There are a lot of BIG book series out there, especially in Sci-fi and Fantasy. Some of them are amazing! Some…not so much.
The problem is: how do you know if it’s worth it? Some Mega Series have more than 10 books. Reading that much is a big commitment!
Sadly, some of these Mega Series are known for losing their way and forgetting everything that made them good in the first place.
So to help you decide what to read, here’s a list of some Mega Series that I’ve personally read and can vouch for (or against). This list is by no means comprehensive, so feel free to mention your favourite Mega Series in the comments.
1: READ – Discworld by Terry Pratchett
With an amazing Forty One books in this series, this is about as Mega as you can get! However, don’t be overwhelmed by the number. Every single one of these books is a gem, and a gift to humanity.
Discworld is not your typical fantasy. These adventures are whimsical, hilarious, and outright absurd, and yet somehow still manage to have well-formed plot lines and rich characters. Whenever I read a Discworld novel, I have to stop every page or two just to contain my giggles. My wife can tell when I’m reading a Discworld novel by the loud and sudden laughter coming from a silent room every two minutes.
Yet perhaps the real beauty of Discworld is how it tackles some big humanitarian issues. It’s like the Star Trek of fantasy. “Equal Rites” is about a girl who wants to be a wizard even though only men are allowed to be. “Mort” deals with life and death when Death himself takes on an apprentice. “Guards! Guards!” shows how wicked people can come to power by creating fear among the masses. I guarantee these books will make you laugh, cry, and most of all, think.
2: SKIP – The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
I may get hate-mail for this, since The Sword of Truth has some very, very passionate fans. But damn it, I am RIGHT! This series is the worst. The Sword of Truth series has 20 books. They stopped being good after book 2. (And stopped being readable after book 6). Somehow I managed to read 12 of them (mostly out of my own stubbornness).
I can safely say that I have never seen a series get so bad.
Richard Rahl is a wizard, but he can’t control his magic. Yet every time there’s a problem, he can suddenly use just enough magic to fix everything. Convenient much?
Worse, there were wizards 3000 years ago who had “more advanced magic.” Every time someone finds an old magic device, it somehow does exactly what they need it to. (‘Cause the ancient wizards had prophecy, I guess?) It’s an insulting over-reliance on a deus ex machina device.
But the greatest sin of this series is Goodkind’s blatant preaching of his personal beliefs. These books are not novels so much as they’re 800-page rants about philosophy, politics, and social criticisms. If you agree with his opinions, you may be a fan. But if you read novels for the stories, just skip this series altogether.
3: READ – The Expanse by James S.A Corey
The Expanse is Sci-fi at its best. A few centuries in the future, mankind has spread to the planets of the solar system. The story starts when Captain James Holden responds to a distress call, and Detective Miller begins investigating a missing girl. And WOW, what a journey this series goes on!
There are 8 novels (with one more to go), and 6 short novellas (again with one more to come). Every book is different and takes the series is new directions. Overarching plotlines go through massive twists and surprises, and every secret is slowly revealed in a way that will leave you in shock and awe. This series also has some of my all-time favourite fictional characters. Each person feels real and is brilliantly fleshed out.
Perhaps the greatest part is similar to Discworld in that it tackles big issues. The racism of the Expanse is alive and thriving, as humans from Earth oppress those in Mars, while both gang up on the Belters (from the asteroid belt) and the Outer Moons of Ganymede and Titan. Far from the “perfect society” of Star Trek, the Expanse shares more commonalities with Game of Thrones. It brilliantly combines gritty and grey morals, with the striving for truth and justice.
In short, just read it. Trust me.
4: SKIP – Shannara by Terry Brooks
At 32 books currently, this is one BIG series. Unfortunately, it’s also the least imaginative and most stereotypical fantasy of them all.
This series is essentially The Lord of the Rings, but faster. There’s Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, and Dark Lords, all fighting in endless actions scenes and pointless battles. Even the author’s loyal followers will frequently admit, “If you’ve read one Shannara book, you’ve read them all.”
I’ll admit, this series has been hugely successful. There are legions of fans and millions of books sold. But you can read much better books. Try one or two, if you must. But don’t commit to all 32.
5: READ – The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
A wizard-for-hire, Dresden uses his magic to solve crimes in modern day Chicago. This series is the reigning champion of urban fantasy.
People warned me that the first two books were the worst, so I went in with low expectations. But I was still blown away! Of course, I understood what people meant when the third book started with an amazing opening, and the series really took off. There’s fifteen books out now, and it only gets better.
Harry Dresden investigates crimes of the paranormal, while struggling to pay rent and keep the rigorous White Council of Wizards off his back. There’s plenty of scary monsters and shocking twists to keep you entertained. But you’ll keep reading because of how much you grow to love Dresden himself and the cast of supporting characters. To quote a cliché, it’s a dark tale with a surprising amount of heart.
