100 Greatest Fantasy Novels Ranked In LESS THAN 25 MINUTES!!

Wherein our hero Durfee ranks the 100 greatest fantasy novels of all time!!! #FantasyNovel #BookRanking #Top100

[@annemusselman8002]

I love a Durfee list. I love that you include nostalgia reads like Dragonlance. I love that you appreciate 'older' books, but also throw exciting new finds in (Neither a curmudgeon who thinks it was better 'back in the day', nor someone who thinks old means outdated/passe.) And, I love how many female fantasy authors show up on your lists. The depth of your reading knowledge is always impressive. And, considering how many of my favorite things show up here (Dragonlance, Hobb, Feist, Eddings, CS Friedman, Tolkein), I'm looking forward to finding more great books in your recs!

[@Rhand007]

100% agreed. I'm a bit flabbergasted at some of the ranking choices (like Silverthorn above The Dragon Reborn or Robin Hobb's books for example), but i just love the breadth of the top 100 and the variety of authors and books.

[@supertrexandroidx]

Should maybe put one or two of the qualifiers in the title, like 100 Greatest "High" Fantasy Novels or whatever term(s) the kids are using these days ;)

[@devinreese1397]

Dragonlance is a nostalgia read???

[@kaipacifica1289]

Durfee's reading tastes are broad.

[@annemusselman8002]

@@Rhand007, why flabbergasted? He's not creating some definitive best of all time list, it's a personal love/like list. We all have different tastes, and sometimes our preferences don't line up with what might be "better' from a literary merit or popularity or sales perspective. FWIW, Silverthorn definitely beats The Dragon Reborn on ANY list! 😉

[@yskj7376]

The excitement this man feels makes his entire body vibrate with pure joy as he shows off book after book. I love this dude. Makes me feel so happy to be a fantasy fan. Thank you man.

[@robertlynn7746]

That was a great video Brian! Thanks for everything you do!

[@davidjones4515]

Awesome, Brian, thank you for the rundown. You reminded me of several series I should have read already!

[@wibre8753]

I'm relatively new to reading a lot of fantasy novels, last ten years or so. This is a helpful list. Thanks, man.

[@rslambert1]

Awesome list, even better shirt. I have to give a thumbs up for that *Sade* t-shirt.

[@williamwirth7522]

Great List! Appreciate the love for Tad Williams and Memory, Sorrow Thorn, probably my favorite series! ❤

[@nlehmer]

This is honestly the first time I have ever heard of Tad Williams. I have obviously been missing out.

[@Lotus_gaming95]

Your energy and passion for books makes me excited to be apart of the fantasy community ❤

[@JrodP7]

Best fantasy book list on KZbin thank you, I will reference this for years to come. Also can’t wait to read your books !! You deserve more subscribers for all the work you put into these video 🤘🏻

[@Roondawg_Valhalla]

I highly recommend to read Durfs trilogy as soon as you can! His and Michael r fletchers Manifest Delusions trilogy are my favorite reads in past 2 years 👍👍👍

[@thomasfronek2231]

I really appreciate your channel. You've turned me on to so many authors I never would have read and even different genres ( who knew I'd like westerns). I always check out your channel before I go book shopping

[@dmbfreak123]

Awesome list! Your entire trilogy is now on my top 100. Blackest Heart is in my top 10.

[@contextclues8414]

You got a lot of gold here, I personally just started reading books about a couple months ago. I can;t wait to dive into your list, but who knows when that is going to be as I already got a huge back log of stuff I wanna read. Thanks for the list :)

[@greciafilia5343]

Nice vid! Right now I'm assembling a long TBR fantasy list in excel ordered by publication date based on your '40 best fantasy series' video.

[@hyrumtanner5584]

This video is killing me. So much nostalgia plus so many new books to read. Take your thumbs up, sir.

[@leahandchad9882]

Loved the video. Awesome picks. I remember getting Sword of Shanara for my birthday and sitting outside reading it. I had finished reading Lord of the Rings and was thirsting for more fantasy. I had the trade paperback with the illustrations...so fun to read. I am looking forward to reading Tad Williams!

