This book has been on my shelves for years. Finally, I sat down and read it. Be warned: reading this book may cost you money!

David Pringle casts a wide net in his choices of 100 “Best Novels” of Fantasy. I confess: some of these titles I’d never heard of. But, many I have in my book collection and many I’ve read. Each review of the 100 novels is about 2 pages long. Plus, Pringle includes some bonus book reviews, too!

I wish Pringle had written a sequel to MODERN FANTASY: THE HUNDRED BEST NOVELS (1946-1987). Fantasy novels were Best Sellers in the 1990s and the beginning of the 21st Century. Sadly, publishers seem uninterested in this type of guide book today.

How many of these books have you read? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1 • Foreword (Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels) • (1988) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss [as by Brian Aldiss]

13 • Introduction (Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels) • (1988) • essay by David Pringle

27 •   Review: Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake • (1988) • review by David Pringle

29 •   Review: The Book of Ptath by A. E. van Vogt • (1988) • review by David Pringle

31 •   Review: The Well of the Unicorn by Fletcher Pratt • (1988) • review by David Pringle

34 •   Review: Darker Than You Think by Jack Williamson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

36 •   Review: Seven Days in New Crete by Robert Graves • (1988) • review by David Pringle

38 •   Review: Silverlock by John Myers Myers • (1988) • review by David Pringle

40 •   Review: The Castle of Iron by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt • (1988) • review by David Pringle

42 •   Review: Conan the Conqueror by Robert E. Howard • (1988) • review by David Pringle

44 •   Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis • (1988) • review by David Pringle

46 •   Review: Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake • (1988) • review by David Pringle

49 •   Review: The Dying Earth by Jack Vance • (1988) • review by David Pringle

52 •   Review: The Sound of His Horn by Sarban • (1988) • review by David Pringle

54 •   Review: Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber • (1988) • review by David Pringle

56 •   Review: The Sinful Ones by Fritz Leiber • (1988) • review by David Pringle

58 •   Review: The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

60 •   Review: The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien • (1988) • review by David Pringle

62 •   Review: Pincher Martin by William Golding • (1988) • review by David Pringle

64 •   Review: The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

66 •   Review: Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury • (1988) • review by David Pringle

68 •   Review: The Once and Future King by T. H. White • (1988) • review by David Pringle

71 •   Review: The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Robert A. Heinlein • (1988) • review by David Pringle

73 •   Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

76 •   Review: Titus Alone by Mervyn Peake • (1988) • review by David Pringle

78 •   Review: A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle • (1988) • review by David Pringle

80 •   Review: Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

82 •   Review: The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything by John D. MacDonald • (1988) • review by David Pringle

84 •   Review: Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein • (1988) • review by David Pringle

87 •   Review: Witch World by Andre Norton • (1988) • review by David Pringle

89 •   Review: The Magus by John Fowles • (1988) • review by David Pringle

91 •   Review: Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock • (1988) • review by David Pringle

93 •   Review: The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon • (1988) • review by David Pringle

96 •   Review: Day of the Minotaur by Thomas Burnett Swann • (1988) • review by David Pringle

98 •   Review: The Eyes of the Overworld by Jack Vance • (1988) • review by David Pringle

100 •   Review: The Owl Service by Alan Garner • (1988) • review by David Pringle

103 •   Review: Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin • (1988) • review by David Pringle

106 •   Review: The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien • (1988) • review by David Pringle

108 •   Review: Gog by Andrew Sinclair • (1988) • review by David Pringle

111 •   Review: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle • (1988) • review by David Pringle

114 •   Review: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin • (1988) • review by David Pringle

117 •   Review: The Swords of Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber • (1988) • review by David Pringle

120 •   Review: Black Easter by James Blish • (1988) • review by David Pringle

122 •   Review: The Green Man by Kingsley Amis • (1988) • review by David Pringle

125 •   Review: The Phoenix and the Mirror by Avram Davidson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

128 •   Review: A Feast Unknown by Philip José Farmer^? • (1988) • review by David Pringle

131 •   Review: Fourth Mansions by R. A. Lafferty • (1988) • review by David Pringle

134 •   Review: Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant • (1988) • review by David Pringle

136 •   Review: Time and Again by Jack Finney • (1988) • review by David Pringle

139 •   Review: Grendel by John Gardner • (1988) • review by David Pringle

141 •   Review: Briefing for a Descent into Hell by Doris Lessing • (1988) • review by David Pringle

