(-1-)(-2-)(-3-)(-4-)(-5-)(-6-)(-7-)(-8-)(-9-)(-10-)
(-11-)(-12-)(-13-)(-14-)(-15-)(-16-)(-17-)(-18-)(-19-)(-20-)

Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson


Admittedly wouldn't make my list if I was judging bests, but Erikson gets in because I haven't had this much fun reading sword/sorcery since I found Fritz Leiber.
Otherwise: Three Novel - John Crowley


Famous for Little, Big which will no doubt make my list, this is 3 short stories, The Deep, Beasts, and Engine Summers, from Crowley's earlier works.
On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers


Best pirate/fantasy novel I have read. Power's second appearance (not his last either), his first was Anubis Gates.
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany


Again, classic, it seems prose meant something in early fantasy. Like Peake, Tolkien, Eddison, Morris, Lewis (all for different reasons, and admittedly not all respected by the same crowds) are immortal neverthless in fantasy and will remain so. Making this lsit has been helpful for me to remind me of what I need to purchase...some more Dunsany stuff.
Red World of Polaris by Clark Ashton Smith


Classic novella from the short story new weird master.

Paper Grail by Jame P. Blaylock


Contemporary Grail quest/fantasy novel, in typical Blaylock fashion (which means atypical) . Blaylock's second appearance.
Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin


Never been a big hoor fan, or in this case a vampire freak either, Martin's talent is undeniable however. Great mixture of history (almost a Twain like feel by the river) coupled with Martin's known prose, made even a vampire non-enthusiast consider Fevre Dream a classic.

The Newford stories by Charles de Lint


800+ collected pages of his Newford works. One of the guys that was doing Urban fanatsy before he bandwagon. Great bargain if you can find it.
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke


I know there are sequels, but this is my list of what I thogu hwas eceptional, and I don't think the others are, but this one is a classic, and one of the few hard Sci-fi novels I really enjoy.
Earthsea cycle by Ursula Leguin


Defintely a different tone in the later efforts but remains one of the best series I have read. From one of the few true living legends in fantasy. Although I haven't seen the Sci-fi special, if anyone hated it, give Ged a try as he was intended to be depicted.

(-1-)(-2-)(-3-)(-4-)(-5-)(-6-)(-7-)(-8-)(-9-)(-10-)
(-11-)(-12-)(-13-)(-14-)(-15-)(-16-)(-17-)(-18-)(-19-)(-20-)