So what is the best-selling fantasy book/series of all time?

[DragonReader]

The best selling fantasy series is Harry Potter, while the best selling book is easily the bible.

I think that depends on whether you are talking about current or all time. If you are talking all time I think LOTR has sold more than Harry Potter.

 

[Final07]

I believe the fourth installment to the Harry Potter series sold millions worldwide, while LotR isn't as popular worldwide...Well at least IMO.

 

[Jay_T]

As of early last year, The Harry Potter novels has accoutned for 250 million copies sold worldwide,.

Thats 250 Million (give or take a few million now I would imagine) over 5 books.


The Lord of the Rings has sold over 100 million copies.

Nothing else to my knowledge is even close worth enough to discuss.

Now, where the numbers get skewed is many of those 100 million units for Lord of the Rings were actually 3 books sold, not one (as numerous edition are sold as a set, and when you buy a set of The Lord of the Rings it counts as 1 purchase not 3). So it's very possible, and in fact more than likley if we went by actual number of books sold Tolkien has more books sold, not to mention a hell of a lot better average per book sold.

At any rate it's damn close which ever way.

I had this info handy due to somr idiot recently trying to tell me somehow Stehpen Donaldson's 6 million copies sold some how surpassed Tolkien's 100 million amount at another forum.

 

[Brys]

I'd heard that recently, because of the Runes of Earth being published, Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series had just surpassed Tolkien's Lord of the Rings as the best selling fantasy series ever. If it has, then it isn't really that surprising because the Covenant series is 7 books so far, compared to the 3 books of Lord of the Rings.

@Ainulindale - where did you get this info? I'm just wondering, because I've seen quite a lot of places saying that the Covenant series is the largest now.

 

[Jay_T]

Donaldson is no where near Rowling's or Tolkien's range, If Donaldson had outsold Tolkien in this day in age (publishing) he would be a billionaiire, and he most assuredly is not. Rowling is.


The information regarding the Covenant is used by various ridiculous retailers and books clubs denoting it sold more books for them.


Remember Runes of the Earth recently came out, and wasn't exactly record breaking so check out he numbers:

As of 2001, The Lord of the Rings has sold 100 million copies (thats before the ending of the popularity surge of the movies I might add), noted HERE (there are tons of other palces that give the same number i trust I dont have to list them all, just like Rowling 250 million is on every site jsut search for it here is just one from Forbes (who I think are reputable) Here)

Note that number in individual books would probably exceed 200 million.

Here are 3 sources that denote Donaldson's sales, all say 6 Million, and are written mentioning Runes of thr Earth release (last year):

Donaldson[/B] is no where near Rowling's or Tolkien's range, If Donaldson had outsold Tolkien in this day in age (publishing) he would be a billionaire (or damn clsoe, billionaiire may be overstating it) , and he most assuredly is not. Rowling is.

here

here

here


So unless Donaldson sold over 100 million (which I assure you he didn't sale anywehre near that amount, not half, not 5% even) copies last year that rumor is essentially ridiculous advertising to fool people who wouldn't grasp the obvious.

I like the Donaldson series, but Lord of the Rings is in a stratosphere of its own reagrding sales , only reached by Rowling in fantasy history. NOBODY (as in the best seller regulars) is even close, not Brooks, not Jordan, not Salvatore, not Goodkind, not Martin, nobody.

I don't think people truly graps the financial success of Rowling. If Steve Erikson finished all 10 of his books and quadrupled his sales for each book - he still would be no where near the Rowling or Tolkien mark, and when I mean no where I mean a very small fraction.

It's not that Rowling is the just the best selling fantasy book currently , she is absolutely destroying everyone currently - nothing is even close.


So to answer the question:

I'd heard that recently, because of the Runes of Earth being published, Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series had just surpassed Tolkien's Lord of the Rings as the best selling fantasy series ever.

That statement would impy Runes of the Earth saling at least more than 100 million copies, which is absurd, I'd be surprsied if it sold 1 million. It would also imply Donaldson has outsold Rowling which is absolutely ridiculous, the number of books in each series are similar and any one of Rowling's books has outsold all of Donaldson's Covenant books combined.

It's notion I have heard a couple times now and is completely false, from what info I can gather.

250 million > 6 million (I could be off by a 100 million and it still wouldn't be close)


Unless there are multiple gross overstatements and understatements that correlate with all 3 of these particular books at multiple unrelated sites, I can't see how Donaldson has possibly sold me more novesl that Tolkien, or Rowling or be anywhere close to either one of them. I mean he is not even in double figures percentage-wise comapred to them.

