What non-Tolkien 📔book is like Lord of the Rings, and should be read?

[Keva]

Title says it all.
Every few year I wish to repeat the experience of reading the Lord of the Rings with some new book I never heard off, but everything stops at start as there is no decent suggestion. Only once did I find something that was like LOTR, and it wasn't even the same genre, but it had the same vibe. Now Im again in this mood and I'm looking for something new but can't find anything.
That's kind of weird because in my mind even writers like Stephen King where inspired to write Dark Tower series (in my mind they were kind of catching that vibe) to copy Tolkien, but I find nothing satisfying in that sense.
Would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions. I'm not here every day but will surely come back for your thoughts.

 

[Starbrow]

In my opinion, you'll never find anything as good as LOTR, but I'll give a few suggestions of other fantasy series that I really enjoyed.
The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Leguin is about a wizard name Ged, whose quests result in learning more about himself than the stated goal of the quest. You can also try the Winter of the World trilogy by Michael Scott Rohan. It is a more typical quest adventures series.

If you want something exactly like LOTR, try The Sword of Shannara.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

If you want something exactly like LOTR, try The Sword of Shannara.

Well, not exactly.

 

[Ent]

In my personal Opinion, the Shannara series is not bad. Certainly not the depth of Tolkien, but not bad world-building overall. But it was stretched too far.

I enjoyed Asimov's Foundation series as well...very different focus however. Even his early Robot series wasn't too bad. But he lost it at Stranger In A Strange Land.
The Circle of Light series was fun, if a bit elementary
I cannot recommend The Thomas Covenant Chronicles by Donaldson - a most infuriating "hero". But pretty well written for the most part, and many like Donaldson.

then there's the antique E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman series - worth reading once, I do believe.
And of course, for an entirely different romp we have Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Written for a certain age/mentality group, but has its moments into the bargain.

Of course - many of these are "Like" Tolkien's works in very different ways... after all, eve Tom Clancy's series starting with Hunt for Red October is, in some ways, "like" Tolkien's work. (It's a series - sort of.) But I can't recommend Clancy - by the time he gets to The Cardinal of the Kremlin, he is just plain ponderous. I believe he was being paid by the word, paragraph, or page by then, and stuffed as much filler in as possible for reasons well beyond good story.

Michael Chrichton's works are decent - he dapples much in realms he is mildly familiar with. A benefit of Chrichton is one can literally see his writing skills grow, book to book, through his career. (Unlike Tom Clancy, whose skills were good at first in the way he put things together, then calcified.)

Again, the above just my opinions.

Even L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series (13 books) is not a bad bit of world-building - though again, very different in style and intent.

And never, ever, overlook A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes or his Brigadier Girard series. Again very different, but fun. (Do be aware though Doyle consistently called Holmes' work "deductive", it was far more adductive, with a smattering of inductive. Only rarely does he actually apply deductive reasoning.)

So there. I'll shut up now.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Of you're looking for the vibes of adventures and chosen one theme, I think any other good fantasy themed story would do the job. If it's the myth and legend atmosphere you want, then try to read about mythologies you have not heard about or read before.
I have started reading Shahnameh myself.

But I agree. You will never find something exactly like like LOTR and the feel it gave you.

 

[Deimos]

In my personal Opinion, the Shannara series is not bad. Certainly not the depth of Tolkien, but not bad world-building overall. But it was streatched too far.

I enjoyed Asimov's Foundation series as well...very different focus however. Even his early Robot series wasn't too bad. But he lost it at Stranger In A Strange Land.
The Circle of Light series was fun, if a bit elementary
I cannot recommend The Thomas Covenant Chronicles by Donaldson - a most infuriating "hero". But pretty well written for the most part, and many like Donaldson.

then there's the antique E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman series - worth reading once, I do believe.
And of course, for an entirely different romp we have Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Written for a certain age/mentality group, but has its moments into the bargain.

Of course - many of these are "Like" Tolkien's works in very different ways... after all, eve Tom Clancy's series starting with Hunt for Red October is, in some ways, "like" Tolkien's work. (It's a series - sort of.) But I can't recommend Clancy - by the time he gets to The Cardinal of the Kremlin, he is just plain ponderous. I believe he was being paid by the word, paragraph, or page by then, and stuffed as much filler in as possible for reasons well beyond good story.

Michael Chrichton's works are decent - he dapples much in realms he is mildly familiar with. A benefit of Chrichton is one can literally see his writing skills grow, book to book, through his career. (Unlike Tom Clancy, whose skills were good at first in the way he put things together, then calcified.)

Again, the above just my opinions.

Even L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series (13 books) is not a bad bit of world-building - though again, very different in style and intent.

