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Old 12-27-2010, 12:13 AM   #10
jehane
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Second Diana Wynne Jones, although I am more familiar with the Chrestomanci series and the standalone Witch Week.

Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising - the eponymous second book is arguably the most popular, so maybe read that one first and if you like it, go back and read the first one and then the others in order. They all connect up in the end, but certainly the first two can be read out of order. Stay away from the movie though - I never saw it but from what I heard the only things that remained were the title and the name of the main character. Even his age and nationality were changed. >

CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Like Dark is Rising, read the second first (Lion, Witch, Wardrobe). It's not until about the 4th or 5th that they should be read in order.

Others that are set fully in a fantasy world include Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, David Eddings' Belgariad, Terry Brooks' Shannara, Susan Dexter's Rings of Allaire, Judith Tarr (forget the series title), Tad Williams, Wheel of Time.... These are all older titles because, well, I'm older and they were my early fantasy reads.

Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea for something a little darker and deeper. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card) or A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle) for a SF version.

Quote:
It shouldn't be too hard to find Fantasy books that are similar to Harry Potter. Stable-boy/kitchen-boy/orphan-who-discovers-important heritage/power is a fairly common genre trope.
Too true. Read Terry Pratchett (recommend Guards! Guards! and Only You Can Save Mankind as starting points) once you've read enough to appreciate the parodies. Definitely read Ender's Game before Only You Can Save Mankind. Also A Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones.
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