[@k.w.2275]

Thank you for all these recommendations! I am getting back into reading and fantasy has always been my favorite. While my back account does not thank you, I really appreciate you suggesting such a wide variety of novels and series!

[@fbluedevil]

Thank you for sharing this, It is like one stop shopping for great historical fiction reads. Much appreciated

[@trevor7849]

Great list and nice to see the silmarilian on it. I actually think it’s better enjoyed as an audiobook - it somehow makes all the names and places less confusing which allows the beautiful stories to come through.

[@durhamviking1809]

Enjoyed the video thanks for making it 😊 I have a worn pb copy of The Dragonbone Chair that I picked up at a charity shop last week. Thanks to you I'm reading it next right after I finish Needful Things. I've also never read Tad Williams before.....

[@bryanvanloh8217]

To green angel tower did not disappoint. I still think about it. What a beautiful novel. Amazing job with this video!

[@ubik_wodos]

Hey another great video. I’ve been watching a lot of your stuff recently and have discovered some great books that I never would have found on my own, just wanted to say thanks and keep up the good work.

[@AntonisMatakos]

Great video with an amazing collection of many types and styles of epic fantasy through the last 4 decades (plus some 70s and Tolkien of course). But what really messed me up was that pile on the floor at the end of the video. For 25 mins I watched those gorgeous hardcovers and other rare books flash on my screen and make me jealous... and then I see them all on the floor on top of each other! Whaaaat! I don't know how to feel about that really. It will push us to our limits but I think we (might, just might) still love you after this... :D

[@scottferris2686]

What a fun list! Dragonlance, sheep farmers daughter, bakers boy, Feist, Salvatore and tons of Tad Williams!!!!! Love it

[@kevinkraftable]

MY GUY! just thought you should know i am SO excited to read YOUR books. I am reading them over several other big titles that are considered the best in the genre....but there is something about your books that makes me want to read them. Cant wait to dive into them and i hope you continue to write! I love the energy you bring man. Cheers.

[@Ktulured55]

This was so entertaining to watch! He hit all the major authors and series for sure!! I need to check out his books as well. Keep up the great videos! ❤😁😊

[@midrangemonroe1]

Me who has only read 40 books in my entire life 😬👍

[@samm8190]

Well now you have 100 more!!!

[@visiblehuman3705]

What books have you enjoyed so far? Any genres?

[@matthewbrown1151]

About to change since you are on booktube

[@GeorgieGon]

Me who has read 4😢😂

[@visiblehuman3705]

@@GeorgieGon brooo noooo

[@hughlatham9698]

I started reading fanasty in 2018 and I have yet to know of or read a Tad Williams book. Your enthusiasm definitely put him high on to my must read list and I am excited to dive into his work.

[@woo1818]

6 years! Like a yogi or something

[@jessezigg]

My first time watching one of your videos. You have SO MANY MORE female fantasy writers on your list than other book tubers. Although, I guess I'd have to admit I've never seen a list limited to sword/dragon/fantasy. I love your list! I've got lots of new (old) books to look for! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@potatopower2144]

Great list so far (still listening). I can't escape childhood nostalgia so Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, and Michael Moorcock will always top my list, but there's a lot on your's that I hope to get around to. I don't know how you keep up the insane output. Cheers

[@therealbroga]

This was my childhood as well

[@theblindjedi41]

Fantastic list. Added so many more to my reading list.

[@NmDPlm31]

So awesome to see Sean Russell make the list. And my man John Marco. Two underrated authors who deserve bigger followings.

[@Themrjoliveira]

I’d love to hear your thoughts about the top 5 a little more . Maybe a future video ?? Love your content man !

[@leandronc]

Love the list, also love all the paperbacks. I have a thing for those yellow pages, those frayed spines and those flimsy covers packing beautiful retro fantasy illustrations.

[@Cherbookie]

Dude this video is awesome! Definitely got some great recommendations out of this list🤘

[@heidi6281]

Your books are in my top 5 fantasy series!!! Looking forward to listening to Lonesome Crown on 11/28, Christmas come early!

[@bryanmark14]

Great video. That was so fun I'm going to watch it again later tonight. A 100 Sci-Fi list would also be awesome to see.

