Books like Watership Down: A Novel
30 fantasy books to read after Watership Down: A Novel, by Adams, Richard, the closest match first.
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Watership Down book 2
1. Tales From Watership Down
by Adams, Richard
- Same series
- Same author
The “utterly captivating” (People) sequel to the beloved classic Watership Down, which introduced millions of readers to an extraordinary world of rabbits. • “It’s grand to see Mr. Adams’s characters...
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2. The Neverending Story
by Ende, Michael
- On the same lists
The protagonist is a shy and awkward boy with a grand imagination. He becomes a character in a book where he takes on a mission of heroic significance.
The Neverending Story is a perfect example of how badly a film version of a beloved book can go. For people who hadn't read the book, the film was probably...
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3. Chronicles Of Narnia
by Lewis, C. S.
- On the same lists
In the first book of this series a wardrobe serves as the portal to the magical land of Narnia.
Nearly half a century ago, fantasy was dividing into two fantasy worlds: Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Narnia has entertained generations of children and...
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Mythago Wood book 1 Start here
4. Mythago Wood
by Holdstock, Robert
- On the same lists
There are many novels and novellas in this cycle which take place in a forest that has been untouched since the last ice age. It is a labyrinth, a place of peril and living myths.
'Unique' is a vastly overused word. It has about as much meaning as Kim K's twitter feed. But in the case of Mythago Wood, it's warranted. Firstly, Holdstock tells the...
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The Lord Of The Rings book 1 Start here
5. The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
Smaug is the classic dragon figure lying under the mountain—a scary creature who keeps the dwarves from their home and who must be defeated.
The Hobbit is one of the most well-loved fantasy novels of all time. Written by J.R.R Tolkien as a bedtime story for his children, The Hobbit is a light-hearted tale,...
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The Last Unicorn book 1 Start here
6. The Last Unicorn
by Beagle, Peter S.
- On the same lists
The short sequel to The Last Unicorn and is the quest of a young girl who seeks to make her village safe from a mean griffon.
Told from the perspective of the unicorn herself, this novel is as much satire as it is fairytale. The journey begins when she overhears a conversation insinuating that the unicorns...
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7. The Stand
by King, Stephen
- On the same lists
A popular novel, and possibly King's best, is an end-of-the world story caused by the accidental release of a mutating influenza virus that wipes out 99% of humanity.
You either love him or hate him (and if you do hate him, it's probably because every second sentence is a ridiculous metaphor), but there's no denying that Stephen King...
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8. Tigana
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- On the same lists
Tigana is based on Renaissance Italy. Kay uses Italian politics to make the story seem plausible.
Tigana is both a sweeping epic and a look into human nature – flaws and all. The characters and plot exist in an area of grey where good and evil...
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New Crobuzon book 1 Start here
9. Perdido Street Station
by Miéville, China
- On the same lists
The cycle blends multiple genres, including Steampunk, Sci Fi, and Horror. Magic is commonplace and practiced by skilled professionals.
The famous (or infamous, depending how you view the New Weird movement) novel is generally considered one of the founding pillars of the New Weird genre. This novel meets many...
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10. The Worm Ouroboros
by Eddision, E. R.
- On the same lists
If there was an award given out for the Most Influential Fantasy Novel Ever Written That No One Ever Reads, this book would get it. The book tells a stylized...
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Howl’s Moving Castle book 1 Start here
11. Howl's Moving Castle
by Jones, Diana Wynne
- On the same lists
A journey of discovery and wonder. This story is part fairy tale, but flips some of the typical conventions—like the main character is an old lady.
Before famous director, Hayao Miyazaki turned Howl's Moving Castle into an animated film, it was an enchanting novel written by Diana Wynn Jones. This novel follows the life a young...
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Alice's Adventures In Wonderland book 1 Start here
12. Alice In Wonderland
by Carroll, Lewis
- On the same lists
If there is one childrenâs classic your kids should read and only one, than it should be Alice in Wonderland. Itâs a book thatâs influenced an entire generation of pop...
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13. The Princess Bride
by Goldman, William
- On the same lists
A cult classic both on the page and in film, this story is full of romance, sword fights, comedy, true love, miracles, pirates, princesses, wild beasts, and a good dash of wit. An entertaining read worth every moment.
If you've never said, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”, you're about as rare as a swear word at Hogwarts. Part of the reason...
