The Easton Press is an American publisher specialising in quality leather-bound books.
They often publish large series of books, and one of their lesser-known but much loved
collections was a set known as the ‘Masterpieces of Fantasy’ that they produced between 1996
and 1998, which included about 40 classic fantasy novels.
Each volume in the series has a distinctive cover design embossed in gold on both front
and back covers, along with a hubbed spine, satin ribbon page marker, smyth sewn pages
and elegant gilded page edges.
The books also come with a 4-page background and introduction to the book, and feature
endpapers with a pattern designed especially for this series, as well as a color frontispiece
by a contemporary fantasy artist.
The series originally included signed editions of several volumes, with one signed book being
sent out for every eight regular books purchased.
Each signed book included a certificate of authenticity.
When the series was discontinued, some of the remaining signed copies were sold off
at a much higher price, swapping in moiré fabric endsheets to replace the series endpapers.
Others were bundled or expanded into larger sets, such as the Tolkien classics set.
It was an excellent selection of classic fantasy books, and for today’s episode I’ll be
going through the entire set for you.
I’ll give a short introduction to each book and show the frontispiece, and as well as
putting links to the out of press Easton Press titles below, I’ll also link some contemporary
editions if you’re just interested in finding a copy to read.
The Malacia Tapestry by Brian Aldiss.
In this Italianate romantic fantasy, rogue, actor and Renaissance man, Perian de Chirolo
finds himself at the center of a maelstrom as festering violence threatens to explode
in the opulent magical city of Malacia.
The book was first published in 1976.
The Easton Press frontispiece by Ron Walotsky
Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson.
This novel is a pastiche of interwoven stories that draws on varied European legends including
Arthurian romance, Spenser’s Faerie Queen and German mythology.
It’s a magical parallel universe fantasy in which Danish engineer Holger Carlsen is
transported to another Earth, where he is destined to play a part in the war between
Law and Chaos along with his companions Alianora, a swan maiden, and Hugi, a dwarf.
It was first published in 1961.
Frontispiece by Bob Eggleton
A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony This is the first book in Anthony’s lighthearted
and humorous Xanth series about an enchanted land where magic rules - every citizen has
a special spell only they can cast.
However, protagonist Bink is exiled to Mundania because doesn’t seem to have any magical
talent.
The Chameleon of the title is a woman whose intelligence and beauty vary depending on
the time of the month – it’s rather hilariously sexist.
First published in 1977.
Frontispiece by Don Maitz
The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle This high fantasy novel follows the tale of
the Unicorn who learns she is the last of her kind, and undertakes a quest with a bumbling
magician called Schmendrick in order to discover what has happened to the others.
This particular edition is one of the most expensive to find second-hand.
First published in 1968.
Frontispiece by Doug Beekman
The Devil’s Day by James Blish This edition includes two books, Black Easter
and The Day After Judgment.
It tells the story of white magician monks who desperately try to close the Pandora's
box opened by a weapons dealer who hired a black magician to unleash all the demons of
Hell the day before Judgment Day.
Many of the monks are actually named after the author’s science fiction writing friends,
such as Father Vance after Jack Vance, Father Anson, which was Robert A Heinlein’s middle
name, and Father Selahny after Samuel Delaney.
First published in 1968.
Frontispiece by Alan Clark
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks This epic heroic fantasy is the first book
of the original Shannara Trilogy.
The novel interweaves two plots into a fictional world called The Four Lands.
One follows Shea Ohmsford on his quest to find the Sword of Shannara so he can fight
the Warlock Lord, and the other follows Prince Balinor’s attempt to oust his insane brother
from the throne.
The plot is clearly reminiscent of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
Easton Press at one point advertised that they were producing the whole trilogy as a
set, but the plan was abandoned and only this volume was produced.
First published in 1977.
Frontispiece by Doug Beekman and map by the brothers Hildebrandt
Little, Big by John Crowley This romantic urban fantasy novel is also
known as The Fairies’ Parliament.
It begins with the story of Smoky Barnable, who travels from ‘the City’ to a magical
house called Edgewood in New York to fulfill a prophecy that he will marry a girl called
Alice Drinkwater.
It then follows several generations of their family as they discover that Edgewood is a
portal to the realm of Faerie and they must protect it.
First published in 1981.
Frontispiece by Alan Clark
The Complete Compleat Enchanter by L Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt
This edition is an omnibus of five fantasy stories in the Harold Shea series, including
The Incomplete Enchanter, The Castle of Iron and Wall of Serpents.
Psychologist Harold Shea and his colleagues to various magical parallel worlds that can
be reached by aligning one’s mind to their mythologies using symbolic logic.
The stories variously explore Norse, Finnish and Irish Mythology, as well as worlds inspired
by Spenser’s Faerie Queene, and the epic Italian poem Orlando Furioso.
The first book was published in 1941.
