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This July is a month of almost unbearable anticipation for Harry Potter fans. July 21, 2007 is the magic date, but what does one read in the meantime?
Even for those who read only fantasy, there are plenty of good books to read while waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. One author often compared to J. K. Rowling is Diana Wynne Jones, whose first book was published in 1973, almost 25 years before the Harry Potter phenomenon. In fact, Jones has speculated that Rowling was inspired by ideas from her Chrestomanci Series. Rowling has denied reading any of Jones’ books. There are similarities; however, the world of Chrestomanci is much more complicated and richer than the world of Harry Potter.
A Chrestomanci is a powerful enchanter who regulates the usage of magic throughout the parallel universes including our own. Reading one of these books is like stepping into a house with numerous rooms, all containing many doors leading to many hallways and stairways, all with many more doors leading to more rooms, hallways and stairways. Christopher Chant, who becomes the Chrestomanci, is the main character in The Lives of Christopher Chant and a supporting character in the other Chrestomanci novels. The popularity of Harry Potter has renewed interest in Jones’ books. Interestingly, two new additions to the series have just been published: Conrad’s Fate (2005) and The Pinhoe Egg (2006). Jones has written a number of other books and series, including the Castle Series, the Derkholm Series and the Dalemark Quartet. Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Air from the Castle Series have been made into animated movies.
A few other good fantasy novels are:
Anatopsis by Chris Abouzeid
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi (Spiderwick Chronicles)
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The Last Dragon by Silvana De Mari
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series)
Lion Boy by Zizou Corder
Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo (Children of the Red King Series)
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
The Truth-Tellers Tale by Sharon Shinn
