The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Oz

Baum, 1900 · #73 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 73/120 · adapted for screen

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.

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

If you liked Oz, read:

1. Alice books

   Carroll, 1865 · #67 on the list · 75/120

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

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

2. 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 mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. 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, further reading, creative details.

4. 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, climax and fights.

5. Lyonesse

   Vance, 1983 · #66 on the list · 75/120

   In the drowned kingdoms of the Elder Isles before Arthur, kings scheme, a fairy-raised princess grows up, and wizards keep their own counsel.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

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.