The Best of Fantasy: TOP TEN Authors Who Stun You with Their PROSE

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

What is prose, you ask? Well, some of you asked . . . So, here is an answer: To begin, many people will make the distinction between prose and poetry, with the latter following various conventions of meter and including various devices like rhyme, alliteration, assonance, etc. In other words, poetry is writing that doesn't attempt to capture the way we talk. That's what prose is. Prose is writing that attempts to capture the natural flow and rhythm of speech and more or less obeys grammatical structure. Ordinary language. The word "prose" even comes from a Latin word that means, more or less, "ordinary speech." However, I prefer not to think of this as an either/or situation, but as more of a spectrum, because there is no rule that says prose cannot use the same techniques that poetry uses. So, some writers will have prose that is "poetic" or "lyrical." In fact, many people divide prose into different types: non-fiction, fiction, heroic, and prose poetry, for example, with each type tending to be progressively more poetic. You will note in this video that I have a preference for writers who sometimes stray toward poetry in their prose. Also, I mention "range" in the video. This is because there are, in fact, many different ways of speaking in the same language and many different levels of formality. I love writers with enough versatility in their prose to capture these different levels and styles. I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. That said, I invite anyone so inclined to expand on this attempt at a definition of "prose" by replying to this comment.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Am I going to have to do another video on this topic?😂😂

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Looks like you have to, A.P. But then, he is your nemesis and who better to spur you on to do a video?😁​@@ACriticalDragon

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ACriticalDragon I confess that I am fervently hoping for exactly that result, and I assume that you have started filming it. 😁

[@duffypratt]

If there ever were clear lines between the two, they have completely blurred with the advent of free verse, on the one hand, and prose-poems on the other. Now, at the edges, I think it’s simply a matter of how the author identifies his work. (If Martin truly insisted that his unfinished series is a “song,” would it matter?) Etymology doesn’t help that much. Prose comes from Latin as you say, meaning ordinary or direct speech. But prose is writing and not speech, and it’s clear that a lot of prose is simply not meant to mimic speech. Poem on the other hand comes from Greek, meaning to make or create, and I don’t see how that helps at all. You may know better about this, but I understood that in many books in the Middle Ages, prose would be written without spacing and with very little margins, largely to save on margins. Poetry on the other hand was verse, which means “turn.” Thus, the lines had specific length, and each new line would start on the right. This created room for illuminations, which were done because poetry was seen as more beautiful and more valuable, and thus worth expending the paper on. This is probably an oversimplification, but it’s part of what remains from what I learned in an Old French class.

[@Jistarii]

​@ACriticalDragon Please do. This a topic that's so interesting and book defining for so many people. Maybe pull some strings and get Philip, Steve and Cam for a ultra sweet video!!!

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

I won’t argue with any of Erikson, Le Guin, Hobb, Tolkien, Kay, or Clarke-awesome choices! They do indeed have the power to transport me with their words and transcend the mundane. I actually just finished A Song for Arbonne by GGK and think it had the most beautiful prose I’ve ever experienced-and for the first time in a long time I was really slowing down to bask in that beauty.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks, Ben! I will be diving back into GGK's writing later this year and can't wait!

[@Whiskeyjack_]

Out of the many authors I've read, I don't think I've ever read prose that is as powerful as that of Mervyn Peake. Titus Groan and Gormenghast both managed to bring me to tears with nothing but the sheer power and beauty of Peake's prose. If you're looking for breathtaking prose, you owe it to yourself to read Mervyn Peake.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

On my list! Thanks for your contribution to the conversation!

[@Olphas]

I am relatively new to Steven Erikson. Just finished Memories of Ice yesterday. And I already am a huge fan of his prose.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m delighted to hear it! To me, nobody has range like Steven Erikson.

[@JLchevz]

yeah he's good

[@doomfable3378]

I’ve only read Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente, but I do recall enjoying her prose in that book.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@DanExploresBooks]

It isn't fantasy but I get the same feeling of sinking into the lines when I read Herman Melville's Moby Dick. I can completely see how the plot wouldn't be for everybody but I find the that book to be one that really makes me appreciate the artistry of writing. Would agree that Steven Erikson is my #1 as well. There are moments where you just get floored by the the art of his writing. But with a lot of these authors with beautiful writing, I think you only get out what you are willing to put in. For me it means slowing way down and appreciating it rather than seeing the book as a sprint to be completed as quickly as possible. For that I appreciate people like you and AP for championing the cause of GOOD reading over fast reading. Great list. A few notable ones I need to get to.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

That’s a great point, Dan. In general, not only does the artful writing take longer to craft, but it also takes longer to read.

[@gryftkin]

Thank you for sharing all 13 of your top ten books :D

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

😁 I’d like to add a few more to round it to an even ten.

[@davidhayes6491]

I highly recommend Clive Barker. While renowned for his horror, he wrote some amazing stories in fantasy settings like Weaveworld, Imajica and Gaililee. In the latter, there is a passage that takes place at sea aboard a sailboat written so beautifully, I was stunned as a writer by a level of prose I knew I would never attain.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the recommendation!

[@Talking_Story]

What a list! My copy of Assassin's Apprentice arrives today and I will be picking up Red Sister in April

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ah, such greatness in your future, John!

[@RedFuryBooks]

I continue to enjoy this series of lists! I was shocked Hobb wasn't number 1, but I'll allow it lol. I am very excited for you to delve into GGK - I daresay he'll make many of these lists obsolete! :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m fully expecting GGK to stir up things near the top! Cheers, Josh!

[@BrianBell7]

Apart from being terrified by your thumbnail, I loved this video! It really is a "who's who" of the best prose the genre has to offer. I'm excited to begin my Janny Wurtz books journey this year! Would you count Shakespeare as fantasy or is he something unique altogether?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Sorry to traumatize you, my friend! As for Shakespeare, I don’t object to counting some of his plays, notably A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest, as fantasy. Other plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth, have fantasy elements at least. Cheers, and hold on to your jaw!

[@liviajelliot]

Neil Gaiman's prose is something; to me, it's also very distinguishable, and American Gods is soooo good! Janny I'm reading one of her standalones, and damn she can write! I'm always fascinated how she uses the rhythm of the words to convey mood--it's just incredible. Wolfe, hands down, beyond definitions; he was just great. I know that you focus on fantasy, but Greg Bear, who wrote a lot of scifi, always struck me as having a readable yet gorgeous prose for the genre. Thanks for sharing!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I haven’t read anything by Bear, so I appreciate the recommendation, Livia! Cheers!

[@michaelwhite1552]

This video is very timely for me. Everyone says Brandon Sanderson doesn't have the best prose, and previously I hadn't really thought of it one way or the other. But I've been reading one of his stormlight books recently, right after finishing book 2 of Malazan, and it was such a stark contrast it was somewhat jarring. I have thought to myself on more than one occassion over the past week, "Wow, Sanderson's prose isn't as goos as I remember". Just goes to show how masterful Erikson is.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Sanderson deliberately tries to make his prose as “transparent” or accessible as he can. He has made a strategic decision to go for the widest possible audience he can, and it’s worked very well for him. He himself admires writers like Guy Gavriel Kay, and I think Sanderson is savvy enough to know that writers like Kay, while brilliant, will appeal to a smaller audience because many people don’t want to work hard or be challenged so much when they read. I’m glad there are writers, like Sanderson, who appeal to a broad audience and bring people into fantasy. I’m also glad there are people, like Kay and Erikson, who hone their craft and give me a rich and memorable experience when I read their books. The genre needs all sorts of writers with different strengths. Cheers!

