Glen Cook has some excellent D&D type books, with his latest one, "Water Sleeps", setting the stage for inter dimensional travel with its portals.

His Black Company books are good too. My favorite wizard is Varthlokkur, and I would put him up against Elminster any day. I'm not certain who would win, but that would be an awesome battle.

I agree that The Hobbit is the place to start, and am encouraging my nephew who is 8 now and not much interested in reading, to give it a try. I'm sure it motivated me to read more than many of my peers.

The Hobbit was the first fantasy book I ever read and I still think it's the best I've read so far.
And I have read many of the TSR classics, but the hobbit is a book that's both light hearted and still caries emotional weight.

Well, the first fantasy book I've read was the Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Yes, I know it was a steal from Papa Tolkien, but it was still a good book. As for J.R.R. books I'm not a big fan of those because of his prissy nature. Have you noticed how bland the women are in the books? (With the exception of Eowyn, of course!) What interests me more in any book is characterization and the effect of the world upon the character. Without that strong bond, many books just kaput on their bindings

I've read the Icewind Dale Trilogy, but I enjoy the Dark Elf trilogy more because of Drizzt's journey as a young (man?) drow.

But if you want good books, you might try David Eddings the Beligrad and Mallorean series. Humorous and consistent characterization. Then after you read those 10 (yes, 10) books, then top it off with Belgarath the Sorcerer and Pologara the Sorceress.

Another good series is the Grounilar Diatheic series (it's a German book, but I've got the English tranlation). It's the same universe as the Wagner's Ring opera.

Just a suggestion if you're wanting to start your 8 year old on some great fantasy. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis are some of the all time greats, and would be a little easier for a child to really get into and enjoy than the Hobbit I think. After he finishes them and is frantic for more, then I'd introduce him to the Hobbit.

The Chronicles of Narnia Rule! I read those when I was a kid. In fifth grade, my reading group read the first one, and then wrote out a play. I played Mr. Beaver and a dwarf. The odd thing was, that in our play, I had the most lines. I guess the reasons for that was that we ended the play write after Aslan was killed. The "narrator" posed the question, "can they free Narnia from the witch?" That was a lot fun. I still have the polaroids from it.

oh goodness where to begin. i am an avid reader so i have read ALOT o fantasy books.so here we go lets start with my personal fav Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books are great, the darkelf trilogy by R.A. Salvatore is awsome,i would recomend Terry Brooks's Shannara books, and ofcourse last but not the least Raymond E Feist's Rift War saga

Quite few good suggestions for good fantasy series, for an 8 year old I would definately recommnd the C.S. Lewis Narnia series. Two other I started with about that time were the Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time series and the Brian Jacques, Redwall series both of which are right at the level for younger readers.

My first book I read was Pool of Radiance. It's what really got me into AD&D and other RPGs. It is one of the best book ever printed by TSR.

I still think all the Weis and Hickman series were good, including Dragonlance, Twins, Rose of the Prophet, Darksword and especially the Death Gate Cycle.

For "complete" satisfaction in Fantasy writing, two books; The Complete Traveller by John Brunner, and the Compleat Enchanter by L Sprage De Camp - excellent.

However, nothing beats my all time favourite - Fritz Leiber and the "Swords" series.

Piers Anthony's Zanth noves are great for young readers also.