And never, ever, overlook A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes or his Brigadier Girard series. Again very different, but fun. (Do be aware though Doyle consistently called Holmes' work "deductive", it was far more adductive, with a smattering of inductive. Only rarely does he actually apply deductive reasoning.)

So there. I'll shut up now.

I am just now starting the Foundation prequels. I have read the original three Foundation books several times.

Robert A. Heinlein, not Asimov, wrote Stranger in a Strange Land. But you could still say Heinlein lost it with that novel. From that point on his stories got both weirder and creepier; creepy as in having a major "ick factor".

Yep Lensman stories are good once around.

And The Sherlock Holmes stories (all 56 short stories and 4 novellas 🙂) are always good and worth rereading.

 

[Keva]

In my personal Opinion, the Shannara series is not bad. Certainly not the depth of Tolkien, but not bad world-building overall. But it was streatched too far.

I enjoyed Asimov's Foundation series as well...very different focus however. Even his early Robot series wasn't too bad. But he lost it at Stranger In A Strange Land.
The Circle of Light series was fun, if a bit elementary
I cannot recommend The Thomas Covenant Chronicles by Donaldson - a most infuriating "hero". But pretty well written for the most part, and many like Donaldson.

then there's the antique E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman series - worth reading once, I do believe.
And of course, for an entirely different romp we have Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Written for a certain age/mentality group, but has its moments into the bargain.

Of course - many of these are "Like" Tolkien's works in very different ways... after all, eve Tom Clancy's series starting with Hunt for Red October is, in some ways, "like" Tolkien's work. (It's a series - sort of.) But I can't recommend Clancy - by the time he gets to The Cardinal of the Kremlin, he is just plain ponderous. I believe he was being paid by the word, paragraph, or page by then, and stuffed as much filler in as possible for reasons well beyond good story.

Michael Chrichton's works are decent - he dapples much in realms he is mildly familiar with. A benefit of Chrichton is one can literally see his writing skills grow, book to book, through his career. (Unlike Tom Clancy, whose skills were good at first in the way he put things together, then calcified.)

Again, the above just my opinions.

Even L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series (13 books) is not a bad bit of world-building - though again, very different in style and intent.

And never, ever, overlook A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes or his Brigadier Girard series. Again very different, but fun. (Do be aware though Doyle consistently called Holmes' work "deductive", it was far more adductive, with a smattering of inductive. Only rarely does he actually apply deductive reasoning.)

So there. I'll shut up now.

haha, this is how classic recommendation-post for Tolkien looks like, that I was complaining about in my opening post
There's always but and a line of negativity when compared to Tolkien.
Thanks anyway, you did mention some works I never considered

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

If you're looking for good world building, Brandon Sanderson is top of my list. His Stormlight Archive series is amazing.

 

[Idril Celebrindal]

Title says it all.
Every few year I wish to repeat the experience of reading the Lord of the Rings with some new book I never heard off, but everything stops at start as there is no decent suggestion. Only once did I find something that was like LOTR, and it wasn't even the same genre, but it had the same vibe. Now Im again in this mood and I'm looking for something new but can't find anything.
That's kind of weird because in my mind even writers like Stephen King where inspired to write Dark Tower series (in my mind they were kind of catching that vibe) to copy Tolkien, but I find nothing satisfying in that sense.
Would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions. I'm not here every day but will surely come back for your thoughts.

Try the Inheritance books. They have their flaws like every other book (except for LOTR, obviously), but they're pretty good in general. Also, Elfstones of Shannara. It's the second in the series, but you can still understand it without reading the first one, just like you can understand LotR without reading TH. And it's much better then the first and third ones (in my opinion, anyway).
Also... Dune. Yes, it's in a very different setting from LotR, but the intricate world building is the same. Just be prepared for a lot of sand...

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Just be prepared for a lot of sand...

Sounds like the equivalent of "Sure, read Tolkien. Just be prepared for a lot of trees".

 

[Ent]

Robert A. Heinlein, not Asimov, wrote Stranger in a Strange Land.

Ah yes, Heinlein. Thanks for the correction. And as you can tell, I really did 'lose him' once he lost it on Stranger. Some of his earlier stuff wasn't bad - but I can also say not terribly memorable. (Or, Stranger was so bad I deleted him in more ways than one..!!)

 

[Ent]

There's always but and a line of negativity when compared to Tolkien.

Tolkien is named 'author of the century' for a very good reason.
None compare to him. None.
His depths go well beyond what most see in his works - as he himself said would happen.
His works are, quite literally, 'textbooks' on how to do certain things - and could/should well be used as such.

Thus... the 'but' always appearing. It is a well-deserved 'but'.