[@krishbohra5536]

I'm getting a feeling that you need to reread Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams once 😂 Seriously though, I put Tad Williams in atleast top 3. Such beautiful descriptions, such a way with words to get the reader to love characters. I adore that

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It’s been about thirty years since I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn - I’m definitely overdue for a reread!

[@krishbohra5536]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy You most certainly are! This year is the best time not only for a reread but also to continue with the sequel series, which is getting the final book this year

[@kirstenholmes6]

I thought the same thing? Where’s Tad Williams? I love Memory Sorrow and Thorn.

[@claptropisme9514]

Gene Wolfe impressed me like no other author ever has. His prose in the Book of the New Sun is weird, surreal, mysterious, and above all supremely beautiful. Some passages made me feel like I was experiencing a dream, and this is not an exaggeration. It's just layers over layers of meaning, reality, poetry. Also a lot of it feels like a confused haze, for example we don't really know if certain things are real or not. We are constantly questioning the reality of this world, and this is another reason why I love it so much.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Well said! The "confused haze" was definitely part of my experience of The Book of the New Sun, and of course that's deliberate on Wolfe's part considering the nature of the story and the narrator's relationship to it, not to mention his current "state". Cheers!

[@David-ql1si]

Great stuff as always. You can really just pencil in a spot for Erikson on all of these lists. There are so many great novels and series, but his books stand alone for me. He is a master of tying multiple elements together. Thanks for doing these, really fun stuff!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks, David! I heartily agree with you about Erikson - he’s a vastly talented author on many fronts.

[@faville]

Interesting list. Wolfe is my favorite, Gaiman I have never connected with, I love Jonathan Strange and need to read Piranesi. As you got towards no.1 I thought to myself “phew, nice to see no Erikson on a list like this” and then you dropped that bomb. I do not understand what people see in his writing. I have a couple new authors to try, so thanks!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Sorry about the Erikson bomb, but I do love his prose in all of its forms, not to mention his poetry! Different strokes for different folks, I suppose, but I do hope some of these others will land for you!

[@faville]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Well, someday perhaps I will take another run at Malazan! It’s certainly an impressive and important set.

[@esmayrosalyne]

Couldn't agree more with you on Gaiman, Clarke, and Hobb! And I really want to do a reread of LotR someday, because I have a feeling that older me will appreciate the series much more now. Some of my personal favourite prose styles come from Sarah Chorn, Anna Smith Spark, Krystle Matar, Laini Taylor, and Ken Liu. And outside of fantasy, Akwaeke Emezi and Tia Williams have really wowed me! Great topic for a list again ;)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m really looking forward to reading Dandelion Dynasty (saving it for late in the year so I can savor the wait 😁), but I’m also itching to find room in my TBR for Anna Smith Spark. Those are all excellent suggestions! Cheers, Esmay!

[@Kellen81]

Prose can be so powerful in setting the atmosphere and create immersion for me. Some of my tops I've read have been Hobb, Gene Wolf, Tad Williams and Christopher Ruocchio

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Well said about the power of prose, and I like your candidates! I’ll be reading Ruocchio’s books later this year.

[@thedrownedkingdomsaga7847]

Incredible video Philip! I am absolutely loving your ‘I-don’t-like-top-10-videos’ videos! Lol! They are outstanding! Knowing me, you know you pulled a real chord with me in this one! Prose is the gateway to book enjoyment for me. Your list is fabulous! One can quibble on the order, or who is on the list, based on subjective tastes, but it is indeed a marvellous list of very deserving writers. My current list for Top 10 prose (like yours, subject to change as my reading expands) is as follows: Janny Wurts; Guy Gavriel Kay; Bernard Cornwell; R. Scott Bakker; NK Jemisin; JRR Tolkien; Tessa Gratton; Steven Erikson; Anna Smith Spark; Ken Liu . My honourable mentions would be Miles/Christian Cameron, Natania Barron, Ricardo Pinto, Madeline Miller. Looking forward to the next top 10 video of yours!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much, PL! I love your list too, and I intend to read Anna Smith Spark’s books at some point late in the year. Ha ha! I love your description of this series!

[@core.author]

Well, thanks for filling up my tbr list (as if it wasn’t already long enough 😂) I regret that I haven’t read some of these yet. Very cool insights, Philip 💪🤓

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

The great things about not having read all the books we want to read is that we will never run out of them! My best for all your reads to come!

[@Why_do_I_do_this.]

I think Joe Abercrombie's prose in his First Law books if very underrated ..... Sure most of the time his writing is basic and effective .... But often he would come at you with beautifully written parts (usually with amazing quotes) ... I think it is maybe because we are so deeply invested in his character work that we dont really think about the writing itself 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I agree -- Abercrombie is highly quotable!

[@ladyfox6705]

Mervyn Peake!!!🙌 I love his Gormenghast trilogy a lot👌🏰

[@krazykillerhippo]

Peake is an anomaly in being a bit of a "writer's writer" in the vain of Sebald or Faulkner, where even if you don't vibe with them, their probably a favorite of an author you do like. I know Gaimen, Moorcock, Le Guin, and China Miéville are fans. Martin even gave him an entire house in ASoIaF

[@ladyfox6705]

@@krazykillerhippo It's a shame not many talk of Peake here on Book Tube. He was so talented and his early death was incredibly sad 😢

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

He was a genius. As an illustrator, he understood tone and color of language, of scene and tension, in a very special light. He gave manifest to Gormenghast with his lilting, gorgeous prose. Thanks to wounded souls like you, his memory is kept alive, and through your good works, others might discover the passion and sensitivity of that weird, beautiful man and his sprawling labors in word.

[@SheWasOnlyEvie]

Nice Keats reference! And in relation to Robin Hobb! Susanna Clarke’s chameleon like versatility as a writer, in story and in style, is truly remarkable. My favorite prose authors, in no particular order, are Robin Hobb, Josiah Bancroft, Stephen Graham Jones, Octavia E. Butler, John Williams, Glen Cook, and, of course, Simon Jimenez. I’m about 100 pages into Titus Groan, and Mervyn Peake may take the top spot for me when it comes to prose, but I’ll wait until I finish the book before I make my decision officially!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent list, Evie! I really need to read Peake too! And Jimenez, of course . . . 😁

[@shankbooks]

Aha! This is the video I was waiting for in this series! I'm so happy you hone in on prose. I agree that it MAKES writing the art that it is. I've read books by most everyone here except Steven Erickson...and you're definitely bumping him up my TBR! Also, you mentioned Josiah Bangcroft as an author who made you think, and his first paragraph of "Senlin Ascends" drew me into the book because I thought his language of the train ride to the Tower was so beautiful. The next time you dig into Guy Gavriel Kay, I highly recommend you try "Under Heaven!" That was the first book of his I read, but I saw it profoundly change my writing...it felt like I was attending a masterclass in creative writing! His language is so vivid, beautiful, and captivating.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Well said about Bancroft! I hope you’ll enjoy Erikson’s writing when you get to it. For me, it has the range, depth, and power of a symphony at times, and other times it’s gentle, comic, and any number of other things. All the best, Morgan!

