The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Alice books

Carroll, 1865 · #67 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 75/120 · adapted for screen

Alice falls down a rabbit hole, and later steps through a looking-glass, into worlds that run on nonsense logic.

Its strongest scores: creative details and genre standard. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked Alice books, read:

1. Oz

   Baum, 1900 · #73 on the list · 73/120

   A Kansas cyclone carries Dorothy to Oz. With a scarecrow, a tin woodman and a cowardly lion, she follows the yellow brick road to the Wizard.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

2. She

   Haggard, 1887 · #46 on the list · 81/120

   A Cambridge scholar and his young ward follow an ancient potsherd into Africa. They find Ayesha, an immortal queen who has waited two thousand years.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. The Magic Goes Away

   Niven, 1978 · #78 on the list · 71/120

   Magic is a finite natural resource and it is running out. An aging sorcerer and his companions set out to steal power from the moon.

   Close on theme, structure, further reading, real-world blend.

4. Phantastes

   MacDonald, 1858 · #64 on the list · 76/120

   A young man wakes to find his bedroom turning into a forest. He wanders through Fairy Land in search of an ideal of beauty.

   Close on mood, theme, further reading, real-world blend.

5. The Princess Bride

   Goldman, 1973 · #59 on the list · 77/120

   Westley, the farm boy, sets out to rescue Buttercup from Prince Humperdinck. Fencing masters, giants and the Cliffs of Insanity lie in his way.

   Close on mood, theme, creative details, real-world blend.

How the scores work: each book is rated 1 to 10 on eleven criteria; real-world blend and climax and fights count double, for a maximum of 120. See the full Fantasy 101.