96 Books Like The Night Land

Even though The Lord of the Rings is recognized as the classic of high fantasy, Tolkien himself was deeply influenced by Eddison’s book. It is here that the first concepts of the hero’s journey, while encased in a thrilling saga of protagonists against impossible odds are sown, and of the great worldbuilding that encapsulates such an epic.

Even though the story itself (a never-ending war between the honorable demon princes and an immortal witch king) is pure simplicity, Eddison added an amazing twist: he wrote it in 16th-century English. If you can imagine William Shakespeare writing Lord of the Rings, then this is it.

Some people may get turned off by the archaic prose, but once you get into it, the novel becomes a highly enjoyable romp, filled with action and adventure.

With an equal mix of strangeness and enigmatic philosophies, this short novel barely sold a hundred copies when it was first published in 1920, but has since been recognized as a unique work by noted critic Colin Wilson. Once you’ve read it, you’ll find it both hard to categorize and understand, but it sticks to you like the remnants of a drugged-out fever dream. 

The story of a mysterious man named Maskull, who travels to a planet called Tormance, a world both wondrous and strange. Even though it’s written as a travelogue, the sheer originality invokes an atmosphere of hidden, yet unattainable knowledge for both the protagonist and the reader. The abrupt ending itself neither answers anything nor brings the story to a conclusion, and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

The first in a series of science fantasy novels, the works of Vance are largely unknown to the general public, but this particular set of stories has some very influential fans, like George RR Martin (the author of A Game of Thrones), and Gary Gygax (who invented Dungeons & Dragons).
In The Dying Earth, Vance has created a unique system of magic, in which a wizard must memorize a lengthy spell in his mind that disappears from memory once it is cast. This and other innovations along with unique characters and worldbuilding has created an endearing tale that has thrilled readers since it was first published in 1950.

If you want to know where today’s top sci-fi and fantasy authors got their influence from, look no further than Jack Vance.

If you want to know the origins of Star Trek and the Alien movies, look no further. It’s essentially a mash-up of short stories with an encompassing theme. Set centuries in the future, the diverse human crew of the Space Beagle encounters hostile aliens as they explore the universe.

Each sub-story sometimes presents it from the alien’s perspective, and what a unique set of monsters they are! These various creatures run loose onboard the ship, and they possess incredible powers that could wipe everyone out. The protagonist uses a new generalist philosophy called Nexialism to defeat each one in turn. Sounds familiar? Of course it does, because this is the book that started it.

The Earth has stopped spinning; magic rules on the night side, science on the light.

Not all of Zelany’s work holds up, but this one, a tale of Jack, a denizen of the dark side, is perhaps his best novel. I love the world Zelazny creates here.

It’s a slender book that drew me through from beginning to end.

This is one of the most delightful books on the planet.

Ostensibly written for children, it’s more fun for adults. A story of two wizards, Prospero and Roger Bacon (and not the ones you’re thinking of), and their quest to find the evil destroying the world.

It’s scary and funny, and I only wish Bellairs had written a couple more such books. The rest of his work, while well-done, can’t compare to this one.

If I died, went to the edge of Heaven, and then returned, how would I be different? That’s what happens to a young boy named Diamond.

I love the premise, which wasn’t obvious until I realized the Back of the North Wind represents death. This is supposedly a children’s book, but the original is 300 pages long.

I love the sophistication and insights of the dialogue, the gorgeous passages, and the depictions of the god-like North Wind as a tall, beautiful woman. As the book progressed, I was introduced to a little girl, Nanny, Diamond’s companion in adventure.

MacDonald’s works radiate a deep respect for life, and especially for women. This may well be his best book.

I love the mysterious quality of this book, which is actually collected short stories about the Traveler in Black, an entity given the task of making the newly-formed universe less chaotic by imposing order. I was fascinated by the concept.

Brunner is a famous science fiction writer, but I prefer it when his work leans toward the fantastic.   

The Chrysalids – my inaugural dive into science fiction in the late sixties – hooked me from the first paragraph.

Wyndham creates a dystopian world of post-nuclear destruction where genetic mutations abound, and if discovered, culled from a civilization steeped in a stark biblical ideology. The Chrysalids track protagonist David Strorm as he safeguards his six-toed friend, Sophie, and ultimately connects with a band of telepaths offering new world hope.

I loved this book because of its adolescent hero and his defiance against a society that was morally corrupt. 

Forerunner is the book that made me a fan of Andre Norton. I enjoyed how she mixed space travel, ESP powers, and remarkable world-building.

Andre Norton’s Forerunner influenced the paranormal part of my own world-building. The alien girl, Simsa, was a compelling character. Starting off as a streetwise orphan on the planet Kuxortal, the human spaceman Thom takes her on a journey of self-discovery.

They must stop space pirates from plundering ancient warships. To do so, she must discover her true heritage of power and nobility.