[@shankbooks]

Another favorite of mine is Nicholas Eames. In a different video, you mentioned that you have yet to read his books, and I can't wait for you to try them! They are full of some wonferfully poetic prose, and "Kings of the Wyld" boasts my favorite line in literature. There's a scene where someone dies while it is snowing, and he describes the snow as "falling as soft as a benediction." Lines like these are what make me cherish novels! ​@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@shankbooks That’s a lovely line, indeed! I look forward to Kings of the Wyld!

[@ev3261]

Well, I guessed your #1 before I started watching the video, but as I agree with, I didn't mind :-) I would also add the list Mervyn Peake and his "Gormenghast" books, and Richard Adams and his books (mainly, for this purpose, "Maia" and "Shardik"). Great video, as usual, thank you!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the additions, and I'm glad we agree on #1!

[@MattVickers]

Great list, quite a few I haven't sampled but want to. I'm surprised you didn't have Bancroft in here. Even when I wasn't loving the series I did enjoy the writing. Yet to read his newest entry though. Rothfuss would be on most people's list also, but not sure if you have read his works.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I have indeed read everything Rothfuss has published except for his recent novella. I’m a fan (I included him in authors who make me cry), but, unlike many, I admire his storytelling more than his prose. You’re right about Bancroft - I should have included him in my honorable mentions! Another oversight. Thank you for watching!

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Amazing list. I felt your pain in whittling it down 🙈.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It was indeed painful! Somehow, I’ll carry on. Cheers, Al!

[@MagusMarquillin]

Totally with you on Gaiman, Clarke, Tolkien and Le Guin, and probably in that order - the others I've little doubt I'll love when I do try them. I am also very partial to the poetic style (and just poetry) of Robert Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and Rudyard Kipling (we'll just say he's fantasy enough) and have been quite taken recently with Ray Bradbury (for Something Wicked) and Peter S. Beagle (the Last Unicorn) for making my soul undulate in a very Ursula Le Guin way. Lastly, I think Frank Herbert's got a spot, though I've just read Dune and a couple short stories (a great one is "try to remember"), it can be philosophical, beautiful and slip in exposition quite naturally. Ranking feels flexible and temporal, but: 10. Gaiman, 9. Clarke, 8. Lovecraft, 7. Herbert, 6. Bradbury, 5. Howard, 4. Kipling, 3. Beagle, 2. Tolkien, 1. LeGuin

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

That’s an excellent ranking, Magus! I’m hoping to read The Last Unicorn for the channel at some point. Cheers!

[@noteuser15]

Excellent video Phillip! I love great prose, and it’s one of my favorite things about reading. I also love what you said about how fantasy has a special ‘license’ to play with prose, because of the fantastical worlds and magic. Very true, and I read mostly fantasy, so I’m not even too sure how I would feel branching out a bit more and sacrificing that good fantasy prose. Although I’m a huge GGK fan, and I think I do have to yell at you a little bit for only making him number 7😂. But if it’s because you’ve only read one of his books I suppose I can allow it lol. Also I haven’t read a lot of books on your list, so I’d be interested to read more and maybe I’ll live them more! But I would put GGK at number one, or if not him, maybe Christopher Rauchio actually, the author of Sun Eater. His prose is jaw-dropping, and I would say it’s at least as good as Kay’s if not better. I know you’re planing on reading that so I’m excited to hear what you think!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Yes, I’m very excited to start Sun Eater later this year! Also, I’ll be reading more GGK eventually too. Cheers!

[@BBall4TheWin1809]

Currently reading the first earthsea trilogy and just finished the tombs of atuan (in german i must say). I loved the first two stories so much. I mostly read epic fantasy and scifi and it is so great to see, that i don't need violence and big battles to be entertained.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Le Guin is the first example that springs to my mind when thinking about great fantasy that has minimal violence. When the violence comes, it’s all the more impactful. All the best!

[@BBall4TheWin1809]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Oh yeah. Also Susanna clarkes piranesi kind of opened my eyes in this regard I guess. Loved this novel too. :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@BBall4TheWin1809 Agreed!

[@nataliethompson5266]

Great list. I agree on Gaiman, Kay, Hobb, and Clarke. I would add Tad Williams.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Williams is an excellent addition! Cheers, Natalie!

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

Really love Tad Williams. Re-read his first 100-200 pages of _The Dragonbone Chair_ and in it you'll find some very George R.R. Martin-esque passages. Martin claims it was Tad's series that inspired him to write _A Saga of Ice and Fire_ .

[@StoicTheGeek]

Tried to read some Tad Williams (what's the one where they go into the virtual fantasy realm?) but it was so boring and pointless, I couldn't do it. I but him in the same bucket as Robert Jordan. So many words that makes me imagine nothing, feel nothing, think nothing. Is his other stuff any better?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@StoicTheGeek I’ve read only Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, but from that I would definitely say that Williams has better command of the written language than Jordan had. The latter was capable of some poetic moments too, though.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

@@StoicTheGeek I really enjoyed _Memory, Sorrow and Thorn_ but, yes, he is long winded.

[@EricMcLuen]

I had to laugh when I saw a comment complaining that Kay was a Tolkein wannabe. Along those lines, and I am probably using the wrong terms, but it is difficult to separate prose from story or content sometimes. For example Bakker's writing is often brilliant but the content often turns people away but he has an uncanny ability to change gears in a sentence or two. Or Wolfe whose writing is incredibly complex which can distract from the story which is complex in and of itself.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Very aptly said in regard to both Bakker and Wolfe, Eric! Cheers!

[@Sleepcycle831]

Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon showcases my favorite prose. But it’s a weird book that barely even has characters in it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Sounds intriguing - thanks for the suggestion!

[@duffypratt]

Excellent list, at least for the authors I’ve read (not read Stewart, Bakker, or Kay). I think people too often equate good prose with flowery prose, or highly descriptive prose. For the most part, that doesn’t do it for me. Here are some fantasy authors I would add: Steven Brust (versatility), David Gemmell (economy combined with effective detail), Glen Cook (also versatility), Abercrombie (focus), Jacqueline Carey (hit and miss, but great when she is great), and Charles de Lint. In SF, which is fantasy adjacent, I would add Dan Simmons (especially Hyperion), Lois McMaster Bujold, Samuel R Delaney, Harlan Ellison, and Vonnegut. Outside the genre, there are just way too many, but immediately coming to mind are Chandler, Hammett, James Ellroy, Lawrence Block, James Cain in mystery. And just way too many if we take off genre restrictions (Joyce, Proust, Faulkner, Pynchon, Austen, Tolstoy, Conrad, Flaubert, Trollope, Shakespeare, Hardy, Dickens, Marquez just to name a few).