[@heidi6281]

Bryan check out FIT 2B READ’s Top 210 Science Fiction, it is over 3 hours long!!

[@iliana.m]

He has uploaded it now!! 💯💯

[@TomOrange]

This is an awesome list. Thanks for adding to my tbr

[@jayspeijer614]

Really good list Brian! You are well-versed in many of the ‘classic’ titles and authors (Rawn, Kay, Brooks, Goodkind, etc.) that most of your BT contemporaries tend to overlook… I think I just called both of us old 😅 Tad is the best, especially MS&T. Yes! Here’s a few that would slip into my list: Mists of Avalon (MZ Bradley), Heir of Fire (Book 3 of Throne of Glass by SJ Maas) and Malice (J Gwynne’s debut)… all 5* reads for me. Your Pile of Fame shot at the end earned a grimdark chuckle… oh how the pressures of Booktubing can cause such neglect and abuse! 😮😂

[@seamlessline]

Love your channel, and love that shirt! Sade kicks ass.

[@red_mind8567]

This was great! Your videos are always entertaining :)

[@tracejefferson3169]

Fantastic list, thanks Brian!

[@APaulMyers]

Thanks! Helpful list as I continue my Fantasy novel journey.

[@trlspann]

Love the inclusion of so many old books in the list. Great rundown.

[@secondlook]

Thanks so much really really valuable sharing I can't wait to get sunk into the list

[@irishknight6893]

Always always love to see your lists ! I’m Reading Empire of the vampire by Jay Kristoff and it’s damn fantastic!!

[@gicab1296]

God, I love your hardbacks collection! And of course I mostly agree with your ranking, although I have yet to read any Tad Williams.

[@chrismueller8795]

Really great list, admittedly I don’t recognize some of the older books. But I really enjoyed your list!

[@randyrixten6468]

So many great memories for a 59 year old man loved your list cheers!!!

[@pokebros17]

Love ya Brian. The fact you don't have more subscribers is a crime

[@ZamWeazle]

What a great list. Certainly some slightly more unusual choices and forgotten oldies here. 😍

[@konstantinkondratyev7826]

Great list AND great Sade shirt!

[@NikhilKoparkarmusic]

I wish I had the time to read and rank 100 fantasy novels (as I watch a 1000 KZbin fantasy ranking videos 😂) Love this man, thank you ! So many new recs to try!!

[@eastside425]

I would rank Lord Fouls Bane as #1 but that’s mainly due to nostalgia from reading it as a teenager. Have read many on your list and have many on my to read list based on your recommendations. I would definitely include Forgetting Moon in my top 100! Looking forward to reading your other 2.

[@kevinford4229]

I’m currently reading The Dragonbone Chair and am LOVING it! So to hear you say To Green Angel Tower is the best epic fantasy book ever written in your opinion has me so amped to continue the story. Great list!

[@PowerhouseKlaus]

I just finished your trilogy and I loved it! I hope to catch you at a book signing someday.

[@Paromita_M]

100 epic fantasy novels, wow! I have read your complete trilogy and it would most definitely make my top 10 epic fantasy series. I don't see the Gwynne comparison personally, for me I see the analogies to ASOIAF and Shadowmarch (especially the epigraphs which I am rather fond of). And it makes sense that I think when you did a top 40 video earlier ASOIAF and MS&T were #3 and #2 respectively. You put Tolkien at #12, #8, #3 aww. 🥺 For me Tolkien is #1 always. 😄 It's close enough to the previous one, JRR Tolkien, Martin and Williams in top 3 still. Great video.

[@emmettfitz-hume9408]

GREAT to see some love for the Melanie Rawn Dragon Prince books! After Tolkien, they were my second foray into fantasy and when I was young and I've always loved them.

[@Erisplay]

Thank you for the great list!

[@newcreation002000]

Thanks for the video. It helps me wade through the sea of books in order to fish out the next read. Best show in the history of the world!!!

[@davidschrodt507]

so glad that Melanie Rawn gets some love. She's underrated and it seems that most book tubers these days haven't even read her stuff. what a shame. Also wanted to say that Dragonlance and Shanara probably launched my love of fantasy as a teenager in the late 80s.

