More like Straw Into Gold

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Tolkien's legendariumUniverse
universe163 books1923
Fantasy, set in secondary world.
“Before the seas were bent and the mountains raised, there was Music — and from that Music came Arda, and in the west of Middle-earth the long defeat and stubborn hope of those who dwell there.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Fellowship of the Ring →
includes The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The History of Middle Earth, The Fall of Gondolin, The History of the Lord of the Rings
NarniaUniverse
universe38 books1950
Portal fantasy.
“Once there is a wardrobe at the back of a spare room, and behind the fur coats the wood gives way to snow, and a lamp-post burns alone among the trees.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe →
includes Narnia, Narnia Solo Adventures
The Princess and the GoblinSeries
series2 books1871
completed
Fantasy, adventurous in tone, about quests and coming of age, set in secondary world.
“Strahan had published the story and illustrations as a serial in the monthly magazine Good Words for the Young, beginning November 1870.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Princess and the Goblin →
RedwallUniverse
universe32 books1986
Fantasy, adventurous in tone, about quests, set in secondary world.
“Ring the Joseph Bell and lay the long tables, for a tale is starting.”
from the catalogue
Start with Redwall →
includes Redwall, The Tribes of Redwall, Redwall Picturebooks, Redwall Audio Version
StardustNovel
Neil Gaimanstandalone novel1998
Whimsical in tone, about fae, set in fairyland.
“Stardust has a different tone and style from most of Gaiman's prose fiction, being consciously written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy, following in the footsteps of authors such as Lord Dunsany and Hope Mirrlees.”
from the catalogue
Tailchaser's SongNovel
Tad Williamsstandalone novel1985
Fantasy, adventurous in tone, about quests and coming of age, set in secondary world.