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Brilliant list! I agree that effective prose can often be more plain than flowery. Some of the minimalists, like Raymond Carver, come to mind for me. Cheers!

[@Steve_Stowers]

Two fantasy authors whose writing/prose style I love, but who are almost polar opposites of one another: Lord Dunsany, and Lev Grossman.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

They do indeed have very different styles, but I agree that they're great! I read Grossman's Magicians trilogy before starting my channel, and it left a strong impression. Dunsany goes way back and would probably be a tough read for most fans of modern fantasy, but, being a medievalist, I have an affinity for the archaic. Cheers, Steve!

[@g.l.degeddingseze5963]

Clark Ashton Smith

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the addition!

[@ericF-17]

This was a great list. I really liked what you said here, Tolkien's prose is definitely very versatile, and I agree its not talked about enough. You just kind of... left Rothfuss off though... :( We have slightly different tastes and that is of course perfectly fine, but I for me personally he's at the very top for prose, alongside Tolkien. I love Martin's prose and appreciated your comments on it, but again, it seems a bit weird to include him and not Rothfuss.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! Rothfuss is someone that many people would include on their list, for sure. I'm a fan of The Name of the Wind and, to a slightly lesser extent, The Wise Man's Fear, but for me it's less about his prose than it is about his storytelling, including the layers of storytelling. The opening to The Name of the Wind is excellent, though.

[@ericF-17]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy That is of course all reasonable, and I think you are correct, but I'd personally say that the for the novellas (particularly Slow Regard) the prose is the most important part.

[@imokin86]

@@ericF-17 Slow Regard is very unique in the way Rothfuss blends prose and poetry, letting rhythm slowly arise from prose and going full metric for extended passages. His characters speak in blank verse in multiple scenes in the novels as well, but in Slow Regard it gets more prominent.

[@shirleynoble685]

I’ve read most of GGK’s work. One of my favorite writers. Tigana is good but you need to read The Lions of Al-Rasan, considered his best by a number of commentators. Masterly.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I will get on it later this year! Cheers!

[@fcsolis]

I like the the prose of Anne Tyler and Walter Isaacson. They're not fantasy writers, though. Anne Tyler writes family non-drama. Walter Isaacson is a biographer of the most impactful people. Thank you.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for your additions - much appreciated!

[@jackmckenzie926]

No surprise you would pick Malazan as your top, its your favorite series and I expect it will be the top of any top 10 list you make.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Not quite, but it’s always a contender! It’s been the number one in two of my four lists so far, which is still not too shabby.

[@Fianna1775]

Lord I need to read Makazan. I have the first three books. So many people here on Booktube mention loving it in their videos that I am beginning to feel like the person who shows up to Thanksgiving dinner without their assigned dish. Major FOMO here.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Fianna1775 I hope you’ll enjoy it!

[@darKuchiki]

When i hear people talk about prose it's like black magic to me, I just can't distinguish good/great prose from standard prose neither can i appreciate it to its full extent, it just doesn't move the needle for me in terms of enjoyment of a book. Have you always noticed/liked good prose ? Or did something change the way you look at it ? Is there something I can do to start appreciating good prose or am I just a lost cause lol.

[@writingwofl5836]

If you read modern fantasy, you aren't going to find much good prose anyways, those books are rare to find. Great writing is when an author is able to utilise a consistent tone and possesses a unique authorial voice. The way you construct sentences has an effect on the reader's experience; just read any sample of the King of Elfland's Daughter and Titus Groan and compare them, the difference in tone is huge. The author must also have a certain control of meter and rythm, that the writing becomes smooth and polished. Punctuation and usage of certain words and syntax is also quite important.There are actually a lot of elements that make good prose, hm.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I have attempted to define prose in a pinned comment. Thanks for watching!

[@dougsundseth6904]

My definitions of "Good writer of prose" and "Good storyteller" are coextensive. Prose is good to the extent, and only to the extent, that it serves the story. If the words are calling attention to themselves unnecessarily, they are calling attention away from (and therefore harming) the story. Clearly, this definition is not the same as that used by everyone, but I'm not much interested in writing for writing's sake. Perhaps I'm just a philistine.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m inclined to agree with you in regard to prose effectively getting the story across. There are some much older writers whose prose I personally enjoy but, because they favor a heavily stylized, “archaic” prose, I recognize that it limits their audience. William Morris, Lord Dunsany, and E.R. Eddison are examples. Even in their own time, their heavily stylized prose inhibited comprehension for many readers.

[@dougsundseth6904]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Fair point. Steven Brust's series of prequels to the Vlad Taltos series (the Khaavren Romances, starting with Phoenix Guards) is written in a highly affected style. But at least in that case and for me, that style contributes to, rather than distracting from, the story. (Opinions vary pretty widely on that series,; the Goodreads reviews are entertaining.) That's one of the few instances I can recall where I actually noticed the writing style as a style and didn't actively dislike it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@dougsundseth6904 Sounds intriguing - thank you for bringing it up!

[@DarkestHour752]

Any fantasy list about prose must contain tad Williams. I must say I’m very disappointed in you Philip!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I actually regret not mentioning Tad Williams. As with GGK, it’s been decades since I read Williams (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn), and so he doesn’t tend to come to mind that often. I’ll atone by doing a reread of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn for the channel at some point!

[@pimaggot]

Shadowmarch series is rich in prose as well.

[@richlewallen8387]

First time comment ever on youtube, but I can't agree more that any top list of fantasy authors based on prose must include Tad Williams. That list would also have to include GGK which makes your list somewhat more redeemable.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@richlewallen8387 I'm glad to have provided a reason for your first comment! No pressure, but always feel free to leave more.

[@LCD72]

How about a Top 10 Purple Prose-Meisters?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! I’m not sure upon whom I would bestow that honor!

[@LCD72]

@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy It can be a fine line that divides the elegant and the moving from the overblown. Bring on the snigger-worthy purple flourishes!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@LCD72 You are so right about that fine line, and it's probably different for everyone.

[@anilmlalwani]

U speak so slow.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

You could play the video on x2 speed.

[@anilmlalwani]

@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy 1.25x will be sufficient 😀

[@danielsheets9062]

Sounds like someone doesn’t like flowery prose

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@danielsheets9062 Ha ha!

[@KingCrusoe]

Christopher Ruocchio - especially in later entries of Sun eater, is amongst the best in my books easily. You mentioned being sent to the dictionary often by Wurts; Ruocchio has me learning new words almost every time I read anything he's written, usually even once per chapter, but it never feels "wrong"; often he is just displaying his gift of knowledge of the language and the construction of it. Similarly, never does his writing ever feel overly poetic so as to be purple. Within the main series especially, Hadrian as a narrator is just the most immersive of narrators to me because of this balance.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, KC! I’m excited to start Sun Eater later this year!

[@_jared]

Aside from the fact that it just makes for a better reading experience, one thing I like to emphasize when I say I value prose is that prose is a crucial part of world-building and storytelling. Wolfe, I think, is the master of this. The story and how he chooses to tell it are inseparable. Le Guin is very good at it, though it is hard to compete with Wolfe. Butler's ability to change her prose style for the story really shines. Kay's love of history surely helps his prose style for novels like Tigana. Neal Stephenson is not often thought of in these discussions (in part due to the fact that you don't talk much about science fiction), but he is also extremely versatile depending on what the story demands.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for these additions, Jared! By the way, I am hoping to start reading some of Le Guin's science fiction later this year (in the second half) and would love to chat with you about The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness if you're up for it. Cheers!

