Top 10 Fantasy Books of 2010

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Towers of Midnight has absolutely dominated the Amazon top 5 fantasy bestseller list since its release in November, a reign that will surely extend into a good portion of 2011, even though it dropped off the list this week. The drop-off was more of a trend in format (all books in the top 5 this week are eBooks), so the hardcover edition of Towers of Midnight will likely resurface some time over the coming week. The novel is wildly popular due to death of its original author, Robert Jordan, and the assistance by a fresh name in fantasy literature, Brandon Sanderson. Sanderson has dominated the fantasy sphere since inheriting the Wheel of Time series from Jordan, with his personal works also seeing gains in popularity. Towers of Midnight marks the second Wheel of Time book co-authored by Sanderson, with the third and final installment of the 14-book series, A Memory of Light, set to be released in 2011. You can pick up Towers of Midnight over at Amazon.com.

Side Jobs by Jim Butcher

Side Jobs is a compilation by Jim Butcher, which follows his extremely popular Harry Dresden character on ten short stories that fall between other novels in this popular 13 novel series. For those not familiar with the series, Harry Dresden is a wizard for hire, and the series follows him as he works in a modern, urban setting to solve crimes, assisting police with his magical abilities. Dresden ends up in some fairly hairy (no pun intended) predicaments, usually to the reader’s delight. This is a series full of graphic crime scenes, and a lonely wizard’s attempt at assembling any semblance of romance with some of the series’ various sultry female characters. Also worth mentioning, fans have indulged in the novels being converted to a television series, which aired on Sci-Fi in 2007. Side Jobs has spent a good portion of 2010 in the top 5 fantasy bestseller list on Amazon.com, and therefore gets my nod for top 10 fantasy novels of 2010. You can pick up Side Jobs over at Amazon.com.

Bearers of the Black Staff

Bearers of the Black Staff is a fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, the first  in the two-book Legends of Shannara series. Personally, I’ve only read the original Sword of Shannara trilogy, but Terry Brooks has continued to pump our Shannara novels like its his job. Well, I guess it his his job, so in that case, job well done Mr. Brooks. Bearers of the Black Staff has appeared frequently on the Amazon top 5 fantasy bestseller list since its release in August, 2010. You can pick up Bearers of the Black Staff over at Amazon.com.

Changes by Jim Butcher

Changes is book 12 in the Dresden Files series, which has become a big fan favorite in recent years. Changes was released in April 2010, and shared a healthy portion of the pie on the Amazon top 5 fantasy bestseller list for much of the year. You can pick up Changes over at Amazon.com.

Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton

Flirt is book 18 in the Anita Baker: Vampire Hunter series, which Hamilton is likely most well-know for. Flirt was released in February 2010, and spent a great deal of time on the Amazon top 5 fantasy bestseller list this year. Needless to say, at book 18, Hamilton has been at this for much longer than the current vampire fad, and therefore is deserving of a spot in the top 10 fantasy novels for 2010. You can pick up Flirt over at Amazon.com.