When NRK journalist and fantasy skeptic Siss Vik asked readers for their best advice on books within the genre, many turned to the keyboard. There is no doubt that books about magical universes, fire-breathing dragons, and sorcery are deeply loved by loyal fans.
In total, at least five hundred comments were received. We have collected together the most popular tips.
Here are some of our readers’ favorites:
JRR Tolkien – “The Lord of the Rings”
original address: “Lord of the rings”
First released: 1954
summary: The books revolve around the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his journey to destroy the evil ring that could destroy all of Middle-earth.
Kaga Tho: – It does not matter if you have watched the movies many times; There is a lot going on in the books that isn’t in the movies. The book is classic, exciting, and has it all. I don’t read a lot of fiction myself, but this is one of my favorite books regardless of genre.
Vegard Ofland:- I must wholeheartedly support your boss who thinks you absolutely need to read JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, this trilogy is in many ways the beginning of modern fiction.
Neil Gaiman – “Neverwhere”
original address: “never”
First released: 1996
summary: A young man saves a girl and falls into a hidden world under London. He must then navigate evil characters and dangerous situations in order to survive.
Andreas Servant:- I am so in love with Neil Gaiman’s books! Like Harry Potter and the Narnia books, his fictional worlds often exist parallel to our own, but often have a darker tone and a form of absurdity that often caricatures and comments on the absurdities of the real world – in a totally fantastic way.
Cecily Bjornstad: – A beautiful and exciting book that takes place in London – But in London it is not quite as we once knew it. The language, the action, and the characters make me read this book over and over again.
Brandon Sanderson – “Mistbourne”
original address: “Mistbourne”
First released: 2006
summary: Thief Finn discovers she has magical powers in a world controlled by an evil emperor. Together with a group of rebels, she tried to overthrow the emperor and put an end to his tyrannical regime.
Parmentier’s bull:- I think Mistbourne by Brandon Sanderson is a good introduction to fantasy. I was so addicted that I sat at the university several times and thought about whether I should give up the lectures to read more.
Sigrid Angel:- A female lead, a neat magic system and an interesting twist on the many accolades of the genre.
Robin Hope – “Knight”
original address: “Varsier Triology”
First released: 1995
summary: The trilogy follows the life of royal foundling FitzChivalry, who has the ability to communicate with animals and who is trained as an assassin to protect the kingdom from both internal and external threats.
Kjersti Overby:- Hope deals with topics like gender and identity in a very good way, so I only noticed it in recent years due to public controversy. Although there are dragons and magic in the stories, they are a completely normal part of the world without overwhelming it.
Thomas Breivik: – Hope’s power lies on the human and intra-human level, perhaps a bit unconventional for the imagination, but it works excellently. Feel free to keep a box of tissues by your side, as Hope knows how to conjure emotions!
Terry Pratchett – The Discworld
original address: Discoworld
First released: 1983
summary: The book series is set in a flat world carried on the backs of four elephants perched on top of A’Tuin’s tortoise and explores a range of themes and social problems in a humorous and satirical manner.
Malina Hair:- I’ll start with the Discworld books. The first is called “magic color”. It is best read in English as there are many references and puns that work better there.
Eric Eriksen: – I highly recommend Terry Pratchett’s books added to Flat World where it is entirely possible (though not recommended) to fall over the edge. Socially critical, funny and imaginative, a world where witches have an educational social function, dragons are something you don’t usually really imagine and anything is possible.
Ursula Leguin – “Sea of the Earth”
original address: Earthsea
First released: 1968
summary: The Jordsjø series takes place in a world consisting of different islands in a large ocean. We follow the story of the magician Ged and other characters navigating life on the islands as they try to balance the use of magic and maintain balance in the world.
Thea Christine Nevland:- This whole series really gives me the feeling of going into a world I want to be in. Every time I open a book I feel calm and happy. Unlike other genres of fantasy, there is not much war and politics, there is a mission to complete.
Henning Lystad: – Ursula K LeGuin’s Jordsjø trilogy of edits are short but also brilliant books that rank among the best in their genre.
Robert Jordan – “The Wheel of Time”
original address: “wheel of time”
First released: 1990
summary: An epic fantasy series set in a world full of magic, intrigue, and war. The story follows a group of young men who are drawn into a prophecy of a reborn hero who will save the world from an evil that threatens to destroy everything.
Joachim Kanten:- Recommend “The Wheel of Time”Robert Jordan series. (which was finished by Brandon Sanderson). I would describe the books as “The Lord of the Rings for those who thought RH was too short.”».
Tommy Phnom:- Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” was amazing and complex. The part he wrote himself.
Patrick Rothfuss – “The Name of the Wind”
original address: “the name of the wind”
First released: 2007
summary: The book series revolves around the legendary magician Kvothi on his adventurous journey through a world of magic and mysteries. We follow Kvothe’s incredible life story, from his humble origins as a street kid to his rise to fame as one of the most powerful witches in the land.
he: – For me personally, The Name of the Wind is the book I always recommend to people when they want to start reading fiction. As my brother said, he saved the last 100 pages for fear of finishing the book. There are many of us (in the comments section) who are eagerly awaiting the third book in the series, the fear being that it will never come, but it is totally worth the risk.
Ingrid Satter:- It’s totally recommended, but if you’re hooked, it’s hard to find out that book number three has been waiting for more than 10 years.
Siri Petersen – “The Crows”
original address: “raven rings”
First released: 2013
summary: The books follow Herka, an outcast and disillusioned teen who must battle both inner demons and outer foes to discover his true identity and save the world from destruction.
Guru Nordingen:- A nice introduction to fantasy, as it mostly has a medieval feel to it and not a lot of complex magic to track down. Plus, Petersen writes so well that I give up. He may be at the maximum length, but he has a good engine. The audiobook is absolutely golden.
Jory Bakken: – A Norwegian fantasy with a Norwegian background, written by the wonderful Siri Pettersen. Free of orcs and dwarves, a wonderful new world, similar enough to recognize ourselves and strange enough to pique curiosity.
Thirsty for more cultural things? Check out these:
“Infuriatingly humble web fan. Writer. Alcohol geek. Passionate explorer. Evil problem solver. Incurable zombie expert.”