[@stevehoran6011]

I love this series of videos. At the start of the video I was guessing #1 was Robin Hobb, but then I haven’t read Erikson, but at least she is high on the list. I was also thinking of some guy named Chase!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Hobb is perhaps not quite as noted for her prose as some of the others here, but I think it's beautiful in an understated or less visible way. She certainly knows her craft! If you try Erikson's books, I hope you'll enjoy them, and thank you for the kind words, Steve!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Great video, Philip! Our top five are the same but Lawrence only under honourable mentions? What?!!!!😲 At least you mention Mary Stuart and share my love for Le Guin, so I might just about forgive you.😁 And what a thumbnail! There is something quite disturbing about it. All the best, Philip!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Yes, my daughter told me the thumbnail was super creepy but also effective. Cheers, Angela, and see you in a few hours!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Can't wait! But please, don't do this with your jaw.😆

[@Johanna_reads]

I love the thumbnail so much! 😂 Wonderful list! I think you perfectly described Hobb’s prose as being efficient while evoking truth and beauty. That’s a strength that can easily go unnoticed. Tolkien was the first author to make me pause in awe at the arrangement of words in a single sentence. Erikson would be hard to beat based on technical mastery and range. You do an amazing job describing fantasy prose styles!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Johanna! I think I might have freaked out a few people with that thumbnail (including my younger daughter!), but I had fun with it. Beautifully said about Tolkien and Erikson!

[@StoicTheGeek]

Mervyn Peake should be #1. I will let the opening of Gormenghast speak for itself "Titus is seven. His confines, Gormenghast. Suckled on shadows : weaned, as it were, on webs of ritual : for his ears, echoes, for his eyes, a labyrinth of stone : and yet within his body something other - other than this umbrageous legacy. For first and ever foremost, he is child". Or, from just a few lines later "Ttius the seventy-seventh. Heir to a crumbling summit : to a sea of nettles : to an empire of red rust : to rituals footprints ankle-deep in stone"

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’ll let you know what I think when I read The Gormenghast Trilogy, most likely late this year. Those are some excellent lines!

[@alexiskiri9693]

Agreed

[@TheGreatLeslieBand]

Oh my god and yes, Mervyn Peake as well. No Rothfuss no Peake! Wtf

[@dubhmoore575]

Hi Philip, thanks so much for including Mary Stewart in this video, I was given all her books as a young teenager and I am still re reading them today. Malazan is now on my to do list thanks! I also love Diane Setterfield and Bridget Collins for beautiful writing ❤

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the additions! Mary Stewart definitely deserves more recognition.

[@Stillnothereanymore]

Nice selection! In my own list, I would certainly include Adrian Tchaikovsky (in particular for the breathtaking writing in Guns of the Dawn and Cage of Souls, as well select parts of City of Last Chances and Children of Memory) and Shelley Parker-Chan as well.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much for your candidates -- much appreciated as I'm always on the lookout for recommendations!

[@t.hussain921]

I found Wolfe and Bakker more evocative than Erikson but it's just a matter of taste. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy has the most breathtaking prose I've read in english language (though I'll admit I'm not very well read 😁 )

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

That's a great point -- much of this really does boil down to personal taste. Wolfe and Bakker are definitely excellent writers, though!

[@ulysses17_]

Great list Philip. I agree with a lot of your choices. I would echo others and strongly recommend you try Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast series. He rocketed straight to the top of my prose list after I read him. He has the most masterful and inventive use of language I've ever encountered. As for GGK, it was very obvious to me after reading his Fionavar Tapestry that he had a lot to do with the Silmarillion. It's one of his less popular works but he wrote it not long after working on the Silmarillion and it has a lot of Tolkien-esque elements. It's a real homage to the master and I loved it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! Peake is rocketing up my TBR as we speak (or type). As for Kay, after I reread Tigana, I think I’ll proceed to Fionavar. All the best!

[@paulwilliams6913]

This, Philip, THIS video is why you need to read John Crowley’s Little, Big. As my best friend put it: “Crowley makes mad, passionate love to the English language!” I’ve never read anything that could match it for its overwhelming prose poetry - only Le Guin and Blood Meridian has competed in terms of intensification of language. (Side note, I love Le Guin’s definition of poetry as “intensification of language.” Best definition I’ve encountered, myself.) Well, another competitor would be A Stranger in Olondria, but I would still rank is beneath Crowley’s accomplishments. It’s such a mesmerizing work, and I look forward to when you get around to it. Shout out to Sean Stewart, who is about as close as anyone can get to Le Guin in terms of achieving a perfect balance between lyricism and efficiency/clarity. I agree with you about Tolkien. When I returned to Middle-earth in 2018 I was shocked by the quality of his prose. He’s not elegant like Le Guin or supercharged like Wolfe, but there was a legitimate poetry to the writing, something I never could have noticed as a teenager. I’m nearing the end of my dissertation, and that means Hobb is on my horizon. I didn’t catch much in her prose when I read Assassin’s Apprentice several years ago, but I’m gonna keep my eye open this time round :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'll get to Little, Big eventually just on the strength of your recommendation, Paul. That's another excellent Le Guin quote -- "the intensification of language"! I very much hope you'll love Hobb's writing when you get there, and best wishes for the end of the dissertation!

[@paulwilliams6913]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy thanks! Just a few thousand more words and then revisions. Hoping to defend in April!

[@tyghe_bright]

@@paulwilliams6913 Ha! I just mentioned Crowley, and specifically Little, Big. I re-read it just a couple of months ago to see if it's still my favorite book and was struck at how beautifully romantic it is as well as a clever tale, well-written. Now I need to re-read his Aegypt cycle.

[@paulwilliams6913]

@@tyghe_bright Always wonderful to encounter another Crowley fan; I salute you! So far I’ve read LB (wrote a chapter of my MA thesis on it), Ka, and The Translator (under appreciated, in my opinion). I’ve got Lord Byron’s Novel, Otherwise (omnibus if The Deep, Beasts, and Engine Summer), and a complete set of the Ægypt Cycle that he gifted to me a few years ago when I randomly asked on Facebook where I could find them. Still need to get Four Freedoms, Flint and Mirror, and the story collections. Oh, and my anniversary copy of Little, Big arrived a few months ago :) Good luck to you on your Ægypt reread!

[@imokin86]

Olondria was one of my best reading experiences last year, and this year I read Samatar's second novel and started my journey across the Aegypt cycle. I was stunned by both authors. So much freshness in their writing.

[@chucklitka2503]

I admire witty, clever, playful language, and for that Jasper Forde is a master in SSF. Just finished reading his Red Side Story after a 13 year wait. Outside of SSF it's Raymond Chandler and P G Wodehouse.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent additions! Thank you, Chuck!

[@thewatchfemme4051]

I love Jasper Fforde! I knew he was doing a sequel to Shades of Grey but didn’t know it was out! Can’t wait to get my hands on it.