Frontispiece by Ron Miller
Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen Donaldson This is the first book in The Chronicles of
Thomas Covenant series, another parallel world epic fantasy series.
Covenant is a young author who is diagnosed with leprosy, who travels to an alternate
world called The Land in which he is not only cured, but regarded as a reincarnation of
their greatest hero Berek Halfhand.
However, Covenant calls himself the Unbeliever because he thinks it must all be a delusion.
First published in 1977.
Frontispiece by Vincent di Fate.
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings This is the first book in the 5-volume Belgariad
series, an epic fantasy set against a history of seven thousand years of the struggles of
Gods and Kings and Men.
In this first volume, the protagonist Garion is a farm boy who discovers that a voice of
prophecy speaks to him, and then goes on a quest with others including the sorcerer Belgarath
and thief Silk.
It’s a great series, and Easton later released a set of all five volumes.
Each of the books has a title that combines a chess term with a fantasy trope, aligning
with the ‘Game of Destiny’ motif that recurs throughout the story.
First published in 1982.
Frontispiece by Ron Miller.
Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master by Raymond Feist
These two books form the first part of the Riftwar Saga series – it was published as
a single book in the UK, but separated into these two volumes for the US market.
It follows Pug, an orphaned kitchen boy who is apprenticed to a master magician and swept
up into a conflict between Order and Chaos that sends him through a rift to a new world.
First published 1982.
Frontispiece by Don Maitz
The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Robert A. Heinlein
In the titular science fantasy mystery story, Jonathan Hoag suffers from memory lapses,
so he hires a detective team to follow him to find out what he is doing during the day.
The novella was first published in Unknown Worlds magazine under the pseudonym ‘John
Riverside’.
First published 1942.
Frontispiece by Walter Valez
Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock This mythic fiction novel is the first in
a series that all take place within or around an ancient British forest known as Ryhope
Wood.
Set after the Second World War, it tells the story of how a father’s obsession drags
his two sons into a world of myths and legends.
First published in 1984.
Frontispiece by Jill Bauman
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Tigana is set in a fictional world that resembles renaissance Italy called the Peninsula of
the Palm.
The plot focuses on a group of rebels attempting to overthrow two powerful sorcerers who have
conquered the Peninsula simultaneously but separately, dividing it into an uneasy balance
of power.
It’s a lovely book that explores shades of morality, and themes of identity, love
and patriotism.
First published in 1990.
Frontispiece by David Martin.
Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz Another first in series book, this introduction
to the Chronicles of the Deryni is a historical fantasy novel is set in the fictional medieval
land of Gwynedd, which has a population of humans and Daryni who are a persecuted race
of psychic magicians.
It deals primarily with the struggle of young Prince Kelson Haldane to secure his throne
from a Deryni usurper.
First published in 1970.
Frontispiece by Jill Bauman.
Queen’s Own Volumes I and 2 by Mercedes Lackey.
These two volumes actually include several books in the Heralds of Valdemar series: Arrows
of the Queen, Arrow’s Flight and Arrow’s Fall.
They explore the adventures of Talia, who overcomes court intrigue by being chosen as
a Herald by her telepathic magical horse Companion Rolan.
The Valdemar series is known as one of the earliest queer-friendly fantasy series.
First published in 1987.
Frontispiece by Pat Morrissey.
The Wizard of Earthsea Volume 1 and 2 by Ursula K Le Guin
Easton released the first two volumes of the Earthsea series as part of the Fantasy masterpieces
series, but they later expanded this to cover the whole series.
Originally published as a children’s fantasy, today it would probably be marketed as young
adult, as it is a coming-of-age story that features a young mage named Ged learning to
cope with power and coming to terms with death.
It also explores some Taoist themes about maintaining balance in the fictional universe
of Earthsea, tied to the idea that language and names have power to affect the material
world.
These two volumes were later reprinted as part of a four-book set.
Although many of the early covers depict Ged as a traditional white-skinned protagonist,
fortunately the Easton Press illustrations reflect his actual identity as a person of
colour.
First published in 1968.
Frontispiece by Rebecca Guay, and drawings by Ruth Robbins.
Gather, Darkness!
By Fritz Leiber This speculative fiction novel tells the story
of Armon Jarles, a man living in a post apocalyptic world run by the techno-priests of the Great
God until the witches start a revolution.
It was originally serialized in Astounding magazine.
First published in 1943.
Frontispiece by Jill Bauman
Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn Also known as The Legend of Brian Boru, this
is a historical fantasy set in the 10th century about the life of the High King of Ireland
who unified the Emerald Isle against the Norse invaders.
The tale mixes fact and fiction and includes druids, gods and goddesses.
There’s a sequel called Pride of Lions that Easton didn’t publish.
First published in 1980.
Frontispiece by Ron Miller.
