Best fantasy series

Okay, what is, hands down, everybody's favorite fantasy series?

I loved the Dragonriders of Pern series as a kid, but not so much now. My newer favorite series is the Mirror series by Stephen Donaldson.

Though I suppose I should say that LOTR is the best, because it's the original. :P

LOTR has to be called "The BEST" of all time. It basically invented the genre. The Pern series is a good one. I'm just getting into the whoel Farseer series by Robin Hobb right now - its pretty intriguing.

Lord of the Rings of course, but when I was younger I also enjoyed the Redwall series a lot. It's kind of campy in retrospect, but the books are great fun to read. The Earthsea trilogy is a good series as well.

Wheel of Time. Nuff Said

Rahul, although I loved the first few Wheel of Time's, they are ponderous, and the series is unfinished (which stinks, since Jordan is ill).

I personally feel the Eddings Mallorean and Belgariad are perhaps the best ever. The Overworld series by Jack Vance is probably the best written (and highly enjoyable, although hard to find). Weis and Hickman's original Dragonlance trilogy also very compelling.

Oh, I forgot When True Night Falls and the other 2 Coldfire books, although it is more medieval Sci-Fi with horror elements blended in.

edit: boo wrong thread

Dune! DUNE I SAY!!

I have to say Lord of the Rings. When I saw the first one, I wasn't sure whether I loved it or hated it. By the time the second one came out I couldn't wait to see it. I thought the third one was wonderful!!!

You have to mention the two constants: Dune (more scifi, really) and The Lord of the Rings. They're ubiquitous but deserving of the attention.

George R. R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series is the best strictly fantasy series I've ever read. These novels are not your assembly line fantasy - people get hurt, heros die, magic does not save the day. The plot and subplots are clever and intriguing and very few events are predictable. Every else aside, the real reason I love this series is the way Martin created the characters. The staggering variety and authenticity of his characters makes it very likely that you will find yourself identifying with or rooting for at least two or three. Oh, and there are competant, capable and plausible female characters, too - guys don't rule the show.

On last thing I should note: This is not a story for young children. Things happen, people die. There is sex and violence, so if you're offended by these (I don't see how, assuming you're a fan of fantasy) you should probably find another series (and another thread) to read.

I'm not really in to reading SF, but I love to watch it. My husband is the big SF reader at my house. I have read the "Eragon" book with my kids, and have the second "Eldest", which I haven't read yet. The kids want to take me to see the movie for my birthday. I'm looking forward to it.

I think it's Lord of the Rings (of course) but I really just wanted to thank Agaric for his comment about the Redwall books which I completely forgot about (!) but remember loving to read in the sixth grade.

I think Dune may be favorite single book, but it is NOT my favorite series as I hated every single one of the follow-ups. LOTR goes without saying. Other than that, I htink my favorite is either the Golden Compass series or Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave series.

My favorite fantasy series is a trilogy by Gavriel Guy Kay, called The Fionavar Tapestry. It is composed of Book 1 : The Summer Tree, Book 2 : The Wandering Fire, Book 3 : The Darkest Road -.-'
I'm a dork!

I have yet to read many of those mentioned above (they're on my list!) but I just thought I'd mention that LeGuin's Earthsea Quartet and L'Engle's Time Quartet are up at the top of my list. =)

And more modernly, deLint's Newford stuff. It's my all-time favorite and the best I've ever read.

Besides LOTR, I would say Eddings' Belgariad and Pullman's His Dark Materials. I like the Pern series too, though.

George Martin's Song of Fire and Ice Series and Llyn Flewelling's Tamir Trilogy. :)

Oh, there's so much good fantasy. My favourite fantasy series have to be His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman, but I also like David Eddings' series the Elenium and the Tamuli. The Shamer Chronicle by Lene Kaaberbøl is also very good.

For me it has to be either Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy or Garth Nix's Old Kingdom trilogy.

(I'm afriad to say I didn't like Lord of the Rings that much...)

I'm going to have to go with Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn. That, or her unfinished Exiles series. Those are some of the best books I've ever read.

Belgariad!

As a Kid i loved the CS Lewis books The narnia Series, but as far as Movies LOTR is one of the best behind the Star Wars Saga :-D