[@chucklitka2503]

It just came out in Feb. and is available in the US. I had mine on pre- order from Amazon UK. It has all the wit and invention of Shades of Grey, but it is a much darker story, still, I enjoyed it. @@thewatchfemme4051

[@745cc]

I've really been slept on the best fantasy recommendation on KZbin. It's also kind of poetic that your One Piece review brought me here. Recommending fantasy books based on what the authors/books do best is such a genius idea! I’ve been binging your Top 10 Fantasy playlist. Thank you so much for these great recommendations!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m so glad you’ve found the lists helpful! Cheers!

[@julien4327]

Ray Bradbury is my #1. While his fantasy work is not what he's best known for, he still wrote some, specially some short stories, and his prose is still unmatched in my opinion.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Bradbury is an excellent choice!

[@Existomalus]

"I love when she stretches me." Interesting choice of words lol

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! I come up with some real gems while just blabbing away.

[@akellerhouse83]

Prose isn't something that makes or breaks a book for me. But your list reminded me that I should read something by Susannah Clark. She's the only author you mentioned that I haven't read yet. I feel like most of what I read these days has pretty straightforward prose.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I hope you'll enjoy Clarke's books, Amanda!

[@planet6288]

Was Tad Williams gorgeous prose really not on the list? Without Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, GRRM might have gotten famous writing something with a whole lot of sex and violence. However, it would not be a winter fantasy tale, with a crazy looking chair, and hound headed black knight.

[@Steve_Stowers]

I'm currently in the middle of the third volume of MS&T, and I'm finding Tad Williams's prose to be ... just fine, but not as impressive as some of the other authors on the list.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Yes, I should have at least brought up Tad Williams in my honorable mentions. It has been about thirty years since I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, but it deserves to be in this conversation. Cheers!

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

Martin's prose splices metaphor, dialogue, and scene so beautifully, the reader feels like a courtesan in the room, a fly on the wall, or a dying soldier upon the field. He weaves tension and suspense like a tailor specializing in custom clothing. It's as if he unlocked the algorithm of, One size fits all, such is the popularity--the accessibility--of his work. Can we not all agree it's a sad state of fantasy that such a titan as Martin has set his axe head to the ground and leans heavily upon its haft simply to rest? Well, sir, you have impeccable taste. I couldn't agree more with your picks. Is it fair to say we are kindred spirits? I think it's fair to say. All the best! (Kindle incoming...your works I soon will read.) And last, to anyone, if you are a lover of fantasy, but even more, a lover of prose, I recommend the following authors: Cormac McCarthy, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe, and Richard Adams. All weave a bit of fantasy into their works, and their styles evoke the most beautiful, most woeful, most terrible of worlds, leaving their readers enchanted, dazed, recollecting their passages in rhythmic gyres, tearful and lorn. These writers are geniuses all. Thanks, Philip, and here's an ethereal cup of your favorite drink. Cheers!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautifully said in regard to Martin’s prose! Also, thank you for the recommendations, Jason, and for including The Edan Trilogy in your reading plans - I’m truly grateful!

[@TomOrange]

Nice to see Martin on the list. I feel like that part of his ability is often over looked. Another great list!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Tom! GRRM has some serious skills!

[@JoriamRamos]

Great list! Got me so curious about that first line hahah Also you got me thinking about this correlation between good prose and time as an unavoidable ingredient there. Thanks :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Yes, I think great prose comes as a result of serious effort toward the craft of writing. Cheers!

[@arlissbunny]

I knew I could depend upon you to really pull authors from across the years of fantasy. The is an excellent list. For me, I would have included Peter S Beagle and G. Willow Wilson but that’s why this listing would be so hard. 😊 Wilson, like Clarke, has only written a couple of fantasy novels but Alif the Unseen and Butterfly Mosque are both exceptional and rest upon the smoke light elegance of her prose. Peter S Beagle’s books are being rereleased with some urgency right now because he is very recently out from under the clutches of a publisher with whom he battled for, I believe, more than a decade. Now he is, at long last, being paid for his work. He is an older and precious resource for fantasy readers these days and, as you know, his prose are first rate. I would love to see BookTube notice and shine some light on him. He would (I’m guessing) be a great interview (hint!) Again, your list is hard won and I really appreciated your elucidation on each of the authors prose. Thank you!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! I love your additions to this conversation. I am thinking of covering The Last Unicorn on the channel, perhaps in 2025. I will have to find out more about Wilson after reading your lovely description of her prose!

[@JLchevz]

I'm just a massive fan of George's (GRRM ASOIAF) prose. I think his prose isn't as poetic or beautiful as other authors' but his word choice is spot on. He always chooses the right words for conversations, adjectives, etc. His books feel alive and I think it's because of how he writes scenes and then he blends beautifully exposition with dialogue, descriptions, and inner thoughts. I understand why he isn't higher up but I just wanted to share my love for his writing! Fantastic video as always.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Beautifully said! I agree that GRRM's prose is effective and compelling. For me, he makes it just archaic enough for me to feel I'm in another world without making the prose too stilted. It's a difficult balance to achieve.

[@JLchevz]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I agree completely. Thanks for taking the time to reply to both my comments, love your channel.

[@stephenmorton8017]

In my mind the Fall of the House of Usher has one of the best opening lines. I was waiting for you to mention Poe. Perhaps he falls outside the definition. Otherwise, noted! I'll keep an eye out for all these authors. My problem is I get sidetracked. I'm currently making my way through Ohenry and Joseph Conrad. Hooked! I'm waiting for the next volume of the southern reach series. I love that fusion of genetic plague and intelligence agency. Perfect.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

You could make a good argument for including Poe in fantasy, though I think he normally is not. Perhaps "Gothic" literature is the closer fit, but it's related to fantasy, I think. Anyway, I agree with you about the impact of his writing!

[@heidi6281]

Boudica :Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott blew me away with her prose. When you read Wurt’s Daughter of the Empire, you will see that her prose is beautiful and easy breezy at the same time. That book had a perfect balance for me.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm excited to read Manda Scott's books!

[@tyghe_bright]

One of my favorite writers is John Crowley--and his novel Little, Big is my favorite book. I don't know why no one seems to talk about him anymore, but his writing is stunning. “Love is a myth.' 'Love is a myth,' Grandfather Trout said. 'Like summer.' 'What?' 'In winter,' Grandfather Trout said, 'summer is a myth. A report, a rumor. Not to be believed in. Get it? Love is a myth. So is summer.”

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Crowley has come up several times in the comments here, so obviously I need to read Little, Big! Cheers!

[@Thomas.R.Howell]

Patrick rothfuss? Where does he rank? He’s one of my favorites!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Rothfuss is top twenty for me in terms of prose, so pretty high. I actually enjoy his storytelling more than his prose, but I still think he’s excellent. I know many of his fans adore his prose, and I wouldn’t argue that point. The opening to The Name of the Wind is especially beautiful.

[@digitaldutchboy2822]

The short stories in Toll of the Hounds by Erikson were unexpected but oh so beautiful composed🥲. Those insignificant characters in the big picture given heart and soul is just amazing.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Erikson has a gift that way, doesn’t he? Cheers!