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip This Celtic fantasy novel tells the tale of
Morgon, the Prince of a small farming island called Hed.
It opens with Morgon’s sister discovering he has a crown hidden under his bed that he
won in a riddle game with the ghost of a cursed king, which sets him off on a quest along
with the harper Deth.
Easton only printed the first book in this trilogy, so be warned that it isn’t a stand-alone
as it ends on a cliff-hanger.
First published in 1976.
Frontispiece by Pat Morrissey
Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon This is the first novel in the epic fantasy
series The Deed of Paksenarrion.
It follows the adventures of Paks, who may be sheepfarmer’s daughter, but she is sure
she is someone special and she sets off to join the army and become a hero.
First published in 1988.
Frontispiece by Keith Parkinson
Witch World by Andre Norton Andre Norton published novels in the high
fantasy witch world series for over 40 years, and the series was continued by other writers
after her death.
The setting is a parallel universe where magic has superseded science, and this first sword
and sorcery-style book describes the adventures of Simon Tregarth from Earth and the witch
Jaelithe as they battle the Kolder.
First published in 1963.
Frontispiece by Walter Velez
Gormenghast Novels Vol.
I and II by Mervyn Peake These two volumes incorporate the whole Gormenghast
Trilogy Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone.
This classic series follows the inhabitants of the decaying gothic Castle Gormenghast,
ruled by the noble family of Groan.
It’s not overtly fantastical, but is generally considered fantasy due to its pseudo-medieval
setting and atmosphere.
Peake was writing a fourth novel in the series at the time of his death, which was completed
by his widow and released 50 years after the third book as Titus Awakes.
First book published in 1946.
Frontispiece by Jill Bauman
Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg This is the first book in a series set on
the planet Majipoor, and it combines science fiction and fantasy elements.
The story follows the amnesiac Valentine who joins a troupe of jugglers and acrobats and
gradually remembers that he has fallen from the highest state of grace.
First published in 1979.
Frontispiece by Ron Walotsky
The Hound and the Falcon by Judith Tarr This omnibus historical fantasy trilogy includes
The Isle of Glass, The Hounds of God and The Golden Horn.
The books tell the story of Alfred – one of the fair folk raised among humans as a
monk at St Ruan’s Abbey, and his struggles in coming to term with who and he is when
he leaves the protection of the monastery.
It is based in the time of Richard the Lionheart and the Fourth Crusade.
First published in 1985.
Frontispiece by Walter Velez
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien For the most famous fantasy series ever, the
Easton Press collection included Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of
the King.
Easton Press sell a separate set which includes The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, but Easton
Press have published at least 25 Tolkien ‘classics’ thus far so there are many to collect if you’re
so inclined.
The first book in the series was published in 1954.
Frontispieces by Michael Hague.
The Once and Future King by T.H.
White White’s lovely retelling of the legend of
King Arthur collects several earlier volumes that he published and is loosely based on
Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.
The book is set around the 14th century in Gramarye – White’s name for Britain – and
it chronicles Arthur’s youth and education, his rule as king, and the tragic romance between
Lancelot and Guinevere.
A later Easton Press edition of this book was produced which includes an additional
four black & white illustrations.
First published in omnibus in 1958.
Frontispiece by David Martin
Darker Than You Think by Jack Williamson In this science fantasy action novel, an archaeologist
returning from Mongolia announces that people exist who can turn themselves into animals,
but suddenly dies of a mysterious seizure during his press conference before he can
provide proof.
The story follows the ensuing investigation into lycanthropy and witchcraft carried out
by his journalist friend Will Barbee.
First published in 1948.
Frontispiece by Jill Bauman
Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny In this first book in the classic parallel
world fantasy series The Chronicles of Amber, Carl Corey wakes up in New York with amnesia.
He escapes the hospital and discovers that he is really Prince Corwin of Amber, the ‘one
true world’ of which our Earth is but a shadow.
He is one of nine men who might rule Amber, but only if he can survive the rest of his
Machiavellian royal family.
First published in 1970.
Frontispiece by Ron Walotsky
The Mists of Avalon, Volumes I and II by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This is another Arthurian fantasy novel, one that relates the legends from the perspective
of the female characters.
It follows the life of Morgan Le Fay, known as Morgaine, who is depicted as a priestess
fighting to save her Celtic culture in a world where Christianity threatens to destroy their
way of life.
And it tells the story of the women who influence King Arthur, including Gwenhwyfar, Viviane,
Morgause and Igraine.
First published in 1983.
Frontispiece by Doug Beekman and internal illustrations by Mel Grant
And that’s it for the Masterpieces of Fantasy collection – I hope you’ve discovered
a few new fantasies that you’re interested to check out.
Thanks for watching, please share your favourite classic fantasy novels in the comments, and
don’t forget to subscribe if you’d like to learn about more beautiful books.
Looking forward to next time, bye!