The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like World of Tiers

Farmer, 1965 · #57 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 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.

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

If you liked World of Tiers, read:

1. The Chronicles of Amber

   Zelazny, 1970 · #31 on the list · 86/120

   Corwin wakes in a hospital on Earth with no memory and discovers he is a prince of Amber, the one true world. His siblings are fighting over the throne.

   Close on mood, further reading, creative details, real-world blend.

2. Barsoom

   Burroughs, 1912 · #44 on the list · 82/120

   Confederate veteran John Carter is transported to Mars, where he fights green Tharks and wins the hand of the princess Dejah Thoris.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. The Magicians

   Grossman, 2009 · #38 on the list · 85/120

   A brilliant, unhappy Brooklyn teenager is admitted to a secret college of magic. He then finds that the land from his favorite childhood books is real.

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

4. Johannes Cabal

   J.L. Howard, 2009 · #87 on the list · 69/120

   A necromancer sold his soul for knowledge. To win it back, he has a year to collect a hundred souls, by running a demonic travelling carnival.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

5. Bartimaeus

   Stroud, 2003 · #41 on the list · 84/120

   In an alternative London run by magicians, a boy summons a sardonic five-thousand-year-old djinni to settle a grudge. He sets a revolution in motion.

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

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.