The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Discworld

Pratchett, 1983 · #20 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 91/120 · adapted for screen

On a flat world riding on four elephants and a turtle, wizards, witches, watchmen and Death himself stumble through satires of our own world.

Mood8Theme9Structure7Further reading6Creative details10Real-world blend3Divine influence8Climax and fights6Epicness9Genre standard7Originality9

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

If you liked Discworld, read:

  1. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

    Leiber, 1939 · #50 on the list · 80/120

    A towering northern barbarian and a small, quick thief roam the city of Lankhmar, stealing, drinking and getting into trouble with wizards.

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

  2. A Song of Ice and Fire

    Martin, 1996 · #14 on the list · 94/120

    Noble houses tear Westeros apart over the Iron Throne. Meanwhile an older threat gathers beyond the Wall in the north.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  3. Elric

    Moorcock, 1961 · #27 on the list · 88/120

    Elric, the albino emperor of Melniboné, is kept alive by drugs and by Stormbringer, a black sword that drinks souls. He brings ruin to those he loves.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, real-world blend.

  4. Gentleman Bastard

    Lynch, 2006 · #68 on the list · 74/120

    Locke Lamora and his crew con the nobility of the canal city of Camorr, until a mysterious killer starts taking apart its underworld.

    Close on mood, structure, further reading, creative details.

  5. Vlad Taltos

    Brust, 1983 · #74 on the list · 72/120

    A human assassin climbs the underworld of an elf-like Dragaeran empire, with a witty familiar on his shoulder.

    Close on mood, structure, real-world blend, climax and fights.

Featured pick

Acenes of Sparta: The Dragon Slayer

Manolis Tsongas, 2026 · #5 on the list · 101/120 · for adults and mature teens

A dragon is the real reason King Leonidas and his three hundred died at Thermopylae. Sixty-two years later the gods send a Spartan boy of the agoge to kill it. The book takes lessons from tragedy and the cost of sacrifice, as is the Greek way.

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.