6: SKIP – The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist
There are 30 books in the Riftwar Cycle. Full disclosure: I’ve read every one of them! I’ve even met the author and got his autograph!
So why do I recommend you skip? Easy. These books are the fantasy equivalent of a trashy romance novel. You know it’s bad, but you shamefully read it anyway.
Every character you meet is a boring, one-dimensional Mary Sue. In all 30 books, not a single personality trait is shown. Instead, the characters are known for their abilities and rank, such as thief, prince, magician, whore, or priest. It’s just a D&D game.
The worst part is the bland villains. The bad guy in every book is an identical dark power in different form. From snake-men, dark elves, demons, a dark god or ‘Dreadlord’, they’re all exactly the same.
One thing I’ll admit – Feist is good at world-building and making each adventure different. (He just makes all the characters the same). So if you must read this series, I recommend Magician and the Empire trilogy. If you must have more, read the Serpentwar Saga. BUT STOP THERE.
7: READ – Farseer / The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb
I can’t say much about this series, because… to my shame…I haven’t read it yet.
(But I own all 16 books! I’LL GET TO THEM!)
So why include them as a must-read? Because this series is so dearly loved by so many readers. It may not be the most famous series, but you will never hear someone speak a bad word about it. Also noteworthy is that Robin Hobb made a career as an internationally successful author at a time when few women were able to do so. She had to pick a male pen-name to do it. (Her real name is Margaret Lindholm).
The story starts with a young homeless boy who gets trained as an assassin, and it grows into a beautiful saga. Critics say Robin Hobb “set the standard for the modern serious fantasy novel,” and George R R Martin called her books “diamonds in a sea of zircons.”
So do yourself a favour and make a start at this series. I swear I will, too…
8: SKIP – Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erickson
Ok listen, you have to understand something about Malazan. This series is actually BRILLIANT.
It’s just so bloody COMPLICATED!
I was 75% through the first book, and thoroughly confused. So I cheated and looked up a summary of the book, and I was horrified to realize I had missed about a third of the plot! I had no idea who some characters were, or which side of the conflict they were on. One person had even died and I missed it! (Still not sure how that happened…)
The author is known for having so many characters, nations, and subtle plots that it can be hard to keep track of.
That said, once I pieced it all together, I realised this was one clever book. Ambitious and staggering in size. I intend to read more. But for the average reader, I have to say, this is a hard series to read. And with each book nearly 1,000 pages, it’s a big commitment.
If this is your thing, then go for it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
9: READ these Honourable Mentions:
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin
I love this series, but I can’t recommend it as a must read (yet). The first 3 books are true masterpieces, but fans and critics agree 4 & 5 were disappointing. So if ol’ George ever finishes books 6 & 7 with a resounding success, then maybe it’ll be worth pushing through the awkward middle. Until then, just enjoy the trilogy.
The Stormlight Archieve by Brandon Sanderson
This series is planned to have ten books in total, but as of today, there’s only three. (Book 4 due for release in Nov 2020). I can’t consider this a Mega Series…yet. But you should definitely still read them!
On the world of Roshar, an ancient order left behind “mystical swords and suits of armour that transform ordinary people into near-invincible warriors. Wars are fought for them, and won by them.” Check it out.
Or anything by Sanderson, for that matter. You can’t go wrong with his books. (Can you tell I’m a fan?)
Harry Potter by J.K Rowling
I always recommend Harry Potter (to virtually every random stranger I cross paths with), but it’s not quite a Mega Series. You all know the story, so I won’t explain it. Just make sure you read this series at some point in your lifetime. This is one beautiful story that deserves every bit of its success and fame.
The stories of Harry Potter still have many important lessons to impart to children and adults alike, even if there’s controversy surrounding the author at times.
10: READ – The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
At fourteen novels, with an average of 826 pages each – plus a prequel and a huge compendium – The Wheel of Time is one of the biggest series in existence. The fictional world is massive, with fourteen nations and cultures on the main continent alone, and literally over a thousand named characters.
The story is epic. 3,000 years ago, mankind was led by a hero called the Dragon, who locked away the Dark One. But in revenge, the Dark One tainted the male half of the magical One Power. Every male magician (known as a channeller) went insane and caused the apocalyptic “Breaking of the World.” Now prophecy predicts that the Dragon will be Reborn in this current age, and he will once again fight the Dark One and break the world.
This might seem a controversial pick for my final and top spot. After all, The Wheel of Time is infamous of its ‘slump’, as fans endearingly refer to books 7-10. Yes, this is a weak point. The story gets stretched too thin and slows down.
But you should still read them all! Why? For the simple reason that Robert Jordan returned to greatness in book 11, and the final books are among the best in the series. The conclusion is everything you could hope for. It is worth reading every single one.
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Worth noting that part of the return to greatness in the last book of Wheel of Time is thanks to Brandon Sanderson stepping in and finishing it!