Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
JOIN OUR EMAIL PROGRAM FOR EXPERT PICKS
Toggle side nav
  • Books

    Fill 1
  • Kids

    Fill 1
  • Popular

    Fill 1
  • Authors & Events

    Fill 1
  • Recommendations

    Fill 1
  • Audio

    Fill 1
  • Join Our Authors for Virtual Events
    Join Our Authors for Virtual Events
    Learn More >

  • Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
    Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
    See What We’re Reading >

  • Books to Support Mental Health, Learning, and More
    Books to Support Mental Health, Learning, and More
    Learn More >
  • <
    Books>
  • Popular
  • New & Noteworthy
  • Bestsellers
  • Popular Series
  • Anticipated Nonfiction
  • Libros en español
  • Coming Soon
  • Fiction
  • Classics
  • Romance
  • Literary Fiction
  • Mystery
  • Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • Nonfiction
  • Biographies & Memoirs
  • Wellness
  • Politics
  • Cooking
  • History
  • Series
  • Gray Man
  • Dark Star Trilogy
  • Ramses the Damned
  • Outlander
  • Penguin Classics
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Kids>
  • Popular
  • New & Noteworthy
  • Bestsellers
  • Award Winners
  • The Parenting Book Guide
  • Books to Read Before Bed
  • Books for Middle Graders
  • Trending Series
  • Who Was?
  • Magic Tree House
  • The Last Kids on Earth
  • Mad Libs
  • Planet Omar
  • Beloved Characters
  • The World of Eric Carle
  • Bluey
  • Llama Llama
  • Dr. Seuss
  • Junie B. Jones
  • Peter Rabbit
  • Categories
  • Board Books
  • Picture Books
  • Guided Reading Levels
  • Middle Grade
  • Activity Books
  • <
    View All>
  • <

    Popular

  • Trending
  • Trending This Week
  • Barbecue and Grilling Books
  • Anticipated Historical Fiction
  • Books for K-Drama Fans
  • Novels About Black Families
  • Anti-Racist Resources
  • Expert Picks
  • Editor's Picks: Fiction
  • Editor's Picks: Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • Editor's Picks: Romance
  • Staff Picks: Mystery
  • Features & Interviews
  • Emma Brodie Interview
  • Gabriella Burnham Interview
  • Nicola Yoon Interview
  • Qian Julie Wang Interview
  • Deepak Chopra Essay
  • How Can I Get Published?
  • For Book Clubs
  • Reese's Book Club
  • Oprah’s Book Club
  • Guide: Trust
  • Guide: Book Lovers
  • <
  • <
    Authors & Events>
  • Our Authors
  • Michelle Obama
  • Emily St. John Mandel
  • Ocean Vuong
  • Bill Gates
  • Emily Henry
  • In Their Own Words
  • Qian Julie Wang
  • Patrick Radden Keefe
  • Phoebe Robinson
  • Emma Brodie
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Laura Hankin
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Recommendations>
  • Book Lists
  • Feel-Good Books
  • For Stranger Things Fans
  • Your Astrological Sign Book Match
  • Books to Inspire Wanderlust
  • Fiction for Food Lovers
  • Manga and Graphic Novels
  • Articles
  • Between the World and Me Oral History
  • Meet the Bookseller: Yu and Me Books
  • Patrick Radden Keefe Interview
  • Nightcrawling Excerpt
  • Love on the Brain Excerpt
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Audio>
  • Popular
  • New Releases
  • Award Winners
  • Coming Soon
  • Featured
  • Memoirs Read by the Author
  • Our Most Soothing Narrators
  • Press Play for Inspiration
  • Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause
  • Listen With the Whole Family
  • <
    View All>
cart
Penguin Random House
  • Books

    • Popular

    • New & Noteworthy
    • Bestsellers
    • Popular Series
    • Anticipated Nonfiction
    • Libros en español
    • Coming Soon
    • Fiction

    • Classics
    • Romance
    • Literary Fiction
    • Mystery
    • Science Fiction & Fantasy
    • View All >
    • Nonfiction

    • Biographies & Memoirs
    • Wellness
    • Politics
    • Cooking
    • History
    • View All >
    • Series

    • Gray Man
    • Dark Star Trilogy
    • Ramses the Damned
    • Outlander
    • Penguin Classics
    • View All >
    New Releases
    New Releases
    Learn More >
  • Kids

    • Popular

    • New & Noteworthy
    • Bestsellers
    • Award Winners
    • The Parenting Book Guide
    • Books to Read Before Bed
    • Books for Middle Graders
    • Trending Series

    • Who Was?
    • Magic Tree House
    • The Last Kids on Earth
    • Mad Libs
    • Planet Omar
    • View All >
    • Beloved Characters

    • The World of Eric Carle
    • Bluey
    • Llama Llama
    • Dr. Seuss
    • Junie B. Jones
    • Peter Rabbit
    • Categories

