So a couple of years ago, or in fact nearly 6, Patrick Rothfuss posted this list on his blog of books which he believes you could consider yourself to be reasonably well read in fantasy having read. Now last year I signed up for questions number of challenges and although I was going pretty strong at the start of the year by the end of the year I'd failed miserably. I did quite enjoy the challenge so there's a chance I'll sign up for some of them again, but I also thought I'd give this one a go for myself.
I'm going to list out the books, every book in each series included, and as I read them I'll mark them off. The plan is by the end of 2017 (or maybe 2018) I'll have read the lot. There are a few of these I've already read so I'll try and make those clear also.
I'm going to list out the books, every book in each series included, and as I read them I'll mark them off. The plan is by the end of 2017 (or maybe 2018) I'll have read the lot. There are a few of these I've already read so I'll try and make those clear also.
- The Dresden Files: Storm Front - Jim Butcher [read prior]
- The Dresden Files: Fool Moon - Jim Butcher [read prior]
- The Dresden Files: Grave Peril - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Summer Knight - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Death Masks - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Blood Rites - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Dead Beat - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: White Night - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Small Favor - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Turn Coat - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Changes - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Ghost Story - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Cold Days - Jim Butcher
- The Dresden Files: Skin Game - Jim Butcher
- The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle
- Green Town: Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury
- Green Town: Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
- Green Town: Farewell Summer - Ray Bradbury
- Green Town: Summer Morning, Summer Night - Ray Bradbury
- Stranger In a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
- Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - J. R. R. Tolkien [read prior]
- Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - J. R. R. Tolkien [read prior]
- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - J. R. R. Tolkien [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magicians Nephew - C. S. Lewis [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy - C. S Lewis [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - C. S Lewis [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawntreader - C. S Lewis [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair - C. S Lewis [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle - C. S Lewis [read prior]
- Dragonriders of Pern: Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey
- Dragonriders of Pern: Dragonquest - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragonsinger - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragondrums - Anne McCaffrey
- Dragonriders of Pern: White Dragon - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Moreta - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Nerilka's Story - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragonsdawn - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: The Chronicles of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: The Impression - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Smallest Dragonboy - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Girl Who Heard Dragons - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: The Renegades of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern : All the Weyrs of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: The Dolphins of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragonseye - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: The Masterharper of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Runner of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: The Skies of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Ever the Twain - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragon's Kin - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Beyond Between - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragonsblood - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragon's Fire - Anne McCaffrey
- Pern: Dragon Harper - Anne McCaffrey
- Dune: Dune - Frank Herbert
- Dune: Dune Messiah - Frank Herbert
- Dune: Children of Dune - Frank Herbert
- Dune: God Emperor of Dune - Frank Herbert
- Dune: Heretics of Dune - Frank Herbert
- Dune: Chapterhouse - Frank Herbert
- Dune: Hunters of Dune - Frank Herbert
- Dune: Sandworms of Dune - Frank Herbert
- Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep? - Philip K. Dick [read prior]
- Discworld: The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Mort - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Sourcery - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Pyramids - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Eric - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Moving Pictures - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Witches Abroad - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Men at Arms - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Soul Music - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Interesting Times - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Maskerade - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Feet of Clay - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Hogfather - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Jingo - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Last Continent - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Carpe Jugulum - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Truth - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Last Hero - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Night Watch - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Wee Free Men - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: A Hat Full of Sky - Terry Pratchett [read prior]
- Discworld: Going Postal - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Thud! - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Wintersmith - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Making Money - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: I Shall Wear Midnight - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Snuff - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: Raising Steam - Terry Pratchett
- Discworld: The Shepherd's Crown - Terry Pratchett