144 •   Review: Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny • (1988) • review by David Pringle

146 •   Review: Watership Down by Richard Adams • (1988) • review by David Pringle

148 •   Review: The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter • (1988) • review by David Pringle

151 •   Review: Sweet Dreams by Michael Frayn • (1988) • review by David Pringle

153 •   Review: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip • (1988) • review by David Pringle

156 •   Review: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King • (1988) • review by David Pringle

159 •   Review: The Great Victorian Collection by Brian Moore • (1988) • review by David Pringle

162 •   Review: Grimus by Salman Rushdie • (1988) • review by David Pringle

165 •   Review: Peace by Gene Wolfe • (1988) • review by David Pringle

167 •   Review: The Malacia Tapestry by Brian Aldiss • (1988) • review by David Pringle

170 •   Review: The Dragon and the George by Gordon R. Dickson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

173 •   Review: Hotel de Dream by Emma Tennant • (1988) • review by David Pringle

176 •   Review: The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter • (1988) • review by David Pringle

179 •   Review: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson • (1988) • review by David Pringle

181 •   Review: The Shining by Stephen King • (1988) • review by David Pringle

184 •   Review: Fata Morgana by William Kotzwinkle • (1988) • review by David Pringle

186 •   Review: Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber • (1988) • review by David Pringle

188 •   Review: Gloriana, or, The Unfulfill’d Queen by Michael Moorcock • (1988) • review by David Pringle

191 •   Review: The Unlimited Dream Company by J. G. Ballard • (1988) • review by David Pringle

193 •   Review: Sorcerer’s Son by Phyllis Eisenstein • (1988) • review by David Pringle

196 •   Review: The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll • (1988) • review by David Pringle

198 •   Review: The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas • (1988) • review by David Pringle

201 •   Review: A Storm of Wings by M. John Harrison • (1988) • review by David Pringle

204 •   Review: White Light by Rudy Rucker • (1988) • review by David Pringle

206 •   Review: Ariosto by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro • (1988) • review by David Pringle

208 •   Review: Cities of the Red Night by William S. Burroughs • (1988) • review by David Pringle

211 •   Review: Little, Big by John Crowley • (1988) • review by David Pringle

214 •   Review: Lanark: A Life in Four Books by Alasdair Gray • (1988) • review by David Pringle

216 •   Review: The War Hound and the World’s Pain by Michael Moorcock • (1988) • review by David Pringle

218 •   Review: Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea • (1988) • review by David Pringle

220 •   Review: Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin • (1988) • review by David Pringle

222 •   Review: Soul Eater by K. W. Jeter • (1988) • review by David Pringle

224 •   Review: Tea with the Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy • (1988) • review by David Pringle

226 •   Review: Cold Heaven by Brian Moore • (1988) • review by David Pringle

228 •   Review: The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers • (1988) • review by David Pringle

231 •   Review: Who Made Stevie Crye? by Michael Bishop • (1988) • review by David Pringle

233 •   Review: The Digging Leviathan by James P. Blaylock • (1988) • review by David Pringle

235 •   Review: Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter • (1988) • review by David Pringle

238 •   Review: The Businessman: A Tale of Terror by Thomas M. Disch • (1988) • review by David Pringle

240 •   Review: Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock • (1988) • review by David Pringle

242 •   Review: The Glamour by Christopher Priest • (1988) • review by David Pringle

244 •   Review: The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike • (1988) • review by David Pringle

247 •   Review: Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd • (1988) • review by David Pringle

250 •   Review: The Dream Years by Lisa Goldstein • (1988) • review by David Pringle

252 • Guy Gavriel Kay: The Fionavar Tapestry • (1988) • essay by David Pringle

252 •   Review: The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay • (1988) • review by David Pringle

252 •   Review: The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay • (1988) • review by David Pringle

253 •   Review: The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay • (1988) • review by David Pringle

255 •   Review: The Bridge by Iain Banks • (1988) • review by David Pringle

258 •   Review: The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell • (1988) • review by David Pringle

260 •   Review: Replay by Ken Grimwood • (1988) • review by David Pringle

263 •   Review: The Unconquered Country by Geoff Ryman • (1988) • review by David Pringle

