If You Like J.R.R. Tolkien...

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy consists of: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Fans of Tolkien’s masterpiece will naturally want to try his other works, including The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin, as well as his “History of Middle Earth” books. In addition, there have been numerous Nonfiction books written about Professor Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, including biographies, literary criticism and analysis and books about the movies as well. Some Dewey Decimal numbers to browse are: 791, 823, and 828, and our Biographies. J.R.R. Tolkien is regarded as the father of modern Fantasy and has certainly been an inspiration to most Fantasy writers today. Here we present some of these authors and their Epic Fantasy tales.

After the King: Stories in Honor of J.R.R. Tolkien Edited by Martin Greenberg
An outstanding collection of new fantasy stories by an extraordinary assemblage of some of the very best writers ever to continue the tradition Tolkien began with The Lord of the Rings. Contributors include Stephen Donaldson, Andre Norton, Robert Silverberg, Jane Yolen, Poul and Karen Anderson, Mike Resnick, Charles de Lint, and other acclaimed and popular fantasists. The millions whose lives have been touched by J. R. R. Tolkien will find the same primal storytelling magic here, undiluted and running ever on. (Note: this book is filed by title under “After”)

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Living in peaceful Shady Vale, Shea Ohmsford knew little of the troubles that plagued the rest of the world. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon revealed that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destroy the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara – Shea being the last of the bloodline, upon whom all hope rested. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flew into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save the Vale, Shea fled, drawing the Skull Bearer after him. Also try the other books in the Shannara series, continuing with The Elfstones of Shannara, as well as the Heritage of Shannara series too.

Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen Donaldson
He called himself Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself. Yet he was tempted to believe, to fight for the Land, to be the reincarnation of its greatest hero. The fact that Covenant doesn't quite believe in himself and that he is not a hero born and bred may be helping him to find a readership among Americans, who are also, perhaps, a bit dubious about their taste in fantasy. Also try the rest of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, which continues with The Illearth War.

The Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
Long ago, the Storyteller claimed, the evil god Torak drove men and Gods to war. But Belgarath the Sorcerer led men to reclaim the Orb that protected men of the West. So long as it lay at Riva, the prophecy went, men would be safe. But Garion did not believe in such stories. Brought up on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, how could he know that the Apostate planned to wake dread Torak, or that he would be led on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger by those he loved — but did not know...? Also try the rest of The Belgariad series, which continues with Queen of Sorcery and his next series The Malloreon.

Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist
To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. But though his courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, he was ill at ease with the normal ways of wizardry. Yet Pug's strange sort of magic would one day change forever the fates of two worlds. For dark beings from another world had opened a rift in the fabric of spacetime to being again the age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos. Also try Feist’s many other Riftwar novels, continuing with Magician: Master.

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
A mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary in the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father. Richard's world and beliefs are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In a dark age when it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword – to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows the rules of battle have just changed or that time has run out. Also try the rest of The Sword of Truth series, which continues with Stone of Tears.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
During the Third Age, the Age of Prophecy, the world and time hang in the balance, in peril of falling under the Shadow. Set in a world where two kinds of magic exist, one female and the other male, Rand is on an epic quest to unite the diverse peoples of his planet against the Dark One, who threatens to destroy their world. His quest takes him through a series of complex and well-delineated alien cultures. Also try the rest of The Wheel of Time series, continuing with The Great Hunt.

The Summer Tree by Guy Gaviriel Kay
It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who could take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds – Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need was great indeed. And in a marvelous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods – and of the Unraveller and his minions of Darkness – Kimberly, Dave, Jennifer, Kevin, and Paul discovered who they were truly meant to be. For the five were a part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of Light have a chance of surviving when the Unraveller unleashed his wrath upon the world. Also try The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A contemporary masterpiece of fantasy that combines intrigue, action, romance, and mystery in a family saga. The cold is returning to Winterfell, where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime. The Stark family has long anticipated this shift of seasons, but are they prepared to deal with the members of the Lannister family? Through his creation of a believable fantasy world, Martin creates a society almost without magic but with human perversity at its most abundant and active. He reaches a new plateau in narrative technique with the almost dauntingly large cast and an almost equal number of viewpoint shifts, which is one of the most appealing aspects of the Song of Ice and Fire series, which continues with A Clash of Kings.

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
To the nobles who live in Benden Weyr, Lessa is nothing but a ragged kitchen girl. For most of her life she has survived by serving those who betrayed her father and took over his lands. Now the time has come for Lessa to take back her stolen birthright. But everything changes when she meets a queen dragon. The bond they share will be deep and last forever. It will protect them when, for the first time in centuries, Lessa's world is threatened by Thread, an evil substance that falls like rain and destroys everything it touches. Now brave Lessa must risk her life, and the life of her beloved dragon, to save her beautiful world. Also try the rest of the Pern novels, continuing with Dragonquest.

The Rover by Mel Odom
Edgewick Lamplighter is a halfling who holds the very important scholarly position of Third-Level Librarian in the Vault of All-Known Knowledge. When Wick is entrusted to deliver a mysterious package, his curiosity about the recipient gets the better of him, and before he knows it, he's off on a series of fast-paced adventures of the sort he's only read about. From pirates to slavery to volcanoes and dragons, Wick meets his destiny with a combination of excitement and terror – and soon finds the knowledge acquired from his unauthorized studies to be a great asset. Also try The Destruction of the Books.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Also try Eldest and Brisingr. (Note: this title is in our Young Adult section.)

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
In the peaceful land of Osten Ard, the good king is dying-and a long-dreaded evil is about to be unleashed. Only Simon, a lowly castle scullion apprenticed to a secret order dedicated to halting the coming darkness, can solve the dangerous riddle that offers salvation to the land. Simon must travel from drought-stricken lands to ice-bound peaks as he follows his far-seeing dreams. Williams weaves all of the classic ingredients of fantasy into his tale – trolls, giants, elf-like sithi, dragons and a well created land of Osten Ard. Also try Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower.