What is the single best fantasy novel of all time?

[Parmandur]

Ah man I don’t even remember anymore how it ends…

Bittersweet, which was a new and exciting emotion at 8.

 

[jdrakeh]

Dragondoom: A Novel of Mithgar by Dennis L. McKiernan.

 

[Clint_L]

If we're talking most influential, it's obviously The Lord of the Rings - nothing else comes remotely close to its cultural impact...except Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but that hasn't had anything like the same impact on the genre itself. Distant runners up would be Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Wizard of Oz, and A Game of Thrones.

But my personal pick would be Tigana, by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Fantasy is a funny genre - even though I love playing games with a fantasy setting, I find a lot of it hard to read, and I think it is a very idiosyncratic taste. There are books being cited in this thread that I couldn't even finish (e.g. The Name of the Wind), and I bet others will say the same of Tigana, even though I love it. I can't think of another genre where you will get so many books that are loved and hated in equal measure.

 

[delericho]

"A Game of Thrones" for me. All of the first three volumes are great, but that's the only one that stands alone.

"Tigana" is currently in my to-read pile.

 

[Delazar]

The Darkness That Comes Before, by Scott Bakker.

 

[Nikosandros]

If I have to pick one, it's gotta be The Lord of the Rings.

 

[GwaihirAgain]

You can only pick one, and you can't just cite a whole series.

Lord of the Rings
Changes by Butcher (does this count?)
Cold Days by Butcher
Magician by Feist

 

[Zaukrie]

Sigh.
Lies of Locke Lamora?
A Song for Arbonne?
Sailing to Sarantium?

I'm not sure I know the answer..... But those are the three I reread the most.

I do love magician also. And the black company.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Lord of the Rings
Changes by Butcher (does this count?)
Cold Days by Butcher
Magician by Feist

ONE! Pick one!

 

[Mannahnin]

The Lord of the Rings.

The Last Unicorn is an excellent contender, though. As is The Once and Future King. Or Gaiman and Vess' Stardust, as long as I get to nominate the hardcover graphic novel WITH all the art, not the prose novel version.

Or for a personal sentimental favorite, Lyonesse book I: Suldrun's Daughter. That's probably the only one which really rivals LotR, for me.