The Best Fantasy Books

Every year, members of the World Science Fiction Society vote on the best novel of the year across fantasy and science fiction. We asked our fantasy and sci fi editor Sylvia Bishop to give us a round-up of the 2026 finalists. This year’s list features award-winning names, and spans the breadth of the genre: from murder mysteries to literary fiction, from medieval knights to alien contact - this is a year of variety.

Many classic fantasies revolve around mythical creatures – slaying them, bonding with them, or even transforming into them. Bestselling author Katherine Arden talks us through her five favourites, from childhood classics to modern innovations, and the rich worlds these legendary creatures open up.

The Nebula Awards finalists for best novel are an annual must for fantasy and sci fi fans. We asked our fantasy and sci fi editor Sylvia Bishop to give us a round-up of the seven titles in the running - a particularly hot contest this year, packed with award-winning names and fresh ideas. The winner will be announced on June 6th.

The figure of the witch recurs across cultures and time periods, and remains a source of fascination even today. Here, Margaret Meyer—author of The Witching Tide, an acclaimed historical novel inspired by a notorious English witch hunt—recommends five brilliant fiction books about witches, and explains how the witch serves as a symbol of female power in a patriarchal society.

The award-winning fantasy novels of 2025 are notable for spanning the breadth of the genre: murder mysteries and legal thrillers have been honoured alongside monsters, mythologies and folk tales. Our fantasy editor Sylvia Bishop introduces the five books that took the top spots, and the immersive worlds they offer readers.

Epic fantasies offer rich worlds and stories to get lost inside. Multi-million bestseller Christopher Paolini recommends five key examples of the genre, each offering something different – their own guiding philosophy, their own delight in language, and their own 'wonkiness' that makes them memorable and meaningful.

The winners of the Hugo Awards and the Nebula Awards are chosen by fans each year. They cover both fantasy and sci fi, and the best novel spot for each is highly prestigious. Our fantasy and sci fi editor Sylvia Bishop takes a look at the fantasy winners of the last decade, offering rich pickings for fans of magical worlds that are beautiful, absorbing and strange.

A fantasy series allows us to explore the complexities of characters, the far corners of their worlds, and the consequences of their actions - for bestselling author Samantha Shannon, this is "a privilege, and such a joy." Here she recommends five rich, sustained fantasy worlds, featuring old gods, spymasters, witches, plagues, and the land of the dead - and above all, characters who keep surprising us.

Dark academia is a phenomenon with deep roots, says bestselling author Lev Grossman. He introduces five of the best examples, covering secret societies, gentleman scholars, boarding schools – and unforgettable descents into darkness. We have long told stories about forbidden knowledge: now, we make it look good.

High fantasy, also known as epic fantasy, has been on a long journey since J.R.R. Tolkien published The Lord of the Rings. Richard Swan introduces us to the breadth of the genre – and how it embraces social commentary, political realism, and deeply personal stories.