The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Phantastes

MacDonald, 1858 · #64 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 76/120

A young man wakes to find his bedroom turning into a forest. He wanders through Fairy Land in search of an ideal of beauty.

Its strongest scores: mood and creative details. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked Phantastes, read:

1. She

   Haggard, 1887 · #46 on the list · 81/120

   A Cambridge scholar and his young ward follow an ancient potsherd into Africa. They find Ayesha, an immortal queen who has waited two thousand years.

   Close on mood, theme, further reading, creative details.

2. The Magic Goes Away

   Niven, 1978 · #78 on the list · 71/120

   Magic is a finite natural resource and it is running out. An aging sorcerer and his companions set out to steal power from the moon.

   Close on theme, creative details, real-world blend, climax and fights.

3. Silverlock

   Myers, 1949 · #52 on the list · 80/120

   A shipwrecked cynic washes up in the Commonwealth, where every character and place comes from world literature. He reluctantly grows through his journey.

   Close on mood, theme, creative details, real-world blend.

4. The Iron Dragon's Daughter

   Swanwick, 1993 · #43 on the list · 83/120

   A changeling girl is enslaved in a faerie factory that builds war dragons. She escapes with one of them into a world as grim as our own.

   Close on mood, theme, further reading, creative details.

5. World of Tiers

   Farmer, 1965 · #57 on the list · 78/120

   A man from Earth is pulled into a series of pocket universes built by godlike Lords. They play deadly games with their creations.

   Close on creative details, real-world blend, divine influence, originality.

How the scores work: each book is rated 1 to 10 on eleven criteria; real-world blend and climax and fights count double, for a maximum of 120. See the full Fantasy 101.