 

[Ent]

(except for LOTR, obviously)

Oh, LoTR has its flaws as well... though it remains unmatched. Even though Tolkien's works are textbook worthy on how to do some things, they also provide us a thing or two we should try to avoid.

But I won't say any more about it lest some's feathers get ruffled by the breezes..!

 

[Deimos]

Ah yes, Heinlein. Thanks for the correction. And as you can tell, I really did 'lose him' once he lost it on Stranger. Some of his earlier stuff wasn't bad - but I can also say not terribly memorable. (Or, Stranger was so bad I deleted him in more ways than one..!!)

I have about 75% of his "juvenile fiction" novels on my shelves and I am always re-reading them.
I also have about a half dozen or so of his pre-SIASL "adult novels" and those I also re-read quite regularly.
Can't understand how he (permanently) went off the rails beginning with SIASL.
He did have a stroke at some point ... maybe that's what did it. Sad.
He was an excellent story teller in his earlier works.

 

[Elthir]

I remember liking Rhinegold
by Stephan Grundy.

And for a "younger read" I like The Chronicles of Prydain.

This picture illustrates
only one of the series.

Besides a big cat, there
is also an oracular pig.

🐾

 

[Keva]

Tolkien is named 'author of the century' for a very good reason.
None compare to him. None.
His depths go well beyond what most see in his works - as he himself said would happen.
His works are, quite literally, 'textbooks' on how to do certain things - and could/should well be used as such.

Thus... the 'but' always appearing. It is a well-deserved 'but'.

I was hoping there will be one book everyone would agree I must read it.

 

[Starbrow]

I was hoping there will be one book everyone would agree I must read it.

I believe that book is The Lord of the Rings.

 

[Ent]

I was hoping there will be one book everyone would agree I must read it.

LOL. My dear Keva, you speak of the Human. Likelihood of agreement on any given subject between any two people at any time whatsoever is a negative number, and that, ever fluxuating.

Even in a fairly universal appreciation of Tolkien, (though there are millions who have no use for him at all), you will find they do not agree on what is good or what is bad... nor do they hold the same Opinion for themselves on any given Opinion they hold, for more than 32.719847631 seconds - and it is vibrating under the strain even while it is held.

No, no. Your hope is well misplaced.
Always remember: Every disappointment comes from an unfulfilled hope. And every frustration comes from an unfulfilled expectation.
We thus learn to hold our hopes and expectations VERY loosely indeed, to avoid disappointments and frustrations.

I am not surprised if you find yourself mildly disappointed in your quest at this time.

 

[Backyard Professor]

Title says it all.
Every few year I wish to repeat the experience of reading the Lord of the Rings with some new book I never heard off, but everything stops at start as there is no decent suggestion. Only once did I find something that was like LOTR, and it wasn't even the same genre, but it had the same vibe. Now Im again in this mood and I'm looking for something new but can't find anything.
That's kind of weird because in my mind even writers like Stephen King where inspired to write Dark Tower series (in my mind they were kind of catching that vibe) to copy Tolkien, but I find nothing satisfying in that sense.
Would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions. I'm not here every day but will surely come back for your thoughts.

That’s a surprisingly hard question because LOTR isn’t just a fantasy — it’s myth, language, theology, music, philology, war memoir, poetry, and spiritual autobiography all in one.
This book doesn't just copy Tolkien, but stands beside him in gravitas, myth-weight, and worldview: The Once and Future King by T. H. White. If LotR never existed, this might wear the crown.
Why it belongs beside Tolkien:
Arthurian myth given moral gravity and tragedy
Deep meditation on power, rule, and fate
A slow shift from bright wonder → tragic inevitability (like Gondor fading)
The character of Lancelot is as psychologically rich as Aragorn and Boromir combined

Tolkien = decline of Elves and ancient magic
White = decline of chivalry and ideal kingship
They are truly companion epics.

 

[Deimos]

That’s a surprisingly hard question because LOTR isn’t just a fantasy — it’s myth, language, theology, music, philology, war memoir, poetry, and spiritual autobiography all in one.
This book doesn't just copy Tolkien, but stands beside him in gravitas, myth-weight, and worldview: The Once and Future King by T. H. White. If LotR never existed, this might wear the crown.
Why it belongs beside Tolkien:
Arthurian myth given moral gravity and tragedy
Deep meditation on power, rule, and fate
A slow shift from bright wonder → tragic inevitability (like Gondor fading)
The character of Lancelot is as psychologically rich as Aragorn and Boromir combined

Tolkien = decline of Elves and ancient magic
White = decline of chivalry and ideal kingship
They are truly companion epics.

Yet White was not above inserting subtle tongue-in-cheek humor in TOAFK , much as Tolkien did in LOTR