A lot of people consider reading to be something you do when there is nothing better to do when they’re bored and wish to while away the time. Reading is something I do when there is too much to do. It is the ultimate escape from reality, and I am not ashamed to say that my literary addiction is insatiable! Especially the fantasy and adventure genre, which is the one I run to the most.

Some of you may have already read these books, but some may be new to you. I am an English major, have worked in a bookstore for years, and have been in love with reading all of my life so, I know I still have a long way to go, but I have compiled a list of some of the most amazing fantasy books that I have read in my life so far. You must try reading these before the world is destroyed by Vogons, Mer, and we bite the dust!

1. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time Series #1) by Robert Jordan

I won’t add the "Lord of the Rings" or "The Hobbit" to the list because any fantasy geek would have already read that by now, but the "Wheel of Time" series is the next absolute MUST for any huge fantasy geek to read. It is an epic fantasy and sucks you into a completely different world, just like "Lord Of the Rings." It has the traditional struggle of good against evil, just like in "Harry Potter" has a “chosen one” that is destined to fight against a dark lord, but has more world-building, an intricate plot line, and different points of view.

If you read the first one you will not be able to stop until you have read at least the first three books. It takes slightly more commitment (a.k.a. addiction) to completely read them all because there are 14 books in the entire series, but they are worth it. Give 'em a try! I am truly devoted.

2. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Some people absolutely revere him, some think he isn’t all that, but Neil Gaiman is definitely a fantastic storyteller, especially in this non-stop adventure story about a boy with a big heart and his adventures in attempting to capture a shooting star and bring it back home as a token to a girl he is trying to prove his love for.

It has everything that a fantasy and adventure lover could possibly want and in such few pages. Read this if you are in the mood to be enchanted, entertained, and thrilled. Everything ties up beautifully.

3. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

OK, so maybe this doesn’t meet stock fantasy criteria for some, but it does to me. What makes fantasy, fantasy anyways? This book is epic, challenges your imagination, contains huge battles between man and nature, man versus man, and even man versus the supernatural. We have a hero to root for, Pi, and seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against him. I have never felt what the protagonist feels so vividly (I have never been so thirsty while reading a book!) in my entire book-reading career. You will never be so thoroughly invested in the life of a character. Not sold yet? Forget Chu.

4. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Yeah, I know it’s a school required reading book and a literary classic, but you would be surprised at how many people have actually not read this story. If you are one of those (I was until recently) then you need to pick it up. It is only around 200 pages and will change your life, the way you think about what makes one human, and probably haunt your dreams the way it still does mine. Shelley will grab you by the throat and not let go until she's done with you. Again, this is not stock fantasy, but it pushes the boundaries of your imagination to such amazing levels that you do not even want to miss the dragons.

5. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

This is probably one of my favorite books of all time and should be inducted into the Best Novels Ever Written Hall of Fame if there is one. It has a lot of science fiction elements, which only enhances its amazing-ness, so if you like spectacular, witty, non-stop adventure kind of books (and a small break from normal epic fantasy), read this now. Now, I say. Now.

6. The Wake by Scott Synder

I have always been afraid to dip my toe into the graphic novel reading world, but am so glad I did, and that I started with this! The artwork is phenomenal, the story is so plausible that it's chilling, and it is so action-packed that I could not put it down without severe anxiety about what was happening next. I’m sure there is a word for this.F.O.M.O! I looked it up on urban dictionary and according to them, it means the fear that you will “miss out on something great”. You should really read this.

7. A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth Series #1) by Piers Anthony

Fantasy does not get any more fantasy-ish than the Magic of Xanth series. It contains every fantasy creature known to man (and even some that are not known) but puts a tremendous twist on your typical fantasy world and is extremely witty and engaging. There are too many books in the series to count (roughly 41, I counted) but after about the first three, you can pick any of them up without having to worry too much about missing anything vital.

The coolest thing about this series has to be that in the magical land of Xanth (which coincidentally is shaped like the state of Florida), there is a portal into our world which they call Mundania (no magic, therefore mundane). The reason why there are so many books is because there is so much to explore in Xanth.

8. The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee

It is partly coming of age story and partly a critique of society and the meaning of humanity and love. Jane, the daughter of a rich widow in the far-out future, is extremely sheltered, unsure of herself, and dissatisfied with her life. Until one day, robots are created that are programmed to look, act, and feel like humans. The catch is, they do everything better than us. This causes an uproar from the humans, the program is canceled, and the robots are all going to be destroyed. Not until, however, Jane falls in love with one and sells everything she has to buy one before its gone.

9. The Explorers Guild by Jon Baird

I can not even count how many assignments this book made me procrastinate on. This book is pretty new and still unknown for the most part, which is why I wanted to save it for last.

The story is divided between part comic and part book form (merging interchangeably) and I can not even explain how effortless this story flows, how exquisite the writing is (and artwork!), and how fantastical and action-packed the plot is! I took so long to read it because I wanted to treasure its amazing-ness by re-reading nearly every sentence before I turned a page. I did not want it to end.

This story contains everything you could possibly ever need in a gripping story. It has some historical context, tons of adventure, phenomenal prose, tons of amazing three-dimensional characters, and a very entertaining plot. If you are thinking to yourself “hmm I think I am in the mood to read something good… something really good. Something SO good I won’t even know what day it is or who I am or why these people keep talking to me expecting me to know why” kind of book…well, my friends, look no further.