1) How come [insert name of book or author] didn't make your list? I think [he, she or it] really fires my imagination and is simply the best!

Unfortunately not many agree with you. The book list is a statistical survey of existing popular polls, published critical opinion and major fantasy awards. To make the Top 100 a book has to score enough points in the survey to warrant its inclusion. The same goes for the film and television lists.


2) You usually only include the first book in a series on your list. Why is this?

Multi-volume fantasy epics tend to rely on getting readers hooked on the first instalment in the series. The books can rarely be read as standalones so, with only a few exceptions, I only list the first in the series. Generally speaking, reading the first book in the series will give you a pretty good idea of whether or not you are going to like it enough to keep going.


3) There are a few pretty odd books on your list, including a few horror stories. How do you define the term 'fantasy'?

Fantasy fiction is normally set in an alternative reality that is almost wholly imagined and highly implausible from a scientific viewpoint. This differs from 'science fiction' where the alternative realities depicted are based on extrapolation of known scientific fact or credible scientific theory. The books on the Top 200 list are all either fantasy by definition or are generally regarded as having a significant impact on the historical development of the genre.


4) I love Tolkien and respect what he achieved, but in light of some the terrific authors going around today, is he really the greatest of all time?

From a statistical viewpoint he certainly is. He occupies the top place on the list by a Middle-Earth mile and is very well placed with The Hobbit. Lord Of the Rings scored more than twice the points of the book by the next highest ranked author.


5) Do you have any plans to add a movie list in the future?

Both film and television lists have now been added. I might try running some online polls at some stage if there is enough interest.


6) Thanks very much for the website. It has really helped me get a good fantasy collection together. What gave you the idea to do it?

I run a site called Sci-Fi Lists that is organised in much the same way as Fantasy 100. A very frustrated young lady sent me an email saying how great the sci-fi site was and how if she had three wishes, one of them would be for a fantasy site just like it. I didn't think I'd be able to do it at the time and I've lost her email, so if you are out there and reading this… you have two wishes left.


7) What sort of fantasy do you like to read?

Thanks for asking about me. I really love urban fantasy and also enjoy the humorous stuff. I used to read a lot of epic sword & sorcery when I was younger, but just don't have the time anymore. I am also lucky enough to have a great job that I absolutely love and I'm pretty sure I live in one of the most magical places in the world. It has mountains covered with tropical rainforest that come right down to the ocean. I guess I just don't feel that much of a need for pure escapism, although I probably wouldn't knock back a beautiful princess (or comrade) who likes bushwalking, jazz and footy. As it stands, it is just me and Astro-dog.


8) Do people ever disagree with your reviews?

All the time - and I occasionally get caught out getting a plotline a little bit wrong. I don't mind being told about it though and I try to fix any factual errors that are brought to my attention. As for my opinions, I try not to let them come through too much. After all, these are the greatest fantasy books of all-time!


9) I notice you have added advertising to your site. I liked it when it was clean and simple.

As a hopeless romantic I don't believe money makes the world go round… but it certainly helps keep Fantasy 100 on the net. Trust me… I ain't getting rich from this.


10) Great to see the film and television lists added. What took you so long?

Fantasy is one of those genres that tends to get lumped with science fiction most of the time. On top of this, of the three main speculative fiction genres (sci-fi, fantasy and horror) it is probably the one that is most difficult to categorise. This made gathering data to construct reasonably reliable lists very difficult. What's on the site at present isn't perfect, but it is a very good start and should only get better.