[@jujubean9063]

unfortunately, most booktubers will only read what will give them clicks and engagement so they stick to modern popular fantasy. It sucks because there are decades of great fantasy novels being forgotten as a result. I get it though. Trying to make money doing booktube requires such things.

[@BluStarGalaxy]

Great list. Taking down notes for future reading.

[@dorgeousmac9478]

Great list. Nice to see some of my old favs from childhood that no one else mentions.

[@jalamente]

You're the best Brian, thanks. Been trying to buy The Forgetting Moon but I can't seem to find it here in Portugal.

[@moostermcmoosterpants817]

Great video! The Wandering Inn series would definitely be in my top 10… like most of it 😂

[@panarchpete5637]

Thank You Brian. I've made my list and can't wait to read them...

[@CharlesBurleigh]

This is good list. I haven't heard of many of the books on the list, even #1, but I'm always looking for recommendations. I love the Wheel of Time, Way if Kings, and Farseer Trilogy (I think there are 3 trilogies in it)! It looks like I have a lot more series to delve into. 😮

[@marklocandro5990]

This list brought back memories, several of the books I have read, reminding me of when I use to go from book shop to book shop looking for the latest fantasy books. Many of the covers familiar to me. Every week I would read the Amazon reviews. My obsession has waned, the changing moral landscape cooling my ardor but you did peak my interest in Dennis L McKiernan. Thank's for the videos.

[@bridgefour5061]

I’ve only read 19 on the list. Started a few others and didn’t finish. Good list, gives me a lot of ideas for what to read next

[@lauraspofford4890]

So pleased to see CS Friedman make the list. She is so underappreciated. Also, one of my favorites that no one reads anymore: Mirror of her Dreams by Donaldson. Such a fun duology.

[@minb1217]

Brilliant! You have all my favourite authors in there plus some I’ve never heard of and have put on my ‘must read’ list. Just what I wanted. Thankyou!👌. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is my all time favourite as, indeed, are the movies of the same name my favourite films. They were the first epic fantasy books I read back in the early 1960’s. (I suspect I’m a fair bit older than you LoL)

[@chrishenslick5482]

Literally yesterday was thinking i wanted some good older fantasy recommendations. Back to the simpler stories where it was a little more black and white, good vs evil. I'm sure many on your list fit the bill. Also, i loved your trilogy. Saw you at Dragonsteel 2022. Thanks for being awesome.

[@Meta_Fungi]

Love the list! Love the sounds of books slapping the floor! Haha

[@jessand01]

Im so happy that you included Brandon Sanderson in your list. I havent read that many epic fantasy books, besides Talkien's Lord of the Rings and Silmarillon . However the day I discovered Sanderson's books I started to fall in love with the genre.

[@rodhamm8484]

Good to see that Coe novel on the list. I bought all five of Winds of the Forelands a few months ago because I liked the covers. I might put it on my TBR list for 2024.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

Nice . . . there are some books in your list I've never heard of, but I will be looking them up to see if I want to read them.

[@1986RobertT]

Super video as always. Would love to see crime / mystery / thriller list

[@DarkoDame]

This list was awesome, but I really need to know where you bought that Sade shirt.

[@rogerhuggettjr.7675]

Great list. Here's my critique. Best Anne McCafrey book, hands down, is the first in that Pern series, Dragonflight. I did read the whole series until her son took over. I thought you might not be into absurdist fantasy, but you did have Aspirin on your list. Given that, I would have expected a nod to Terry Pratchett and some Piers Anthony. The Xanth series got me into reading in high school in the 80's. I don't read grim dark unless my favorite series, Mistborn counts so I have more room. 3 notable absent titles that I would have put in as well: A Wrinkle in Time, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelansky. I give you props for high rankings for both McCafrey and Brooks, widely forgotten or underrated in the booktube community.

[@bozman1678]

I am so glad for the Gemmell inclusion. I love all of his works and feel since his passing he has been severely overlooked.