- The Chronicles of Amber: Nine Princes in Amber - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: The Guns of Avalon - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: Sign of the Unicorn - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: The Hand of Oberon - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: The Courts of Chaos - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: Trumps of Doom - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: Blood of Amber - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: Sign of Chaos - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: Knight of Shadows - Roger Zelazny
- The Chronicles of Amber: Prince of Chaos - Roger Zelazny
- Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
- Earthsea Cycle: A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Earthsea Cycle: The Tombs of Atuan - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Earthsea Cycle: The Farthest Shore - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Earthsea Cycle: Tehanu - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Earthsea Cycle: Tales of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Earthsea Cycle: The Other Wind - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Sandman - Neil Gaiman (comic)
- The Fisher King Trilogy: Last Call - Tim Powers
- The Fisher King Trilogy: Expiration Date - Tim Powers
- The Fisher King Trilogy: Earthquake Weather - Tim Powers
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Hitchhiker' Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams [read prior]
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Restaurant at the end of the Universe - Douglas Adams [read prior]
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Life, the Universe and Everything - Douglas Adams [read prior]
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: So Long, and thanks for all the fish - Douglas Adams [read prior]
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: And Another Thing... - Douglas Adams
- Riddlemaster: Riddlemaster of Hed - Patricia McKillip
- Riddlemaster: Heir of Sea and Fire - Patricia McKillip
- Riddlemaster: Harpist in the Wind - Patricia McKillip
- Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath - H. P Lovecraft
- Reprimanded - William Gibson
- Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
- 1984 - George Orwell
- Callahan's: Callahan's Crosstime Saloon - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Time Travellers Strictly Cash - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Callahan's Secret - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Callahan's Lady - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Lady slings the booze - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: The Callahan Touch - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Callahan's Legacy - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Callahan's Key - Spider Robinson
- Callahan's: Callahan's Con - Spider Robinson
- Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare [read prior]
- The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox: Bridge of Birds - Barry Hughart
- The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox: The Story of the Stone - Barry Hughart
- The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox: Eight Skilled Gentlemen - Barry Hughart
- The Princess Bride - William Goldman
- The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter
- Gun, with Occasional Music - Jonathan Lethem
- The Odyssey - Homer
- The Last Herald Mage: Magic's Pawn - Mercedes Lackey
- The Last Herald Mage: Magic's Promise - Mercedes Lackey
- The Last Herald Mage: Magic's Price - Mercedes Lackey
- Ender's Saga: Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
- Ender's Saga: Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card
- Ender's Saga: Xenocide - Orson Scott Card
- Ender's Saga: Children of the Mind - Orson Scott Card
- Riverworld: To Your Scattered Bodies Go - Phillip Jose Farmer
- Riverworld: The Fabulous Riverboat - Phillip Jose Farmer
- Riverworld: The Dark Design - Phillip Jose Farmer
- Riverworld: The Magic Labyrinth - Phillip Jose Farmer
- Riverworld: The Gods of Riverworld - Phillip Jose Farmer
- One Thousand and One Nights
- Riftwar Saga: Magician:Apprentice - Raymond E. Feist
- Riftwar Saga: Magician:Master - Raymond E. Feist
- Riftwar Saga: Silverthorne - Raymond E. Feist
- Riftwar Saga: A Darkness at Sethanon - Raymond E. Feist
- The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger - Stephen King
- The Dark Tower: The Drawing of Three - Stephen King
- The Dark Tower: The Waste Lands - Stephen King
- The Dark Tower: Wizard and Glass - Stephen King
- The Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla - Stephen King
- The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah - Stephen King
- The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower - Stephen King
- Memory, Sorrow and Thorn: The Dragonbone Chair - Tad Williams
- Memory, Sorrow and Thorn: Stone of Farewell - Tad Williams
- Memory, Sorrow and Thorn: To Green Angel Tower - Tad Williams
- Belgariad: Pawn of Prophecy - David Eddings [read prior]
- Belgariad: Queen of Sorcery - David Eddings [read prior]
- Belgariad: Magician's Gambit - David Eddings [read prior]
- Belgariad: Castle of Wizardry - David Eddings [read prior]
- Belgariad: Enchanter's End Game - David Eddings [read prior]
- Malloreon: Guardian's of the West - David Eddings [read prior]
- Malloreon: King of the Murgos - David Eddings [read prior]
- Malloreon: Demon Lord of Karanda - David Eddings [read prior]
- Malloreon: Sorceress of Darshiva - David Eddings [read prior]
- Malloreon: The Seeress of Kell - David Eddings [read prior]
- Belgarath the Sorcerer - David Eddings [read prior]
- Polgara the Sorceress - David Eddings [read prior]
- Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
- The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Winter's Night - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragon's of Spring Dawning - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Time of the Twins - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: War of the Twins - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Test of the Twins - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of the Highlord Skies - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of the Hourglass Mage - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
- The Shannara Trilogy: The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
- The Shannara Trilogy: The Elfstones of Shannara - Terry Brooks
- The Shannara Trilogy: The Wishsong of Shannara - Terry Brooks
If you click over to the post you'll see Patrick Rothfuss actually listed around a further 40 Books/Series, but I think I'll be pushing myself enough with this many for this year! In all honesty I think it unlikely I'll complete these, but I can give it a go!
There are a few of the above that I've read either partially or in their entirety and consider to be my personal gateway to fantasy. Some which I've read after they've been recommended. A couple I own having inherited them from my Dad, but haven't picked up yet. Several I've heard of as fantasy greats since reading book blogs and a significant number I've never heard of.
Wish me luck!