Collider has published a listicle recommending essential fantasy novels for readers new to the genre, tracing fantasy's roots back to The Epic of Gilgamesh (circa 2100 BCE) before highlighting modern entry points. The selection spans classic and contemporary works, chosen to ease newcomers into a genre that can otherwise feel overwhelming in scope.

– The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, recommended as a gentler introduction to Middle-earth than The Lord of the Rings, following Bilbo Baggins on his quest to reclaim treasure from the dragon Smaug
– A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, a coming-of-age story about the young sorcerer Ged, praised for its logical, consequence-driven magic system
– Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, a heist-style rebellion against the tyrannical Lord Ruler, notable for its metal-based magic system
– Babel by R.F. Kuang, set in an alternate 1830s Britain, exploring language as both magic and a tool of colonial power through Oxford translator Robin Swift