Why Tad Williams captivates readers:
Tad Williams masters the art of immersive world-building—from the medieval grandeur of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn to the mind-bending virtual realities of Otherland. His signature blend of richly detailed settings, deeply human characters, and patient storytelling that rewards devoted readers has earned him a devoted following across fantasy and science fiction.
If Williams' epic scope and emotional depth resonate with you, these 15 authors will keep you turning pages deep into the night:
Why you'll love him: Martin takes Williams' approach to morally complex characters and political intrigue, then amplifies it to breathtaking heights. No character is safe, no outcome predictable.
Start with: A Game of Thrones — A medieval-inspired world where honor can be a death sentence and power is the only currency that matters. If you loved the court intrigue in Williams' work, Martin's Westeros will consume you.
Why you'll love him: Jordan delivers Williams' epic scope multiplied by fourteen books. His world-building rivals Tolkien, with cultures, prophecies, and magic systems interwoven across thousands of pages.
Start with: The Eye of the World — A farmboy's journey becomes humanity's last hope against ancient evil. Jordan's Wheel of Time is essential reading for anyone who wants to lose themselves in a fully realized secondary world.
Why you'll love him: Sanderson brings the meticulousness of Williams' world-building to magic systems—every power has rules, costs, and consequences that matter. Plus, he's a plotting genius who sticks the landing every time.
Start with: Mistborn: The Final Empire — A heist story in a world where the Dark Lord won a thousand years ago. Sanderson's intricate magic system and explosive plot twists make this impossible to put down.
Why you'll love him: If you appreciate Williams' lyrical prose and character introspection, Rothfuss writes like a bard telling stories by firelight. Every sentence is crafted, every word deliberate.
Start with: The Name of the Wind — The autobiography of Kvothe, legendary wizard and disaster-prone hero. Rothfuss transforms the coming-of-age fantasy into high art, with mysteries that will haunt you long after you finish.
Why you'll love her: Hobb writes character-driven fantasy that gets under your skin. Like Williams, she makes you feel every triumph and heartbreak alongside her protagonists.
Start with: Assassin's Apprentice — Follow FitzChivalry Farseer, royal bastard and reluctant assassin, through court politics, magical bonds with animals, and impossible choices. Warning: Hobb will break your heart, then make you beg for more.
Why you'll love him: Feist pioneered the epic fantasy series format that Williams perfected, combining approachable prose with genuinely imaginative world-building and decades-spanning storylines.
Start with: Magician — When war erupts between worlds, an orphan discovers powers that could save—or doom—everything. Feist's Riftwar Saga is comfort food for fantasy fans, in the best possible way.
Why you'll love him: Kay writes fantasy that feels like historical fiction with a whisper of magic. His prose is gorgeous, his themes profound, and his ability to evoke emotion is unmatched in the genre.
Start with: Tigana — In a land where a sorcerer has erased an entire nation's name from memory, survivors plot rebellion. Kay explores memory, identity, and the cost of resistance with stunning beauty.
Why you'll love him: If you thought Williams wrote epic fantasy, Erikson writes *EPIC* fantasy. His Malazan Book of the Fallen is notoriously complex, philosophically dense, and absolutely brilliant for readers willing to work for it.
Start with: Gardens of the Moon — Fair warning: Erikson throws you into the deep end without explanation. But readers who persevere discover one of fantasy's most ambitious achievements—a ten-book series examining empire, morality, and the price of power.
Why you'll love her: Jemisin brings innovation to epic fantasy's traditional structures. She's won three consecutive Hugo Awards for good reason—her world-building is audacious and her themes cut deep.
Start with: The Fifth Season — In a world constantly devastated by apocalyptic geological events, people who can control earthquakes are both saviors and slaves. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy is essential modern fantasy.
Why you'll love him: Abercrombie takes fantasy's heroes and shows you their feet of clay—then kicks them for good measure. His dark humor and unflinching character work make traditional fantasy tropes feel fresh again.
Start with: The Blade Itself — Meet Logen Ninefingers (killer trying to change), Inquisitor Glokta (torturer who was once a hero), and Jezal (privileged swordsman who needs humbling). Abercrombie's First Law trilogy proves that grimdark fantasy can be wickedly entertaining.
Why you'll love him: Before Williams, there was Eddings—creating accessible epic fantasy with humor, heart, and the kind of found-family dynamics that make you smile while reading.
Start with: Pawn of Prophecy — Young Garion's comfortable farm life shatters when ancient prophecy catches up with him. Eddings' Belgariad series is fantasy comfort reading with genuine charm and satisfying world-building.
Why you'll love him: Cook pioneered gritty military fantasy decades before it became trendy. His lean prose and soldier's-eye view of warfare influenced countless authors, including Williams himself.
Start with: The Black Company — Fantasy's first anti-heroes: a mercenary company working for the wrong side, chronicled by their cynical physician-historian. Cook proves that fantasy doesn't need noble quests to be compelling.
Why you'll love her: Friedman blends fantasy and science fiction the way Williams does in Otherland, creating unique hybrid worlds where technology and magic spring from the same terrifying source.
Start with: Black Sun Rising — On a colony world where human fear literally shapes reality, an immortal sorcerer and a warrior priest form an unlikely alliance. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy is dark, philosophical, and utterly unique.
Why you'll love him: Bakker writes the most intellectually demanding fantasy since The Lord of the Rings—exploring consciousness, free will, and religious fanaticism within a brutally detailed world inspired by the Crusades.
Start with: The Darkness That Comes Before — When a holy war threatens to reshape the world, a manipulative monk pursues his own agenda. Not for casual readers, but those who want fantasy that challenges them will find The Prince of Nothing trilogy unforgettable.
Why you'll love him: Brett combines Williams' epic scope with high-concept horror: every night, demons rise from the earth to hunt humanity. His magic system based on protective wards is brilliantly realized.
Start with: The Warded Man — Three protagonists in different corners of the world discover unique ways to fight back against the demon plague. Brett's Demon Cycle delivers both pulse-pounding action and thoughtful character development.
