The Riddle-Master Of Hed
by Patricia A McKillip (1976)

First in McKillip's superb Quest Of the Riddle-Master trilogy. Long after the last wizard had vanished, a prince of farmers masters the riddles that hold all knowledge. When evil forces start replacing all his friends with shape changers, he sets off with a companion to try and solve the riddle of the three stars on his forehead. Trilogy now available in an omnibus edition.

The Silmarillion
by J R R Tolkien (1977)

Posthumous work written over three decades and edited by Tolkien's son Christopher. The book outlines the First Age of the Middle Earth world depicted in Lord Of the Rings. It tells of the struggle for control of the Silmarils in the historical lead-up to the War of the Ring. Some good stuff, but essentially for devoted fans only and certainly not the place to start with Tolkien.

Duncton Wood
by William Horwood (1980)

Horwood's Book of Silence series did for moles what Richard Adams' Watership Down did for rabbits. A couple of heroic moles set off across England on a spiritual quest to conquer evil. While the first in the series has a touch of Tolkien-esque fun about it, volumes that followed are decidedly more serious and perhaps better suited to teens.

'The Belgariad'
by David Eddings (1982)

Formulaic epic fantasy from one of its most popular proponents. The official line for Pawn of Prophecy reads: "The farm boy, Garion, begins a dangerous quest to recover the magic Orb and prevent the evil Torak from seizing power over the world." And from there another four rather long volumes complete The Belgariad series. One of the better epics if you like this sort of stuff.

God Stalk
by P C Hodgell (1982)

Hodgell's Kenkyrath series began with this tale of a young woman who goes searching for her missing memories. The Kenkyr people have fallen prey to evil and are their own worst enemies. Aristocrats are viewed with suspicion and fear - which may be bad news for the heroine. Solid epic fantasy that has its fans and is currently making a comeback.

The Black Company
by Glen Cook (1984)

Those who are weary with do-gooder fantasies might want to check out Glen Cook's Black Company series. Told from the viewpoint of a group of renegade mercenaries, the first book of many focuses on the search for the White Rose - the embodiment of good. Of course there are plenty of evil figures to deal with along the way. This volume will probably be sufficient for most.

Bridge Of Birds
by Barry Hughart (1984)

Delightfully sensitive and humorous book from the Master Li trilogy set in "an ancient China that never was". When a disease strikes down children a peasant and his sage set out to find a cure in the Great Root Of Power. Beautifully drawn characters that aren't out to conquer all evil, just the bits that affect the ones they love. A cut above the typical quest novel.

Shadow on the Glass
by Ian Irvine (1998)

Australian environmentalist Ian Irvine writes topnotch eco-thrillers and unusual fantasies, this being the first in the View From the Mirror quartet. When the Way Between the Worlds closes an ancient race joins the other human races in a single realm. Millennia hence an ancient secret is discovered and a young sensitive searches for an artefact. Reads better than it sounds in snapshot.