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14. Harry Potter
by Rowling, J. K.
- On the same lists
This incredibly popular series is a story of an alternate world, a secret world of wizardy that exists within our own, but seems ever so vast.
Yes, everyone has probably read this. In fact, these these may have been the books that got you started reading fantasy in the first place. These books do make for...
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15. Lord Of The Rings
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
Possibly the most, well-recognized world of fiction in history. The Lord of the Rings is the third best-selling novel ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. This high fantasy...
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The Dark Is Rising book 2
16. The Dark Is Rising
by Cooper, Susan
- On the same lists
Harry Potter did the English magician story very well, but it also overshadowed some incredible books with similar settings. Will is a chosen one of sorts, one of the few...
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Ghormenghast book 2
17. Gormenghast
by Peake, Mervyn
- On the same lists
The first real Fantasy of Manners series and is set in a Byzantium kingdom rife with intrigue, treachery, manipulation and murder.
A startling work of imagination that will evoke feeling when you read it. Reading Gormenghast is like feasting your eyes on a masterfully drawn painting -- you might not always...
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18. The Book Of Lost Things
by Connolly, John
- On the same lists
This book makes the list for its unique focus on psychology inside of the sub-genre. Connolly tells the story of a child so lost in books and darkness that he...
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19. Conan The Barbarian
by Howard, Robert E.
- On the same lists
Conan – the name conjures up images of swords, bare chests, sweat, blood and lots of furs (like a non-campy version of Dolf Lungren's He-Man). It's hard to believe that...
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His Dark Materials book 1 Start here
20. The Golden Compass
by Pullman, Philip
- On the same lists
This series follows two world hopping children through fateful adventures as they try to save the world—all of them. Mysterious, heroic, magical, breathtaking, this trilogy has lots to offer.
A young girl's journey of magic and discovery that will take her to the ends of the earth...and beyond. His Dark Materials is a modern classic that can be enjoyed...
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Lyonesse book 1 Start here
21. Lyonesse
by Vance, Jack
- On the same lists
If you were to open a copy of Lyonesse and give it a good shake, a bunch of (very annoyed) fairies would fall out. Because they're everywhere in this book....
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The Prince Of Nothing book 1 Start here
22. The Darkness That Comes Before
by Bakker, R. Scott
- On the same lists
This book and the Prince of Nothing trilogy, as well as the other books that follow, are so dark that you'll need a shower after reading them. And therapy. This...
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23. Sorcerer's Son
by Eisenstein, Phyllis
- On the same lists
The premise for this series – of a humanized demon and his struggle for freedom – isn't one you'll come across often. It's the kind of idea that could go...
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24. Talion: Revenant
by Stackpole, Michael A.
- On the same lists
List more than a few entries on this Top 100 list, Talion is a completely underrated fantasy book. Stackapole is a prolific author, writing everything from Star Wars novels, video...
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25. Elantris
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
This fantasy fiction novel will suck you in. Elantris is one of the best standalone fantasy books in the genre. It's about addictive as chocolate and a whole lot healthier!...
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26. The Broken Sword
by Anderson, Poul
- On the same lists
Dark gritty fantasy the way it's meant to be: violent, brutal, mythical, and supremely well written. Much has been made about the recent grimdark movement, with much credit being given...
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27. The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz
by Baum, L. Frank
- On the same lists
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Another classic quest story about a young girl who just wants to go home.
A true classic and not at all like the movie. Because of the popularity of the movie, many assume the book and the movie are the same; but this is...
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28. The Etched City
by Bishop, K.j.
- On the same lists
The Etched city was formed from the love union between Stephen King and China Mieville. If you want a more complex fantasy novel with a good dose of the bizarre,...
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Inkworld book 1 Start here
29. Inkheart
by Funke, Cornelia
- On the same lists
A series of books about books…what more could an avid fantasy reader want? In her Inkheart series, Cornelia Funke takes everything that is enchanting about reading, and creates a hard-hitting...
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30. The Anubis Gates
by Powers, Tim
- On the same lists
An award winning novel that has time travel, historical figures, Egyptian mythology, and 19th century England.
In creating this world, Powers borrowed ideas from all over the place. Mythology, Ancient Egyptian theology, quantum theory, and classical literature“ they're all used in The Anubis Gates. It's a...
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 Watership Down: A Novel.
The shortlist
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