Best Selling Fantasy Books Of All Time

Published Sep 20, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. As one of literature's most popular genres, fantasy has been building new worlds and bringing readers along for tremendous adventures for more than a century, with a select few titles achieving massive success. While thousands of fantasy novels have introduced readers to magical worlds, taken them on epic quests, and introduced them to mythical heroes, few have had a true global impact. Books that reach that high level of success typically offer a lot more than an imaginative setting or an exciting cast of characters, instead cutting to the core of what their readers are looking for as a whole. Many of the best-selling fantasy books of all time have helped define the genre itself, attracting new readers long after their original publication date. Some established conventions that would go on to shape what fantasy books became as time went on, while others helped to redefine the genre after lulls in the genre's overall popularity. With many of the best-selling fantasy books of all time reinventing what fantasy could be for modern audiences, their influence was able to extend well beyond the page. Inspiring all mediums and developing global audiences, the bestselling books of the genre are pillars of its success. 6 The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, which began with the 1990 novel The Eye of the World, grew into a massive series that was eventually taken over by Brandon Sanderson following Jordan's death. The series follows a young man, Rand, from an isolated village who discovers he may be the Dragon Reborn, a figure that has been prophesied to either save the world or destroy it. With a large ensemble cast that stretched over the course of the series of novels, Rand becomes involved in a conflict between the Forces of Light and the Dark One, weaving an epic tale. The Wheel of Time was able to grow into one of the best-selling fantasy series of all time because of its massive scope. The novels within the series follow a massive ensemble cast who tell a variety of stories, which keep the books fresh over the course of every chapter. Arriving at a time when epic fantasy was becoming increasingly more popular, The Wheel of Time made it clear that building on that type of narrative worked well in the long-term. With more than 90 million copies sold worldwide, it's one of the most commercially successful fantasy franchises ever written. 5 A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin Custom Image by Hannah Diffey Even before the success of HBO's Game of Thrones franchise, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire transformed modern fantasy through its combination of political intrigue and large-scale storytelling. With A Game of Thrones beginning the series in 1996, the series follows several noble families competing for power across the worlds of Westeros and Essos while an ancient supernatural threat slowly looms in the background. Without presenting a straightforward battle between good and evil, Martin created a world that saw characters facing difficult choices, with actions often having consequences that last far longer than the characters expect. With a steady sense of momentum through word-of-mouth from early readers, A Song of Ice and Fire quickly gained popularity with fantasy readers before breaking out into the general population. The appeal of the series comes from its massive-scale of world building, willingness to challenge traditional fantasy conventions, and the thoroughly built characters that have grown consistently through each novel. Their popularity not only made them bestsellers, but pushed A Song of Ice and Fire into a space where their adaptation was imminent, bringing the massive success of Game of Thrones to life nearly 20 years after publication. 4 The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Custom Image by Yeider Chacon C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series contains seven unique novels, each of which went on to build an iconic series that's been treasured for generations. Published between 1950 to 1956, the series brings a group of children from the ordinary world to a magical land called Narnia, which they access through a wardrobe. Encountering talking animals, mythical creatures like the lion Aslan, and evil rulers, each book tells its own story, creating a sweeping fantasy saga that spans generations of history in the mythical land. The enduring success of the series stems from its sense of accessibility and its ability to be imaginative throughout. Lewis was able to combine adventure, mythology, and folklore into each story, with themes that appealed to young readers along with adults. The allegories within The Chronicles of Narnia series were often clear, giving readers an anchored sense of what stories Lewis was trying to tell. With over 100 million copies sold worldwide, the series has been translated into dozens of languages and renowned all over the globe. Its influence can be seen clearly throughout modern fantasy. 3 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien One of the most epic novels in fantasy history, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings series, following Bilbo Baggins as his life is interrupted by a wizard, Gandalf, who recruits him to join a company of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from Smaug the dragon. Along the journey, Bilbo encounters mythical creatures including Gollum, where he acquires the One Ring that ultimately becomes the onus for the rest of the series. The Hobbit's enduring popularity comes from its perfect balance of adventure and humor, as well as the sweeping world building that emerges throughout the novel. While the book was originally written for children, it serves as the gateway to Tolkien's larger mythology, expanding on Middle-earth and everything surrounding it. The Hobbit encourages readers to move forward with the series and get invested in The Lord of the Rings in a different way. With over 100 million copies sold, The Hobbit is one of the best selling fantasy novels of all time, and has been an influential text that's changed the trajectory of the genre. 2 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is widely regarded as the defining work of modern fantasy, having revitalized the genre and propelled it forward for generations. Published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955, The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship as they attempt to destroy the One Ring before it can be reclaimed by the Dark Lord Sauron. The story takes readers across the vast world of Middle-earth, building the world even further than Tolkien did within The Hobbit. The trilogy's immense popularity stems from the unparalleled nature of the world and its tremendously memorable characters. Within The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien is able to establish genuine friendships between the characters and consistently build their relationships up along with the stakes of the story. As the volumes progress, Tolkien gets the chance to build a fantasy world that ultimately changes the genre as a whole, and it doesn't disappoint even over 50 years later. With more than 150 million copies sold worldwide, The Lord of the Rings is one of the most fundamental texts in fantasy history. 1 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling The popularity of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling can't be understated, but it's also difficult to truly understand just how much the series has influenced the fantasy genre and the way it's moved forward. Across the span of seven foundational novels, Harry Potter grows up throughout his time at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, forming lasting friendships and learning more about his own power, as well as his connection to the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. As the series progresses, the stories turn more from school adventures to a larger tale about identity, power, and general sacrifice. Harry Potter has become the best selling fantasy series of all time since its 1998 US release, with the books spurring on a series of popular films and, most recently, a newfound TV adaptation. The novels have the remarkable ability to combine accessible storytelling for most ages with rich world building, which created a sense of emotional depth that helped expand the series far beyond the words on the page. With more than 500 million copies of the series sold worldwide, Harry Potter is the commercial gold standard for fantasy works, and has revitalized the genre entirely.