George R. R. Martin, the author of Game of Thrones, has shared a list of essential fantasy books on his personal blog, Not a Blog. The list is designed to help readers explore the foundational works that have shaped the fantasy genre. Martin, known for his intricate world-building and storytelling, has selected titles that he believes every fantasy enthusiast should read to understand the genre's evolution. At the top of the list is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, published between 1954 and 1955. Martin calls it the cornerstone of high fantasy and suggests it as a must-read for newcomers to the genre. The epic tale of a quest to destroy a powerful ring has influenced countless fantasy writers and remains a defining work of the genre. Among the other recommendations is Conan the Cimmerian, Volume 1 by Robert E. Howard, which collects original stories first published in Weird Tales between 1932 and 1936. These tales helped establish the sword and sorcery subgenre, which focuses on action-packed adventures involving warriors and magic. Martin also highlights Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore, a collection of stories featuring one of the earliest prominent female characters in sword and sorcery fiction. Martin suggests The Land of the Dead by Jack Vance, which he describes as a bridge between traditional fantasy and scientific fantasy. This book is the first in a series of interconnected stories that blend elements of adventure with speculative science. For readers who enjoy stories with anthropomorphic animals, Watership Down by Richard Adams is recommended. The novel follows a group of rabbits as they journey to find a new home after their warren is destroyed. Other titles include Titus Alone by Mervyn Peake, the first book in the gothic Gormenghast trilogy, and Swords and Sorcery by Fritz Leiber, which introduces the famous characters Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Martin also recommends The Quest of Arthur by T.H. White, a reimagining of the Arthurian legends, and A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, which launched her Earthsea series and is considered a classic of modern fantasy.