heroes that were also real people. Morgan dissects the idea...
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15. The Rune Lords
by Farland, David
- On the same lists
From Publishers WeeklyThe breathless third installment of Farland's second Runelords quartet opens with the cliffhanger from 2007's Sons of the Oak: flameweaver wizard Fallion Orden, son of the Earth King,...
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16. The Aspect Emperor
by Bakker, R. Scott
- On the same lists
Exquisitely intelligent and beautifully written . . . this is fantasy with muscle and brains, rife with intrigue and admirable depth of character, set in a world laden with history...
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17. The Gentleman Bastards
by Lynch, Scott
- On the same lists
This starts off decidedly on a non-epic note: a band of thieves go about robbing the rich to...live lavishly and just because they can. There is not great evil to...
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18. Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant
by Donaldson, Stephen R.
- On the same lists
A fantasy tale that people love to love or love to hate -- there is very rarely any middle ground when it comes to Thomas Covenant. My recommendation is that...
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Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn book 2
19. Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn
by Williams, Tad
- On the same lists
There are writers who like to write pulp and there are some writers who like to write fiction. Williams is the latter. Memory, Sorrow, Thorn. This series has made pretty...
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20. The Dark Is Rising Sequence
by Cooper, Susan
- On the same lists
The setting is our world, but rooted in a mythological Celtic past.
One of the best YA epic fantasy series. Well-developed characters that are stereotypical but still exhibit a surprising amount of depth. A standard save-the-world plot, but one that still evokes...
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21. Guards Guards
by Pratchett, Terry
- On the same lists
The eighth novel of the Discworld series. A noble dragon, some magic, and a bit of mayhem make for an adventurous and humorous ride.
What best list would be complete without throwing on something funny: a book that fully critiques the very archetype carrying the story forward. If you were to toss in Terry...
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22. Earthsea Cycle
by Guin, Ursula K. Le
- On the same lists
Another fantasy series that crops up near the top of many best fantasy lists. Earthsea Cycle is a classic fantasy tale well done. While it doesn't rack up a sizable...
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The Swans' War book 1 Start here
23. The Swan's War
by Russell, Sean
- On the same lists
A beautiful and deftly woven fantasy tale that rings strong with a lot of the elements that make Lord of the Rings so captivating.Why might you want to read this?...
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Shadowmarch book 1 Start here
24. Shadowmarch
by Williams, Tad
- On the same lists
Epic fantasy has become so cheap it's now at the dime-a-dozen price range. Every author and wannabe-author is trying to pour out epics faster than beer at a Irish pub...
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25. Butchers Bird
by Kadrey, Richard
- On the same lists
Wow, what a novel -- supremely rich of imagination. Kadrey is often compared to the likes of Neil Gaiman, but more of a blue color version of him. Kadrey tackles...
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26. God's Demon
by Barlowe, Wayne
- On the same lists
Heaven and Hell books are a semi-popular fantasy genre. My pick for one of the more exciting books is God's Demon by Wayne Barlowe. Lucifer, rather than being that despicable...
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27. The Terror
by Simmons, Dan
- On the same lists
Two Royal Navy ships trapped in the Arctic ice are stalked by something that is not the cold, a frightening historical novel.
Be prepared to be truly terrified with this book! If you've never read Dan Simmons before, you have sinned indeed. Simmons is one of the most talented writers on the...
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28. Deerskin
by Mckinley, Robin
- On the same lists
An author who writes mesmerizing fantasy stories with an almost lyrical, dreamlike style. Her prose is always outstanding, top notch and beautiful to read. Deerskin is perhaps her best, most...
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29. Swordspoint
by Kushner, Ellen
- On the same lists
A definitive example of the Fantasy of Manners sub-genre. This is a witty novel with plot twists, humor, and interesting characters.
Perhaps the quintessential definition of the 'fantasy of manners' subgenre (sometimes referred to as 'mannerpunk'). It's a book that brilliantly combines elements of court intrigue, unbridled human emotion, and sword...
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30. To Ride Hell's Chasm
by Wurts, Janny
- On the same lists
Wurts is one of the more underrated fantasy authors in the genre; she's written many book, but perhaps her most fun, most thrilling book is her stand alone To Ride...
Matches come from series and authors, from the lists the books share, and from the books readers open together. They are rebuilt every night. Back to Imajica.
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