Most Influential Fantasy Authors
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973), known by his pen name J. R. R. Tolkien, was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor who is best known as the author of the classic high-fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are the most inspired writers of all time, everyone aspires their creation to live up to the standard of Middle-Earth and Narnia. However Tolkien definitely is the most brilliant author to the fantasy world, he's creation is far beyond anyone.
There's probably no other fantasy author in the past that has paved the way for modern fantasy literature or had an awesome power of imagination like J.R.R. Tolkien.
Talk about an author who studied the elements of fantasy and progressed it to the next level.
Tolkien gave many of us generations a new mythos to understand ourselves and our world.
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist. ...read more.
James Oliver Rigney Jr. (1948-2007), better known by his pen name Robert Jordan, was an American author known for writing the epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He was also known for writing stories about Conan the Barbarian, and for writing other books with different pseudonyms. He died from cardiac amyloidosis in 2007 before he could finish the whole Wheel of Time series. Fortunately, author and long-time Wheel of Time fan Brandon Sanderson was able to finish and publish the last three books in the series. Oh yes, Wheel Of Time series.
Lloyd Chudley Alexander (1924-2007) was an American author of fantasy novels for children and young adults. His most famous work is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain (which was later adapted into the 1985 Disney film The Black Cauldron, which has also earned a reputation for being one of ...read more.
Joanne Rowling, CH, OBE, FRSL, FRCPE, writing under the pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist, philanthropist, film and television producer and screenwriter best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series.
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett (1948-2015) was an English author of fantasy novels, especially comical works. He is best known for writing the comic fantasy book series Discworld.
Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author who achieved posthumous fame through his influential works of horror fiction. Virtually unknown and published only in pulp magazines before he died in poverty, he is now regarded as one of the most significant 20th-century authors in his genre. ...read more.
Michael John Moorcock is an English author of science fiction and fantasy. He is best known for his series of books centering around the fictional character Elric of Melniboné.
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American filmmaker and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, as well as the founder of Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic. Shouldn't be on the list. He's a film director. Not an author (also he's more influential in sci-fi cinema).
This dude ain't an author (nor is he associated with the fantasy genre).
He's not a fantasy author.
Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and fighter pilot. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide.