10 Forgotten Fantasy Books That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Many of history’s greatest fantasy books go on to receive exactly as much love and praise as they deserve. Inevitably, however, the years have seen many other exceptional works of fantasy literature which have been all but forgotten, even though they’ve only gotten better with age. Of course, saying that they’ve been “forgotten” is a bit of an exaggeration for dramatic effect, but there’s no denying that these great fantasy books haven’t been read by nearly as many people as they deserve.

These are, through and through, some of the greatest fantasy books of their time. Some of them are the work of huge names in fantasy literature like Ursula K. Le Guin and her Powers. Others are by considerably smaller names, like Katharine Kerr‘s The Silver Mage, the most tragically forgotten fantasy books of all time have all aged like the finest of wines. No matter their origin, these fantasy books are worthwhile and unworthy of their forgotten status.

‘Marianne, the Matchbox and the Malachite Mouse’ (1989)

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The winner of several big awards and one of the most prolific authors of feminist speculative fiction of her generation, Sheri S. Tepper was nothing short of an absolute legend. Marianne, the Matchbox and the Malachite Mouse is one of her best works, the final installment in the Marianne trilogy, where the titular character’s magical past begins to feel like a distant dream while she struggles in the real world.

But even though it’s one of Tepper’s best works, it’s still one of the most underappreciated fantasy novels of the ’80s. It’s a really strong ending to the series, one that’s every bit as creative as it is emotionally satisfying. Tepper finds ways to introduce fresh new ideas to the world of Marianne even as it’s coming to an end, all through the wit and fast pacing that makes her voice as an author so unique.

‘Powers’ (2007)

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Ursula K. Le Guin is one of the greatest and most important authors of speculative fiction of the 20th and 21st centuries, and over her illustrious career, she wrote several of the best fantasy books and book series the world has ever seen. One such series is the YA trilogy Annals of the Western Shore, whose conclusion is the exceptional Powers, following a young boy raised as a domestic slave who can see the future.

Thankfully for fantasy readers not looking to get into a full new series right now, each book in Annals of the Western Shore follows a different main character, making Power—the best of the bunch—easily understandable by itself. It’s one of those fantasy books better than most movies out there, a nuanced exploration of freedom and power that even those who don’t typically love YA fantasy should consider reading.

‘Myth Conceptions’ (1980)

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Robert Asprin isn’t exactly a mainstream literary fantasy giant, which makes the discovery of his work all the more satisfying. He was arguably best known for his comedic work, his amusing Myth Adventures series in particular being one of the most enjoyable fantasy comedy book series of not just the 20th century, but perhaps of all time. Myth Conceptions, the second installment, where a court magician has to oppose the world’s mightiest army, is the best of the bunch.

Asprin’s writing style across the whole Myth Adventures series is delectably accessible and amusing, and Myth Conceptions in particular blends Asprin’s universally appealing sense of humor with some surprisingly deep worldbuilding and razor-sharp dialogue. It’s not high art, but anyone who loves their fantasy with a hearty side of puns and banter is pretty much guaranteed to love this underrated gem.

‘Sword-Dancer’ (1986)

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Well-known for her work in both fantasy and historical fiction, Jennifer Roberson isn’t a particularly big name outside of niche fantasy fan circles, but she absolutely deserves to be. For reasons why, one needn’t look further than Sword-Dancer, the first chapter of the Tiger and Del series. In it, a legendary mercenary and a mysterious warrior team up on a dangerous rescue mission across the desert.

It’s one of the most near-perfect fantasy books nobody remembers, a really underappreciated book written by a really underappreciated fantasy author. Led by a pair of deeply compelling characters and told with a sense of adventure that fans of the genre can always appreciate, it’s a page-turner that should be perfectly able to get anyone instantly hooked on Tiger and Del.

‘The Silver Mage’ (2009)

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Many fantasy book series run for several years and many installments, but Katharine Kerr’s Deverry Cycle, a sweeping narrative of Celtic fantasy spanning several centuries, is on a whole other level. A whopping 23 years after the publication of Daggerspell, the first novel in the series, came the fifteenth installment, The Silver Mage. It’s the highest-rated chapter in the series on Goodreads, and for good reason.

