Getting into Fantasy - What Books to Start With

I read the Hobbit when I was 11, it was recommended by a teacher, The Fantasy genre didn't exist then, it was described as a slightly complicated adventure fairy tale, this was 1970. I then borrowed a copy of fellowship of the Ring, I had to wait as it was popular at the school library. I was advised to read it in a week as other kids wanted to read it too. I was hooked and bought a copy and then I saved and bought the other 2 books in the trilogy. Unfortunately I lent these out and never saw them again. But I still have my all in one Lord of the Rings paperback from 1983, it's a bit yellowed and careworn now. I've read lots of fantasy since then, some good and some cliched and repetitive.

Im so happy you mentioned Chronicles Of Prydain. The nostalgia is real.

Mistborn is my first choice as a rec for new fantasy readers. Actually, I say emperor's soul to get a taste of sandersons style. And then Mistborn :)

This was one of the best lists of this type I’ve seen on Youtube. So many modern fantasy fans seem to dismiss anyone pre-1990 not named Tolkien, so it’s nice to see some classic fantasy in this list.

As a huge fantasy consumer, I appreciate this video to help lost souls enjoy this fantastic genre. I myself had to stumble through it a lot in the beginning, mostly reading random fantasy books until I realized what kind of fantasy I loved the best.

I think Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" was the first fantasy series I read back in elementary school. Then there was also Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series and Tamora Pierce's "The song of the Lioness" series. All very good. And last but not least Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" series.

I would definitely recommend legend by David gemmel as a start into fantasy

Some of these sound really interesting. Totally adding Amber and Black Company to my TBR!

I don't think I'll ever get bored of LoTR. I've had my 3 in 1 since high school when the movies came out, I've read it so many times and it's always such a fun story.

I’ve been looking everywhere for a historical fantasy! It seems harder to track down a good one than most might think. I’ll put that one on my list!

I got into reading fantasy and science fiction in the mid 7os when I was about 13-14 with stuff like Tolkien, C.S.Lewis, Burroughs and the Howard/L. Sprague De Camp Conan books and the Elric books, and sci-fi like Asimov and Bradbury

Michael moorcock is my favorite fantasy author hands down. Just my opinion

I saw the Rankin-Bass animated adaptations of The Hobbit and The return of the King as a little kid, and noted in the opening credits of The Hobbit that it was originally a book by some author named J.R.R. Tolkien. 😉 The tone of those films sparked an interest stayed with me, to say the least.

David! I've subscribed to you earlier this year because of your Classic Wow content but found your other videos informative. I recently been getting back into reading with the Wheel of Time series. But I want to take breaks throughout with other titles. I was just thinking about your channel and what book recommendations you might have. This is perfect! You hit on a lot of the books I have been hearing about from other sources plus a few others like Elric. I have a "shortlist" including The Way of Kings, Black Company(1-3), Dragon Riders of Pern(1-3), Redwall(Martin the Warrior, Legend of Luke), and Dragonlance Chronicles(by weis hickman). Would you recommend any of your books? I hope you have a video on scifi books!

I remember when I was a very young child and couldn't read myself yet, my dad would read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings out loud for me as they were his favorite books. I read them twice myself when I was a bit older and the books will forever have a certain magical feeling to them for me. I still take out my dusty Fellowship of the Ring translated into my native language that my father gave me when I was younger and just browse through various parts, embracing the nostalgia. I am currently getting into the Malazan Book of the Fallen, but I'm still at the very beginning, about a third into Gardens of the Moon. The first 70-90 pages or so were really tough, but I feel I've gotten a bit better grasp of what seems to be unfolding and where and my reading is going much more smoothly. If you feel like providing any additional commentary on the series I would love to read/watch it. Thanks for the insightful video, and looking forward to more

I recommend THE CRYSTAL SHARD. Not the best of the series but certainly an introduction to the characters and world especially if you have preconceived notions about fantasy. This fills the fantasy tropes and if you keep on with the series will open up the possibilities for you for more complex stuff later.

Yes! So glad someone else remembers the Chronicles of Prydain. When I have kids I'll definitely start them off with this alongside the Chronicles of Narnia. As much as I love The Way of Kings I agree it's not the best place for new fantasy readers to start simply because of the sheer size. A brand spanking new fantasy reader might be overwhelmed just looking at the book and how big it is. But yeah, if you start off with Mistborn and enjoy it you would probably love the Stormlight Archive.

Awesome video,Keep it up!

I read a shit load in like elementary and middle school but haven't really read anything in longer than a decade, I've recently gotten back into it and I'm super wrapped up in the Dresden files series rn

What no Terry Pratchett ?