Big Books of 2026

Listopia > Book Lists Voted on by Otto (28 Lists)



The Female Man by Joanna Russ
Matriarchal Societies in Fiction
225 books — 160 voters
The Hashish-Eater by Clark Ashton Smith
Speculative poetry
32 books — 9 voters

Island of the Mighty by Evangeline Walton
Pre-Tolkien Fantasy
382 books — 366 voters
The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
Books with Great Dresses/Gowns on the Cover
224 books — 51 voters

The Complete Maus by Art SpiegelmanThe Complete Persepolis by Marjane SatrapiMaus I by Art SpiegelmanMaus II by Art SpiegelmanPersepolis by Marjane Satrapi
History through graphic novels
617 books — 493 voters
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Cli-Fi: Climate Change Fiction
417 books — 615 voters

The Arabian Nights by AnonymousThe Epic of Gilgamesh by AnonymousThe Tale of Genji by Murasaki ShikibuMusashi by Eiji Yoshikawa
Asian Classics
183 books — 58 voters
Shadow & Claw by Gene WolfeSword & Citadel by Gene WolfeTales of the Dying Earth by Jack VanceThe First Book of Lankhmar by Fritz LeiberSomething Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Gollancz Fantasy Masterworks
66 books — 114 voters

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott LynchRed Seas Under Red Skies by Scott LynchTheft of Swords by Michael J. SullivanArtemis Fowl by Eoin ColferThief of Time by Terry Pratchett
Fantasy Books about Thieves
63 books — 74 voters
The Windup Girl by Paolo BacigalupiWho Fears Death by Nnedi OkoraforOne Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García MárquezImaro by Charles R. SaundersThrone of Jade by Naomi Novik
Non-Western Speculative Fiction
149 books — 82 voters

Imaro by Charles R. SaundersImaro by Charles R. Saunders
African American Science Fiction
263 books — 216 voters
The Groo Chronicles by Sergio AragonésOnly You Can Save Mankind by Terry PratchettHeroics for Beginners by John MooreThe Myth-ing Omnibus by Robert Lynn AsprinDark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
Parodies in Fantasy and Science Fiction
127 books — 43 voters

Gods in Darkness by Karl Edward WagnerMidnight Sun by Karl Edward Wagner
The Best Fantasy Books
1,729 books — 1,427 voters
Gods in Darkness by Karl Edward WagnerMidnight Sun by Karl Edward WagnerDarkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff LindsayByzantium Endures by Michael MoorcockMacbeth by William Shakespeare
Villain Protagonist
384 books — 643 voters

Midnight Sun by Karl Edward WagnerIll Met in Lankhmar by Fritz LeiberLegend by David GemmellThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
Best Heroic Fantasy
718 books — 1,392 voters
Gods in Darkness by Karl Edward WagnerMidnight Sun by Karl Edward WagnerElric by Michael MoorcockThe Great Book of Amber by Roger ZelaznyImaro by Charles R. Saunders
Favorite Classic Sword and Sorcery Books
43 books — 41 voters

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinThe Blade Itself by Joe AbercrombiePrince of Thorns by Mark LawrenceLast Argument of Kings by Joe AbercrombieThe Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Best Dark Fantasy
530 books — 690 voters
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees BrennanPrince of Thorns by Mark LawrenceKing of Thorns by Mark LawrenceGods in Darkness by Karl Edward WagnerMidnight Sun by Karl Edward Wagner
Best Books for Dark Happy Endings
120 books — 150 voters

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffreyDune by Frank HerbertThe Gunslinger by Stephen KingLord of Light by Roger ZelaznyThe Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
Books With The Best Blend Of Sci-fi and Fantasy
259 books — 160 voters
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet MarillierThe Once and Future King by T.H. WhiteHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingAnansi Boys by Neil GaimanA Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Books Based on Myths, Legends, Fairy Tales, and Folktales
1,170 books — 696 voters

Goblins (life through their eyes) Book One by Tarol HuntA Redtail's Dream by Minna SundbergAgatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank by Phil Foglio
Webcomics
572 books — 236 voters
Valsverken by Jean-David MorvanKronprinsen och räven by Jean-David MorvanZombier i dimman by Jean-David MorvanRed Rackham's Treasure by HergéThe Castafiore Emerald by Hergé
Best European Graphic Novels/Comics
875 books — 327 voters

Gods in Darkness by Karl Edward WagnerMidnight Sun by Karl Edward WagnerBloodstone by Karl Edward WagnerDark Crusade by Karl Edward WagnerDarkness Weaves by Karl Edward Wagner
Books You Wish More People Knew About
17,382 books — 10,356 voters
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil GaimanFragile Things by Neil GaimanMagic for Beginners by Kelly LinkStranger Things Happen by Kelly LinkPretty Monsters by Kelly Link
Best Fantasy Short Story Collections
526 books — 296 voters

Gods in Darkness by Karl Edward WagnerMidnight Sun by Karl Edward WagnerBloodstone by Karl Edward WagnerDark Crusade by Karl Edward WagnerDarkness Weaves by Karl Edward Wagner
The anti-hero in fiction
344 books — 300 voters
Plague of Angels by John Patrick KennedyBest Served Cold by Joe AbercrombieThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonDreams of Steel by Glen CookGone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Anti-Heroines
374 books — 206 voters

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinA Clash of Kings by George R.R. MartinA Storm of Swords by George R.R. MartinAssassin's Apprentice by Robin HobbThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
My Favorite Fantasy Books
944 books — 640 voters
Prince of Thorns by Mark LawrenceHeroes Die by Matthew Woodring StoverThe Blade Itself by Joe AbercrombieChronicles of the Black Company by Glen CookThe Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
The Grimdarks
479 books — 1,173 voters