    • Board Books
    • Picture Books
    • Guided Reading Levels
    • Middle Grade
    • Activity Books
    • View All >
    Books to Support Mental Health, Learning, and More
    Books to Support Mental Health, Learning, and More
    Learn More >
  • Popular

    • Trending

    • Trending This Week
    • Barbecue and Grilling Books
    • Anticipated Historical Fiction
    • Books for K-Drama Fans
    • Novels About Black Families
    • Anti-Racist Resources
    • Expert Picks

    • Editor's Picks: Fiction
    • Editor's Picks: Science Fiction & Fantasy
    • Editor's Picks: Romance
    • Staff Picks: Mystery
    • Features & Interviews

    • Emma Brodie Interview
    • Gabriella Burnham Interview
    • Nicola Yoon Interview
    • Qian Julie Wang Interview
    • Deepak Chopra Essay
    • How Can I Get Published?
    • For Book Clubs

    • Reese's Book Club
    • Oprah’s Book Club
    • Guide: Trust
    • Guide: Book Lovers
    Staff Picks: Grant Griglak's Favorites
    Staff Picks: Grant Griglak's Favorites
    Learn More >
  • Authors & Events

    • Our Authors

    • Michelle Obama
    • Emily St. John Mandel
    • Ocean Vuong
    • Bill Gates
    • Emily Henry
    • View All >
    • In Their Own Words

    • Qian Julie Wang
    • Patrick Radden Keefe
    • Phoebe Robinson
    • Emma Brodie
    • Ta-Nehisi Coates
    • Laura Hankin
    The Health Benefits of Reading
    The Health Benefits of Reading
    Learn More >
    Join Our Authors for Virtual Events
    Join Our Authors for Virtual Events
    Learn More >
  • Recommendations

    • Book Lists

    • Feel-Good Books
    • For Stranger Things Fans
    • Your Astrological Sign Book Match
    • Books to Inspire Wanderlust
    • Fiction for Food Lovers
    • Manga and Graphic Novels
    • Articles

    • Between the World and Me Oral History
    • Meet the Bookseller: Yu and Me Books
    • Patrick Radden Keefe Interview
    • Nightcrawling Excerpt
    • Love on the Brain Excerpt
    Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
    Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
    See What We’re Reading >
    Delightful Regency Romance Novels
    Delightful Regency Romance Novels
    Read More >
  • Audio

    • Popular

    • New Releases
    • Award Winners
    • Coming Soon
    • View All >
    • Featured

    • Memoirs Read by the Author
    • Our Most Soothing Narrators
    • Press Play for Inspiration
    • Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause
    • Listen With the Whole Family
    • View All >
    New Stories to Listen to
    New Stories to Listen to
    Learn More >
    Short Audiobooks to Listen to in a Day
    Short Audiobooks to Listen to in a Day
    Learn More >
search
Penguin Random House Penguin Random House
cart
search
Penguin RandomHouse
close search
close search
Penguin Random House
The ReadDown

Classic Fantasy Books You Need to Read

We all have a few literary blindspots, those novels we’ve heard about or that everyone tells us are classics, but for whatever reason we just haven’t gotten around to reading. When it comes to classic fantasy books, it is sort of understandable. We’re in the middle of a boom in great fantasy at the moment with authors both paying homage to fantasy has been and reimagining what it could be. But even the best of today’s fantasy stand on the shoulder of giants. There are landmarks and wellsprings that led the way for the fantasy scene we see today. These are a few classics that have inspired countless readers and, in some cases, generations of writers.

  1. 1
    The Hero and the Crown Book Cover Picture
    The Hero and the Crown Book Cover Picture
    Add The Hero and the Crown to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Hero and the Crown

    by Robin McKinley

    The Hero and the Crown tells the story of Aerin — born to a witchwoman who had enthralled the king. She was unwanted, her story told and her value apparently found wanting. But there was still more to Aerin’s story waiting to be told. A hero’s destiny awaited her in this beloved fantasy classic.
    The Hero and the Crown Book Cover Picture
    The Hero and the Crown Book Cover Picture
    Add The Hero and the Crown to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $16.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  2. 2
    The Dragonbone Chair Book Cover Picture
    The Dragonbone Chair Book Cover Picture
    Add The Dragonbone Chair to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Dragonbone Chair

    by Tad Williams

    The Dragonbone Chair, the first in Tad Williams’ Osten Ard cycle, is a landmark work of fantasy fiction that inspired some of today’s best fantasy writers. Set in the war-torn land of Osten Ard, Dragonbone Chair centers on a kitchen boy who may hold the key to save the realm from total destruction. It’s a masterwork that paved the way for much of what we think of as modern fantasy inspiration for stories ranging from A Song of Ice and Fire to The Kingkiller Chronicle.
    The Dragonbone Chair Book Cover Picture
    The Dragonbone Chair Book Cover Picture
    Add The Dragonbone Chair to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $20.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  3. 3
    Mama Day Book Cover Picture
    Mama Day Book Cover Picture
    Add Mama Day to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Mama Day

