Tanner J. Parsons

Robert R. McCammon is my favorite author, and the fact remains that he gets way less attention than he should over the years. This is due to a number of factors such as getting boxed in by his publisher or being forever stuck in the shadow of Stephen King. Most of his books are currently unavailable in print or hardcover. This is a shame, because every book by him that I’ve read has been a knockout. He’s been able to jump between genres and subgenres and tell a satisfying story in each one. His prose is elegant and his pacing is always tight. That’s why I feel like giving the man his due. Here’s the best ones that fans of horror, historical fiction, or fantasy should check out.

Ah, villains. Where would we be without them? A well-written one can elevate any story to greatness, regardless of the genre. In my experience, the best villains I’ve read about in fantasy are not overwhelming, impersonal forces of evil. Instead, they are the schemers, the ones who are driven by ambition and ruthlessness to get what they want in life. The great villains are those defined by their relationships with others, even though it would be best for them to keep their distance. They have contradictions and flaws like any human being and are actually present in the story. These are the best ones that I have encountered so far.

Top 10 Robert R. McCammon Novels

The 10 Greatest Villains in Fantasy Literature