[@LlamaDuck2211]

Here's $5 💵 to put Gaiman in top 3, as he should be. 👌😉

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha ha! Gaiman is brilliant, and I won’t argue with anyone who puts him in their top three!

[@Fianna1775]

Well, as someone who has read very little fantasy at this time but really enjoys the channel I humbly offer my candidate for personal favorite prose…..ahem Dune Black beauty Great Gadsby An Artist of the Floating World The King of Elfland’s Daughter Great Expectations Wind in the Willows Under Heaven The Last Lion Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’ve read them all except for two, and they are excellent additions to the conversation! Thank you!

[@MicheleMeekelay]

I can't tell you how many times I've googled this question while looking for my next read! Personally I find that prose is half the enjoyment. I value your opinion and so I've written your list down, I will go back to it in the time of need. Thank you very much.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for watching, and I hope you get some great reads from it!

[@thefantasythinker]

What a tough list to put together! I would have Gaiman and Wurts higher on my list as well as adding Stephen Donaldson and Robert Howard. Honorable mentions would be Esslemont and Salmon Rushdie. Of course, I haven't read a few of those others you've mentioned yet, so everything is fluid when it comes to these type of things and my head spins just trying to put anything into an order. Seems like you're having fun though, so keep 'em coming!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Wonderful additions, Jarrod!

[@MichaelRSchultheiss]

Glad to see some love for R. Scott Bakker! He's my favorite, though I'm already planning to read Janny Wurts, so we'll see! One author I think you might want to add to your list someday is Robert Victor Mills, author of Man of Swords and other books. His prose is poetic, lyrical, and it's right up there with Homer (he of The Iliad and The Odyssey, I mean, not The Simpsons 😉). Cheers!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I actually like both Homers, so it would work either way, Michael! 😁 Thank you for the recommendation!

[@JLchevz]

Outside of the genre there are few that can even come close to Cormac McCarthy. I get why some people don't enjoy his writing because it can be highly stylistic like in Blood Meridian but my god that is an astonishingly impressive use of language.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I've only read The Road, but even from that I can say that McCarthy's prose is distinct. I hope to read more by him someday.

[@JLchevz]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy yeah he’s very interesting, I think you might like Blood Meridian even though of course it’s very violent. But that book has layers upon layers of meaning and the descriptions are jaw dropping sometimes.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

@@JLchevz You've stellar taste, sir. _Blood Meridian_ is the greatest American novel ever written. However, passages from _All the Pretty Horses_ hit me in such a way, that I put it just above _Blood Meridian_ in my heart. Also, _Outer Dark_ is simply fantastic. Pastoral, Americana, Appalachian fantasy noir, anyone? Yes. Cormac McCarthy would have been the best fantasy novelist ever...imagine it. Goddamn.

[@JLchevz]

@@jasonuerkvitz3756 yeah I intend to read more McCarthy for sure, I’m so excited

[@claytonhomer3096]

Another excellent video and list, Philip. I completely agree with your number one. Erikson is a master of writing in the English language. His versatility is unmatched to my personal taste. If it is just constructing amazing sounding sentences I think Wurts might be the prettiest writer I have read. I have only read the first book, but Bakker blew me away with his gorgeous writing. Similarly, Joe Abercrombie writes such delicious characters and dialog, and somehow writes scenes that can feel gritty and dirty and yet oddly pretty. Two that you haven't read that I expect will challenge for this list, if you ever make another, are Ken Liu and Christopher Ruocchio.Ruocchio has the potential to reach the highest of heights, considering his amazing writing at such a young age. Liu's versatility is absolutely incredible. The range and diversity of his short stories are impressive, and shockingly, might be outdone by the masterpiece that is The Dandelion Dynasty. I have really been enjoying the recent lists. Cheers!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent additions, Clayton! I'm so excited to be reading Liu and Ruocchio later this year!

[@pappywinky4749]

Christopher Ruocchio is probably my favourite right now in terms of prose. He just brings you to a different world, lots of good humour too. But makes me feel the complexity of every choice, the depth of emotions. He captures each scene vividly and with such humanity.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m very much looking forward to starting Sun Eater later this year!

[@imokin86]

Thanks, this was a very eloquent presentation! I wholeheartedly agree with how you describe Hobb's writing. She is, in my view, one of the most consistent writers style-wise in the genre and maybe across all genres today. And this understated beauty is very special. To add my own suggestions to this list, I must name two younger writers here, Sofia Samatar and Simon Jimenez. Both are incredibly talented and do unexpected and beautiful things on the page. Samatar is very special in how she builds her world through language and detail, making it immediate and real. And Jimenez just does things no-one else does, and I leave it at that, because I really hope you will read his novels, especially The Spear Cuts Through Water, and experience that surprise. And one older author, John Crowley. His The Solitudes was an incredible experience for me this year. It's a cross between an intellectual "university novel" and historical fantasy, so expect more of a mainstream literary style, but anyway his writing is masterful. He is virtuosic in his long sentences and has a range that spans from trippy magic to crystal-clear landscapes. And outside of the genre, please do yourself a favour and read Ada Palmer's Terra Ignota cycle. She plays wonderful games of mirrors with the reader and weaves in learned literary allusions, but also creates scenes of real weight and powerful emotion, and is equally brilliant with suspense and puzzly detective plots.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the excellent additions and the recommendation, Igor! Much appreciated!

[@Stillnothereanymore]

Simon Jimenez is great!

[@danielbujdos]

RJ Barker! His ‘Tide Child’ trilogy is written in such an unusual and beautiful style that it almost feels like poetry. One of the most unique present-day fantasy writers :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Daniel! I haven’t yet read Barker’s books, but that’s a lovely endorsement!

[@PalmerPickering]

I love this video. I agree with every word of your Janny Wurts section. Such a distinctive voice, so many stunning moments, so much dictionary seeking! Many others on your list I have not read yet. Ahhh, so many masterpieces, so little time. And others whom I had never heard of, so thank you for that.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m so glad you enjoyed the video, Palmer! Yes, Janny Wurts has such a distinctive voice, and I love how her prose immediately sends me to Athera.

[@jorian8834]

As a non native english speaker. Can someone explain what exactly a "prose" is? Like is it just a sentence, or a specific sentence? Or like only the things that characters say?

[@akellerhouse83]

In English lit class you have poetry and you have prose. Prose is just written works that aren't poetry. And some authors have a very "fancy" or "flowery" way of writing. That's what Philip is talking about here, how beautiful is the author's writing. I'm sure someone else can explain better than me. Lol

[@imokin86]

Prose has two meanings. The more vague one is basically "not poetry", that is, written words without any special sound pattern to them, just following they way people speak (so, our comments here, a physics textbook or a novel are all prose, but songs and nursery rhymes are not). But that's very general. The more useful meaning, in my view, is that prose is the style of writing, it's how the author chooses to write. For example, Janny Wurts's prose is different from GRR Martin's because she chooses more old-fashioned words and writes longer sentences, and usually shows openly what a character is thinking. While Martin likes short sentences, prefers more ordinary words and only shows what his point-of-view character is thinking, but never the others around him. (I'm also a non-native speaker, but I have a relevant degree and work experience in publishing, so I guess I'm qualified to explain, but if others here feel like I'm wrong, I'll be happy to hear corrections.)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I have attempted to define prose in a pinned comment if you want to take a look. The others here have given great replies!