265 •   Review: The Day of Creation by J. G. Ballard • (1988) • review by David Pringle

267 •   Review: Ægypt  by John Crowley • (1988) • review by David Pringle

ALTERNATE TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Titus Groan* by Mervyn Peake
2. The Book of Ptath by A.E. van Vogt
3. The Well of the Unicorn by Fletcher Pratt
4. Darker Than You Think by Jack Williamson
5. Seven Days in New Crete by Robert Graves
6. Silverlock* by John Myers Myers
7. The Castle of Iron by Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt
8. Conan the Conqueror by Robert E. Howard
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe* by C.S. Lewis
10. Gormenghast* by Mervyn Peake
11. The Dying Earth* by Jack Vance
12. The Sound of His Horn by Sarban
13. Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber
14. The Sinful Ones by Fritz Leiber
15. The Broken Sword* by Poul Anderson
16. The Lord of the Rings* by J.R.R. Tolkien
17. Pincher Martin by William Golding
18. The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson
19. Dandelion Wine* by Ray Bradbury
20. The Once and Future King* by T.H. White
21. The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Robert A. Heinlein
22. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
23. Titus Alone* by Mervyn Peake
24. A Fine and Private Place by* Peter S. Beagle
25. Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson
26. The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything by John D. MacDonald
27. Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein
28. Witch World by Andre Norton
29. The Magus by John Fowles
30. Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock
31. The Crying of Lot 49* by Thomas Pynchon
32. Day of the Minotaur by Thomas Burnett Swann
33. The Eyes of the Overworld* by Jack Vance
34. The Owl Service by Alan Garner
35. Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
36. The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien
37. Gog by Andrew Sinclair
38. The Last Unicorn* by Peter S. Beagle
39. A Wizard of Earthsea* by Ursula K. Le Guin
40. The Swords of Lankhmar* by Fritz Leiber
41. Black Easter by James Blish
42. The Green Man by Kingsley Amis
43. The Phoenix and the Mirror by Avram Davidson
44. A Feast Unknown by Philip José Farmer
45. Fourth Mansions by R.A. Lafferty
46. Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant
47. Time and Again* by Jack Finney
48. Grendel by John Gardner
49. Briefing for a Descent into Hell by Doris Lessing
50. Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny
51. Watership Down* by Richard Adams
52. The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter
53. Sweet Dreams by Michael Frayn
54. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
55. Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
56. The Great Victorian Collection by Brian Moore
57. Grimus by Salman Rushdie
58. Peace* by Gene Wolfe
59. The Malacia Tapestry by Brian Aldiss
60. The Dragon and the George by Gordon R. Dickson
61. Hotel de Dream by Emma Tennant
62. The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter
63. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever* by Stephen R. Donaldson
64. The Shining by Stephen King
65. Fata Morgana by William Kotzwinkle
66. Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber
67. Gloriana, or, The Unfulfill’d Queen by Michael Moorcock
68. The Unlimited Dream Company by J.G. Ballard
69. Sorcerer’s Son by Phyllis Eisenstein
70. The Land of Laughs* by Jonathan Carroll
71. The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas
72. A Storm of Wings by John Harrison
73. White Light by Rudy Rucker
74. Ariosto by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
75. Cities of the Red Night by William S. Burroughs
76. Little, Big by John Crowley
77. Lanark: A Life in Four Books by Alasdair Gray
78. The War Hound and the World’s Pain by Michael Moorcock
79. Nifft the Lean* by Michael Shea
80. Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin
81. Soul Eater by K.W. Jeter
82. Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A MacAvoy
83. Cold Heaven by Brian Moore
84. The Anubis Gates* by Tim Powers
85. Who Made Stevie Crye? by Michael Bishop
86. The Digging Leviathan by James P. Blaylock
87. Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter
88. The Businessman: A Tale of Terror by Thomas M. Disch
89. Mythago Wood* by Robert Holdstock
90. The Glamour by Christopher Priest
91. The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
92. Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd
93. The Dream Years by Lisa Goldstein
94. The Summer Tree* by Guy Gavriel Kay
95. The Bridge* by Iain Banks
96. The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell
97. Replay* by Ken Grimwood
98. The Unconquered Country by Geoff Ryman
99. The Day of Creation by J.G. Ballard
100. Ægypt by John Crowley