Of course, getting to this point in the Deverry Cycle already means that the reader has fallen in love with the world of Deverry deeply enough to read fifteen books’ worth of it. But even if one were to (for some reason) start here, The Silver Mage would still be an incredible novel in its own right. The writing is hugely accessible, different arcs and plot lines are brought to deeply satisfying conclusions, and the bits of Celtic folklore are the cherry on top.

‘Dragonsong’ (1986)

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When a story blends elements of science fiction and fantasy, it’s referred to as science fantasy. It’s the genre that has given us some of the greatest sci-fi and fantasy novels of all time, including the awfully underrated Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. It’s the third installment in the 24-novel Dragonriders of Pern series, and it’s also one of the best fantasy books of the last 50 years.

As one of the best YA fantasy books of its time, Dragonsong is the perfect bridge for younger science fantasy readers to transition into more mature novels. And yet, even older readers ought to consider adding it to their library, because it really is that good of a book. With its richly detailed worldbuilding, heroic protagonist, and deeply emotional story, it’s a wonderful piece of uniquely ’80s-y fantasy literature.

‘The Dying Earth’ (1950)

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It’s not just younger readers who deserve great fantasy books, but grown adults too; and as far as underappreciated fantasy books for adult readers go, it doesn’t get much more timeless than the 76-year-old book The Dying Earth. It’s the first (and best) chapter of the book series of the same name by Jack Vance, a collection of science fantasy short stories set in a distant future when humanity is disappearing, and civilization is decaying.

Part post-apocalyptic, part fatalistic adventure, and part sword-and-sorcery gem, The Dying Earth is easily one of the best fantasy books of the 1950s. It was considerably praised upon release and even went on to influence elements of Dungeons & Dragons, and yet, it has faded into relative obscurity over the years. Even still, it has aged like fine wine, blending science and magic in ways so delightfully creative that they’re also endlessly re-readable.

‘The High King’ (1968)

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The fifth and final installment of Lloyd Alexander‘s The Chronicles of Prydain series, The High King is top-tier children’s fantasy from the mid-20th century. It is, indeed, one of the best books of the 1960s when it comes to fantasy for the smallest readers of the family, and it’s even hugely enjoyable for fans of the genre who are well into their adult years.

The book delivers powerful character arcs, sky-high and wonderfully emotional stakes, and a timeless message about heroism that you always expect from a Hero’s Journey tale like this one. Today, The High King remains a childhood classic for many readers even after almost six decades of its publication—but that’s still not nearly as big of an audience as it deserves.

‘Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow’ (2005)

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David Gemmell was a master of heroic fantasy and has proven to have been massively influential over the years, yet his Troy trilogy still doesn’t deserve even a fraction of the love and praise it deserves. The series is historical fiction just as much as it is fantasy, and its opening installment, Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow, just so happens to be the best of the three.

It’s a fantastic introduction to Gemmell for those unfamiliar with him. Like the rest of the author’s work, Lord of the Silver Bow blends highly stylized depictions of violence and brutal combat with deeply layered character development and vivid worldbuilding. It’s a book that’s just as much of a must-read for fantasy fans as it is for history buffs.

‘Tigana’ (1990)

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Canadian writer Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the most accomplished names in the modern history of fantasy literature. He revolutionized historical fantasy and helped Christopher Tolkien edit J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Silmarillion, and yet there are those who’d argue that his biggest achievement is Tigana. This masterful high fantasy epic follows a band of rebels seeking to overthrow a pair of rival tyrants.

It’s one of the best fantasy books of the 1990s, hugely elevated by Kay’s lyrical, poetic, absolutely gorgeous prose. Within a single tightly-paced book, you get the thematic and emotional scale of an entire epic saga of fantasy novels. That’s just the kind of artist that Kay was. Complex, creative, and bittersweet, Tigana is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy.