history of fantasy

The Well at the World's End William Morris was relatively obscure in his own time ,but was cited by later fantasy authors C.S. Lewis and J R.R Tolkien

Lord Dunsany From the "Gods of Pegāna" to "Tales of Three Hemispheres" The bulk of Dunsanys' influential early world building was done during this period.

Conan the Barbarian Robert E Howard's Conan the Barbarian cycle was published regularly by Weird Tales. 17 total in his lifetime, and a number of completed and fragmented stories posthumously through the 1950s and 60s.

The Hobbit J.R.R Tolkien's children book is published

The Sword in the Stone The first story In T.H. White's "Once and Future King" is published. A modernization and retelling of much of the Arthurian cycle, heavily influenced by Le Morte d'Arthur. A notable publication that took traditional mythology into a modern format.

The Queen of Air and Darkness The second part of T.H. White's Once and Future King cycle

The Ill Made Knight Third part of The Once and Future King is published

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe The first of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia nearly a year later, the second installment of The Chronicles of Narnia is published

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The third installment of The Chronicles of Narnia is published

The Silver Chair The Fourth installment of The Chronicles of Narnia is published

The Fellowship of the Ring 17 years after The Hobbit debuts, the first installment of The Lord of the rings is published in the UK

The Horse and His Boy The Fifth installment of the Chronicles of Narnia is published

The Two Towers Due to post war shortages, and an irregularly large word count (Over 400,000 words) Tolkien's publisher convinces him to separate the single story into 3 volumes for publication.

The Magician's Nephew The Sixth installment of the Chronicles of Narnia is published

The Return of the King The final installment of the Lord of the Rings is published.

The Last Battle The final installment of The Chronicles of Narnia is published

The Candle in the Wind The final installment of T.H. White's Once and Future King

A Wizard of Earthsea Ursula K. Le Guin's First in the Earth Sea trilogy is published. Notably features a Wizard School as well as a racially diverse Cast of characters

The Tombs of Atuan Second novel in the "Earthsea Cycle"

The Farthest Shore Third novel in the "Earthsea Cycle"

Dungeons and Dragons Gary Guygax creates a small 3 booklet box set with the original ruleset

The Sword of Shannara In the wake of Tolkien's cult success, Terry Brooks' first novel was accepted as an attempted to duplicate the commercial success by Ballentine Books. (Specifically Judy Del-Rey, Later being granted The Del-Rey imprint) Considered Highly derivative of Tolkien's work even in it's own time, it also drew on Heroic Fantasy inspiration- it was if nothing else a proving ground for the publishing industry. Fantasy could be profitable

Advanced DnD A complete revision of the gaming system, Gygax created the "Advanced" version, which was confusingly published along side a more "Basic" ruleset. To add to confusion, the original D & D ruleset was still in publication until 1979.

Elfstones of Shannara The Second installment of Terry Brooks' original trilogy is published

Discworld Terry Pratchett's Discworld is in nearly annual publication, sometimes with biannual books being published 41 novels and several short stories.

The Summer Tree Guy Gavriel Kay's first book, and first in the "Fionavar Tapestry" Cycle is published.

The Black Company The first installment of Glen Cook's long lived series is published. It was one of the first books to bring a gritty, realistic perspective to an otherwise fantastic world

The Shadow Lingers The Second story in Glen Cook's Black company series is published

The Wishsong of Shannara Final installment of Terry Brooks' original "The Sword of Shannara" trilogy is completed

The White Rose The final book in the first arch of Glen Cook's Black Company series

The Wandering Fire The Second part in the "Fionavar Tapestry is published"

The Darkest Road The Final installment of "The Fionavar Tapestry" is published

The Eye of the World Robert Jordan's First installment of the Wheel of time

Tigana After the Fionavar Tapestry, Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana saw more Adult and political themes, unique in a way, Tigana is considered a seminal stand alone novel, in a sea of long, epic cycles.

The Great Hunt The second installment of "The Wheel of Time"

The Dragon Reborn Third Installment of "The Wheel of Time"

The Shadow Rising The third installment of "The Wheel of Time"

The Fires of Heaven The fifth installment of "The Wheel of Time"

The Lord of Chaos The sixth installment of "The Wheel of Time"

A Crown of Swords The seventh installment of "The Wheel of Time"

A Game of Thrones The First in George R.R. Martin's Epic "A Song of Ice and Fire" is published

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone The first in J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series. A young adult series with heavy influences of "Boarding School" and "Mystery" genres.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The Second in the Harry Potter series

The Path of Daggers The eighth installment of "The Wheel of Time"

A Clash of Kings The Second Installment of "A Song of Ice and Fire"

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban The Third installment of the Harry Potter series

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire The 4th Installment of the Harry Potter Series

A Storm of Swords The Third installment of "A Song of Ice and Fire"