lately, I've been thinking about the books that have shaped the fantasy genre and what makes a fantasy novel "timeless." When you think of fantasy classics The Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Chronicles of Narnia — what makes these books stand out compared to others? Is it their world-building, the depth of characters, or something else entirely?
I’m particularly interested in the balance between creating a fully immersive world and making the characters relatable, especially when the world is so far removed from our own. Take The Hobbit versus The Wheel of Time: both are iconic in their own right, but the way they handle character development and plot feels drastically different. For me, the magic in The Hobbit lies in its simplicity and moral clarity, while The Wheel of Time explores much darker themes and more complex, morally gray characters.
What are your thoughts? Are there certain elements in fantasy that you feel have to be present for a book to become a classic? Or do you think it's more about the cultural impact it has at the time?
by lunchbockslarry
2 Comments
Is GoT considered a classic?
“Classic” is arbitrary and opinion-based unless you define some criteria for it. Most definitions would include multiple decades of staying power, and some might exclude unfinished works. ASoIaF is light on the first and fails the second. It sold a lot, but it’s unclear whether a majority of readers will be familiar with it a few decades from now.