For a long time it was believed that books about magic were written primarily for children. Indeed, who, apart from the children, will read fairy tales? But then came such a popular genre as fantasy. Books about magic in adults have gained considerable popularity. There is also magic here, and among the characters there are dragons, elves and gnomes. But in general, the world cannot be called childish.
The best books of the genre
Of course, to list all the best works of the fantasy genre is simply impossible - their number is huge. In addition, books that delight one reader will leave the other completely indifferent. One likes to read about the funny, and sometimes hilarious adventures of the main characters - funny and cheerful. And the other is delighted with the dark, brutal everyday life of dark fantasy. So to please every connoisseur of such a fiction will not be easy. We will try to make a list of works that have been tested by time and appreciated by many thousands or even millions of readers both in our country and around the world.
As a result, we get a set consisting of really exciting books, which will be interesting to read to any fan of the genre. We will talk about them in more detail.
"Lord of the Rings"
Of course, listing the best books about magic, it’s worth starting with the immortal work of John Ronald Rowel Tolkien. The chic trilogy, in fact, became the ancestor of the whole genre - fantasy. Now books about magical fictional worlds are read with pleasure not only by children, but also by adults.
The action takes the reader to a surprisingly finely crafted world - Middle-earth. It is inhabited by people, elves, gnomes, hobbits, onts, orcs, trolls and many other creatures. For many years this world did not know serious upheavals and wars. No one paid attention to petty skirmishes and battles.
But once everything changed. Going on a dangerous journey, Bilbo Baggins - a calm and peaceful hobbit, who most appreciated comfort, peace and hearty food - discovered a magic ring. It was far from immediately possible to find out that it was created by Sauron himself - a dark ruler, on whose behalf he breathes horror and death. For thousands of years, Sauron wandered in the darkness, unable to incarnate and not wanting to die completely. But if this ring falls into his hands, he will rise, and then there will be no forces left in the world that can resist him.
How will the fate of the whole world develop? It depends on the simple hobbit and the decisions it makes.
"The Chronicles of Narnia"
Also on our list you should definitely include the chic books "The Chronicles of Narnia". Moreover, their author - Clive Lewis Staples - was a close friend of Professor Tolkien.
Books (and there are as many as seven), although they have a noticeable religious bias (the writer was a zealous Christian), will be an excellent choice for a child or teenager. They cultivate courage, selflessness, honesty, punishment, greed and cowardice.
Reading the books “The Chronicles of Narnia”, the reader will be able to plunge into the amazing, magical world populated by the most incredible creatures seven times. And at the same time to trace his entire path - from creation to destruction. And of course, all the important events involved children and adolescents who enter Narnia from the ordinary world. Of course, the book will be a discovery for the child, and adults will also not be bored when reading it.
Harry potter universe
It is impossible not to include in the list the book of J. K. Rowling "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", as well as the six following. Today, perhaps, it is she who is the most famous in the whole world.
The cycle talks about a simple boy named Harry. His parents died in a car accident long ago (as he had been told from childhood), so he doesn’t remember them. Harry lives with his uncle, aunt and cousin. And this family is doing everything possible to turn his life into real hell. He lives in a pantry under the stairs, wears clothes behind his brother (which is large by several sizes) and studies at the worst school in the city.
Of course, he would give anything for the opportunity to get out of the house of relatives who hate him wholeheartedly. But Harry could not even think that on his tenth birthday his wish would come true. Turns out he's a real wizard! He will travel to a wonderful world, hidden from the eyes of ordinary people. There will be adventures, and dangers, and real friendship.
"Profession: Witch"
If you list successful books about magic and magic, then it is worth mentioning a series of books that came from the pen of the Belarusian writer Olga Gromyko. The main character was Volha Rednaya, a recent graduate of the Magic Academy, who went to travel the lands of the Kingdom of Beloria to fight various manifestations of dark magic and help ordinary people.
The main advantage of the book is not only an interesting plot and colorful characters. Also worth mentioning here is the indomitable optimism of the protagonist and a well-designed world: history, periphery - the writer managed to describe all this in such detail that there is simply no doubt about the reality of the story. Of course, first of all, the book can be attributed to the popular female fantasy. But many men will be interested to read it, often going into a fit of laughter.
"The Secret Investigation of King Peas"
If we talk about Russian writers who create in the genre of humorous fantasy, one can not help but mention Andrei Belyanin with his gorgeous cycle, which began with the book "The Secret Investigation of Tsar Gorokh." To date, the series includes as many as ten books! Of course, the latter are traditionally not perceived as sharply as the former. But to get acquainted with this universe is definitely worth it.
The work begins with the fact that the main character - Nikita Ivashov, the junior lieutenant of the police - by the will of fate moves into the magical world. This is the real Ancient Russia with all the evil spirits and characters due: brownies, mermaids, goblins, field, Baba Yaga, Koshchei the Immortal and others. What should a policeman do here who has not graduated from the Saratov Law Institute? Of course, what he was going to do was to defend law and order. True, this will be done in completely unusual conditions. Fortunately, there will always be friends nearby who are ready to help.
Earthsea cycle
This beautiful world was created by Ursula Le Guin, a popular writer from the United States. It included six novels and several short stories. The first book was The Wizard of the Earthsea. The action takes place in an archipelago called the Earthsea. An ordinary boy named Ged was born in a small village.
Here he would have spent his whole life if he had not once shown his magical abilities, defending his native village. Shortly afterwards, the wandering magician took him into training. Ged could not even think how many fights and trials await him on his life's journey. However, even if he knew about this, he would hardly give up such an interesting and eventful life that turned him from an unknown boy into a legendary magician.
"Practical magic"
Concluding our book is Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. Its action takes place not in a fictional world, as in the previous ones, but in a quite ordinary and familiar to us. And not a long time ago, but in our time. A rather romantic, but at the same time fun piece, telling about the Owens family. All women in the family are endowed with a witching gift, but they are also cursed: all the men with whom they fall in love will soon die. Will the main character manage to rid herself and the whole family of a terrible curse? Of course! True, for this you will have to go through serious tests to prove your right to love.