    by Gloria Naylor

    Gloria Naylor set a particularly high bar for emotional and nuanced storytelling in fantasy fiction with Mama Day. Set on the island of Willow Spring off the coast of Georgia, the story follows Mama Day, a powerful healer who’s skill is tested when the island’s darker forces descend on her great niece Cocoa. It’s a powerful generational saga not quite like any other fantasy.
    Mama Day Book Cover Picture
    Mama Day Book Cover Picture
    Add Mama Day to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $16.95

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  4. 4
    The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    Add The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition) to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition)

    by J.R.R. Tolkien

    While Tolkien is arguably best known for his genre defining work in The Lord of the Rings, it all began with The Hobbit. The unexpected journey of Bilbo Baggins and his dwarven companions introduced readers to the world of Middle Earth and began the work of positioning Tolkien as perhaps the most influential fantasy writer of the twentieth century.
    The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    Add The Hobbit (Movie Tie-in Edition) to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Mass Market Paperback
    $8.99

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  5. 5
    The Last Unicorn Book Cover Picture
    The Last Unicorn Book Cover Picture
    Add The Last Unicorn to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Last Unicorn

    by Peter S. Beagle

    Few other fantasy novels combine the seeming simplicity of the fairytale form with the darker edges of fantasy fiction. The Last Unicorn is both a classic adventure and a powerful meditation on grief and loss centering around a unicorn who discovers all the joy and sorrow the world has to offer, even as extinction looms.
    The Last Unicorn Book Cover Picture
    The Last Unicorn Book Cover Picture
    Add The Last Unicorn to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  6. 6
    Riddle-Master Book Cover Picture
    Riddle-Master Book Cover Picture
    Add Riddle-Master to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Riddle-Master

    by Patricia A. McKillip

    Patricia A. McKillip captured the imaginations of thousands of fantasy readers with her Riddle-Master trilogy. It is the epic story of a young prince journeying through a strange land where wizards no longer exist but magic is on the verge of being reborn. The story has been engaging readers for well over twenty years, and this is the perfect time to discover what you’ve been missing.
    Riddle-Master Book Cover Picture
    Riddle-Master Book Cover Picture
    Add Riddle-Master to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $19.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  7. 7
    The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition Book Cover Picture
    The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition Book Cover Picture
    Add The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition

    by Terry Brooks

    More than 40 years after its initial release, The Sword of Shannara stands as one of the defining pillars of epic fantasy. The Sword of Shannara, the first in The Sword of Shannara Trilogy, spawned a series spanning multiple novels and beloved by readers the world over. With Sword, Terry Brooks introduced readers to Shea Ohmsford, a half-elf who may very well be the key to pushing back the forces of darkness that threaten to envelope the world. This is where it all began.
    The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition Book Cover Picture
    The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition Book Cover Picture
    Add The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Hardcover
    $35.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  • Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Pin it
  • Share on Tumblr
  • SMS
  • Email
More to Explore
Back to Top
JOIN OUR EMAIL PROGRAM FOR EXPERT PICKS
  • Connect
  • Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House

  • global.penguinrandomhouse.com
  • © 2022 Penguin Random House
  • Quick Links
  • Partnerships
  • Media Queries
  • Influencers
  • Company Reads
  • PenguinRandomHouse.biz
  • Email Preferences
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • CA Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  • Affiliate Program Disclosure
  • Fraud Alert
  • Help
  • Publishing Process
  • FAQ
  • Shopping & Shipping FAQ
  • For Educators
  • Subrights
  • Permissions
  • About Us
  • Our Story
  • Our People
  • Our Contributors
  • Locations
  • Management
  • Social Impact
  • Careers
  • Imprints

Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

Raise kids who love to read

Brightly

Raise kids who love to read
Today's Top Books

Today's Top Books

Want to know what people are actually reading right now?
An online magazine for today’s home cook

TASTE

An online magazine for today’s home cook

Stay in Touch

Please enter a valid email address
We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again later.

By clicking Sign Up, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

×

Become a Member

Start earning points for buying books! Just for joining you’ll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members.

Find Out More Join Now Sign In
Hi,
Member Since

Account Overview Rewards Recommendations Orders Account Details Bookshelf

Point Status
This is where you’ll see your current point status and your earned rewards. To redeem, copy and paste the code during the checkout process.See Account Overview

until your next FREE book!
0 120
You currently do not have any rewards.

Success!

Your account has been created. Upload book purchases, access your personalized book recommendations, and more from here.