[@andrewhelm2813]

David Eddings "The Belgariad" and "The Mallorean" series are among my favourite fantasy novels, as is Terry Goodkind's "Sword of Truth" series, (I was hooked from book one: "Wizard's First Rule") and both Jennifer Roberson's "Tiger and Del" and "The Chronicles of Cheysuli" series.

[@haydenrayman1752]

Thank you for the long list!!!!

[@andrewaugustine1494]

I feel so ridiculously behind. Thank you for the excellent list! Do you listen to audiobooks? Any chance of a list for them?

[@axtell500]

Nice to see Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings on the list. That was the very first fantasy book I ever read and I was hooked ever since

[@books-n-coffee97]

Loved this video!

[@astinus4]

Great that you’ve included so many older books which don’t get a lot of attention on booktube. Dragonlance was also my first foray into fantasy. Surprised that none of the Narnia books made the cut though 🤔

[@rebecabaptista6007]

Fantastic list! 🎉

[@Maximus0623]

Fantastic list. I love that you included a lot of older fantasy. Most of these best of lists on KZbin are mainly books written in the past 20 years, which miss out on a lot of great fantasy. I especially love seeing the Shannara appreciation. Terry Brooks is the reason why I love reading fantasy books today. It all started with The Sword of Shannara for me. I just reread it as an adult and it absolutely holds up!

[@rogerhuggettjr.7675]

Too many people (and bookstores) seem to think fantasy includes Tolkien and books written after 2000. Brooks, Piers Anthony, McCafrey, Zelansky, and Aspirin all deserve love for their contributions.

[@jacobwalsh1888]

Shannara is awful. It started the terrible trend of making the fantasy races mostly just humans with different names.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

@@jacobwalsh1888 It's fair to have that opinion. But a story is more than it's descriptions of races within it.

[@michelemartin7673]

Really appreciate your listing, for reasons others have said -- shows a much wider range of fantasy (old and new) than many of the fantasy book-tubers, most of whom talk about the same set of books. Also have to give a shout out to your mention of CS Friedman since just the other day I was trying to remember the name of that series. I can't fault any list that puts "To Green Angel Tower" at the top - Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is still one of the best fantasy epics ever (can't wait for "The Navigator's Children" to drop later this month). I personally would have included less grimdark and more light/humorous fantasy (like Asprin's Myth series, Craig Shaw Gardner's books, or Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger series), though I guess it's arguable if any of that counts as "epic". I also would have included JV Jones' "Sword of Shadows" and Rawn's "Exiles" series, even if they're unfinished

[@thepussycat66]

Wow, what an amazing list! 👏

[@rickmaloney6145]

I would love to see this list published on this feed,

[@jamiehenry3568]

Well done. Appreciate the jay kristoff.

[@elkornu8]

Awesome stuff!!!!

[@Fulcrum-sf5zb]

I would definitely include your books in my top fantasy list.

[@fjuran1]

Great list, I must have 90% of the books on there, and have read most of them. I really enjoy the older ones, as I remember picking those up when I first started reading fantasy.

[@Roondawg_Valhalla]

Loved this! What an awesome list!! I own all of these except 1. Most of these I know of from your from other list videos and reviews.

[@Helljumper556]

An amazing list. I'd love to see a top 100 thriller novels.

[@AuthorJohnADouglas]

Helluva list, Brian.

[@MagusMarquillin]

Good list, I have most of these (in various states of collected), though I've only read a small portion, watching this makes me feel I'm on the right track. Good spot for the Lies of Locke Lamora, though I'd have the Silmarillion above it. I like Sword of Shannara, but nowhere near that much, but you've a good reason for having it high. And, by the gods, YES Dragonlance! Literature _still_ doesn't get any better, at least those first ones! I think I'd get Legends and the Kingpriest trilogy on the top 100 too, but I'm glad Winter Night is so high!

[@piebaldhamster]

I counted 49 of those I've read (and 3 more DNF as well). Well done, sir.

[@lucagianchino6404]

One of The best video of The day, i was afraid you put One of Game of Thrones saga by Martin, but at last with Tad Williams’s Green Angel Tower i was surprised, very Good;) Thank you so much si;)