 

[cgw]

When stateing sales, I think each book should be counted separately. For example Agatha Christie has been described as have sales only exceded by the bible. That means if she had 50 books that sold 1M, thats 50M (obviously not real numbers). To me LOTR is 3 books, so if 100M of the series sold, thats 300M. LOTR has sold well for 50+(?) years so I do not doubt any numbers used (whether it is 100M or 300M). Does that 100M count The Hobbit?
I would not know, but I can not imagine that Donaldson has exceded by much, the sales of Brooks, Jorden, Eddings etc.
Not fantasy, but I imagine Asimov has published/sold his fair share.

 

[Jay_T]

I think each book should be counted separately. For example Agatha Christie has been described as have sales only exceded by the bible. That means if she had 50 books that sold 1M, thats 50M (obviously not real numbers). To me LOTR is 3 books, so if 100M of the series sold, thats 300M. LOTR has sold well for 50+(?) years so I do not doubt any numbers used (whether it is 100M or 300M).

I already said that here :

Now, where the numbers get skewed is many of those 100 million units for Lord of the Rings were actually 3 books sold, not one (as numerous edition are sold as a set, and when you buy a set of The Lord of the Rings it counts as 1 purchase not 3). So it's very possible, and in fact more than likley if we went by actual number of books sold Tolkien has more books sold, not to mention a hell of a lot better average per book sold

.

When stateing sales, I think each book should be counted separately. For example Agatha Christie has been described as have sales only exceded by the bible.

I agree, there is defintely something to be said about average copies sold per book, but in since you mentioned Christie, it is estimated she has a sold a Billion copies - which is a tremendous figure no matter how many books an author may have written.

 

[KatG]

If we're sticking to fantasy, then the question is whether we count the Bible or not. If we do, it wins as all time champ. But I'm inclined to discount the Bible, as it is not intended as fiction and because if you include it, you then have to deal with the writings of Buddha and all the other religious works. So let's stick to fiction. There's Shakespeare, but not everything he wrote was fantasy, so let's toss him. That leaves, again, Rowling's Harry Potter series followed by Tolkein's Middle Earth novels, not including films, merchandising, and the like.

 

[Jay_T]

Kat G, what do you of another author I have heard sale tons of books R.L. Stine, who at least in one location I read has sold over 200 million novels?

I can't admit to reading any of the work (but have seen it everywhere of course, especially Goosebumps). Is it more childrens/horror?

 

[Rob B]

Besides Harry Potter--I thought I read that the Goblet of Fire sold 100 million copies world-wide, but I don't know how accurate that is or where I read it. Does anyone know where I can get statistics on the best-selling fantasy books/series?

This is just something that interests me, I'm obsessed with tracking the box-office statistics as well.

Over a year later and you've disappeared.

 

[KatG]

Kat G, what do you of another author I have heard sale tons of books R.L. Stine, who at least in one location I read has sold over 200 million novels?

I can't admit to reading any of the work (but have seen it everywhere of course, especially Goosebumps). Is it more childrens/horror?

R.L. Stine does write children's books, yes, and they're meant to be spooky. (I think he's also written one adult novel or so.) The most famous of his works is the prolific Goosebumps series which was also made into a kids television series in the U.S. I'm not sure how many Goosebumps have sold, but I'm not sure if it's fair to count it as it's an omnibus series, with many different individual stories under the Goosebump heading, rather than a straight series like Harry Potter or Lemony Snicketts' Unfortunate Events. There are a number of children's books who have been around for decades and probably could give Tolkein a run for his money. If we throw in picture books, then there are several authors who may have sizable numbers. Stephen King's total career output has very large numbers, but he's done very few series and I'm not sure any one title, even "Carrie," would rate, though he's probably in the top twenty somehow. But the Harry Potter books have broken all previous sales records, from what I understand. And Tolkein has LOTR in all forms, "The Hobbit" and "The Simarilion" for a good fifty year stretch, so I would assume in fantasy that he's second. But I don't have figures for it.

 

[Steven Savile]

Couple of points -

1. Donaldson would not be a billionaire... alas his ex wife would be as she retained rights to Covenant in the divorce settlement - do not ask...

2. RL Stine - was for a time a House Name, meaning he didn't write all of his own books. Again don't ask how I know for sure, but I know a few RLs