[@mirkoeinhorn09]

Very good list and I love your comments on Hobb, Tolkien and Le Guin. You speak from my soul and hit the nail on the head. I'm glad that Clarke and Wolfe made it into your top 10. If you read Mr. Norrell again one day, or maybe even Wolfe's Wizard Knight at some point, they might even rise in your esteem. And once again, no disagreement, but two additions: For me, Patrick Rothfuss must also be mentioned. And less obvious, but therefore all the more important to mention: Mervyn Peake! Nobody has ever written like him. You can touch his figures, even smell them, even if you would perhaps rather not. 😂

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent additions, Mirko! Both Rothfuss and Peake are seeing some love here in the comments!

[@mirkoeinhorn09]

I hadn't read any comments yet, but all the better if they are mentioned. Now that I've read the other comments, I've realized that I've forgotten someone else, but luckily others have stepped in for us: Peter S. Beagle! 👍

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@mirkoeinhorn09 Another worthy addition!

[@Dantrag123]

I read it in translation, but "Dragonsbane" by Barbara Hambly has the most memorable prose for me in all fantasy.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Great to have it mentioned here! Thanks so much!

[@micheleheddane3804]

Hobb for me is softness and love

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Plenty of those things in Realm of the Elderlings, for sure!

[@keithhealing1115]

Piranesi is gorgeous. I am surprised that Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake isn't on your list though. You want prose - Peake knocks Tolkien into whatever shaped hat you have...

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’ll be covering Peake on the channel at some point, but I thought I’d start with Gormenghast. Cheers!

[@keithhealing1115]

Brilliant. I re-read Titus Groan over Christmas and, somehow, loved it even more than when I first read it 30 years ago. Gormenghast (book 2) is a little long-winded and could be reduced by about a quarter without losing anything, but Titus Groan is pretty much perfect.@ChaseTheBestofFantasy

[@ladyfox6705]

I was going to mention Gormenghast, as I love Mervyn Peake and never hear anyone talk about his works! Peake is the opposite of Tolkien, and was very experimental. Is also very Dickensian in his cast of characters, which I really like. I love video games, and often use either Lady Fuchsia or Steerpike as my character names lol XD

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ladyfox6705 I just bought the trilogy! I look forward to reading it.

[@ladyfox6705]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy horray, enjoy! 👏

[@hotchipbenj]

I just finished Gardens of the Moon last night (first read!). Based on the first book alone, I wouldn't rank Erikson particularly high but I definitely get what you're saying with the range of things Erikson depicts. (GotM spoiler) In the last act of the book, where the Jaghut Tyrant is approaching Darujhistan--the distant booms and flashes of the Tyrant's battle with Silanah while everyone at Simtal's party is completely unphased thinking it's a thunderstorm. Meanwhile, the mages are all like WTF. This is the sort of contrast of terror and levity, as well as the mise en scene that makes me see what you're talking about and I'm excited to forge ahead and see how Erikson grows as a writer as the series plays out.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

My very best wishes to you as you continue your Malazan journey!

[@blindhypegaming7371]

Gardens of the Moon was by far & away the worst book he's written (I think it was the first book he ever wrote). He gets better. Much better.

[@Kakaragi]

Where would Robert Jordon rank?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

For me, Jordan would be in my top twenty, most likely. There are some truly beautiful moments in WoT. I’ve also always felt that the names of his sword forms sound almost like haiku.

[@chibipoe]

I have to say, your preview image for this video is terrifying, Philip.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Sorry about the terror, Chibipoe! I have a strange sense of humor sometimes . . . 😁

[@berserker8884]

I have to completely agree that Erikson is largely overlooked for his prose. Malazan is famous, and for some infamous, for its breadth of ideas, number of characters and complexity. The list of intimidating factors is so long that Erikson's stylistic prowess rarely comes up. But yes, his command of the english language is one of the main four or five reasons why he is my favorite author. The thing about Erikson's prose is, like you allude to, that he can perfectly choose and craft a sytle that he needs for a specific scene. He does this in a smooth manner that doesn't read like a jarring transition and rather develops seamlessly, almost suprising the reader. The main result that I want to focus on is that the scenes have an enormous weight behind them, in many ways thanks to the style, which is usually very precisely chosen to instill specific images, emotions or ideas. My go-to example is the prelude to Forge of Darkness. I will never read a more powerful beginning of a novel. It's beautiful, evocative and provocative all at the same time!

[@berserker8884]

I just realised that "surprising the reader" can be interpreted as being jarring. I just want to clarify that this is not the case. What I meant is simply that one will reflect on how a chapter reads and be surprised how seamlessly it went from marines fooling around to a beautiful emotional scene in the span of a dozen pages or so.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I could not agree more with you in regard to Erikson!

[@michaeldobbins9962]

Just missing Ken Liu... Patiently waiting for you to get to Dandelion Dynasty :)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’ll get there, though it will likely be late in the year, perhaps September or October. I’m excited for it!

[@michaeldobbins9962]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy looking forward to your thoughts!

[@BookishChas]

So many great authors on this list Philip! Le Guin, Hobb, and Tolkien are definitely favorites. Gaiman too of course. I’m hoping to start my GGK journey this year.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I hope we’ll both enjoy GGK’s books, Chas! Thank you, and all the best!

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Tigana is the only one ive read and that was just two months ago. Brilliant. Instantly a favorite author ❤

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I hope to reread Tigana later this year.

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy just don't make my mistake and read it right after Sword of Kaigen 🤦‍♀️ I was a wreck 😬😫

[@barbaralin3053]

robin hobb and Le guin are spelt wrong!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

KZbin generates those captions, and I haven’t been able to figure out how to correct them. I could turn them off, though. Cheers!

[@kirstendickinson1361]

I was always reluctant to read The Lord of the Rings because everyone always complains about pages and pages of descriptions. Finally started to read them this year, and I am loving them. I don't actually see any issue with the amount of descriptive work because it's done so well. 🤷‍♀️

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! I could read those descriptions all day. Cheers!

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

❤ Ursula ❤ I adore Christopher Buhelman, Rhett C. Bruno and Richard Kadrey. I still love Alan Dean Foster and Anne McCaffrey ❤ I haven't read half of the ones on your list 😳 I might have to put Ray Bradbury at the top of my list 🤔

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent additions to the conversation! Thank you!

[@scottferris2686]

Excellent video, although it was staggering to me, not only did you not have Tad Williams at number one, you did not even have him on your list. I of course going into the video I just knew that you would have Robin Hobb at number two right after Tad Williams but that was not the case. Although I do disagree and consider it almost criminal that you left William off your list, I do respect your opinion, and I did enjoy the video.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Scott. I actually woke up in the middle of the night, eyes wide, and thought, "I forgot Tad Williams!" It has been many years since I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, but I agree that he deserves to be in the conversation. Thank you for adding him!