I’m sad that I’m even having to type this on a video about books, but here we are. At Hardy’s Books we strive to be the best possible allies of the LGBTQIA+ community that we can, and want our channel to be a safe place where people of all identities can talk about books without fear of reading hateful comments. As such, any transphobic comments will be deleted. Thanks!
As a teacher librarian, I can only speak from my limited experience, but I am surprised that the Alex Rider series isn’t on here. If I need to get a teenage boy to read a book, I give him an Alex Rider book and it seems to work every time. Just in terms of cultural significance I think it at least deserves an honorary mention.
Your video on this list is far far higher quality than the list itself, ridiculous top 30, excellent commentary. Laura's reaction to number 6, I did the same lol. I'm also with you about the inability to separate the artist from the artist (edit, I mean artist from the art, oops).
I wasn’t shocked by this list being so anglocentric, but I was a bit surprised that it was SO genre heavy… Did their definition of “series” exclude things like Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels, or the Arsène Lupin books, or Tom Clancy? Not that those series have extreme literary merit, but neither does 50 Shades, for all the impact it had on the market. 🤷
the mystery books were exactly what was missing! Hardy boys but no nancy drew? No Sherlock Holmes - which gets remade and reimagined every couple of years?
I have a daughter in third grade. I am amazed how much the kids love Harry Potter still honestly. Super into it still. Like the author or not, it’s earned its spot.
No it isn’t. No matter the author, that hype was only in USA and UK. The movies made it famous elsewhere. Not the books. And at this very moment there are bookstores where it is missing in translation. Consider that. While Lord of the Rings was and is well known in translation too and it’s part of education in more and more countries. That’s the deal. It’s a classic that won’t change.
On reflection, I don't think my argument came from a rational place. What I think I should have said, was: I'm looking forward to the day when Harry Potter isn't on the top spot anymore.
Thanks for that! It's kind of mortifying what passes as "the best of all time". Twilight and Fifty Shades?? It's surprising the Dune series wasn't in there. And while I loved The Southern Reach trilogy, I wouldn't have put it on a top 30 list. Although it's likely to be one of my favorite reads of 2024, it is weird and difficult to understand what is going on.
That list is half about money half about “we heard in the news about it” list not about any impact on the genre or the readers of the that genre consider it that high ever or authors learn from that book or will it be considered classic like Lord of the Rings. That and Earthsea (without any of it, no Harry Potter) for example are way more impactful than Harry Potter was. Mistborn, no matter how much we like, it’s not that important to be an “all time book” on top30. Discworld is also… lower than 50 shades of nonsense? Hilarious. Twilight? And where is Dracula the very base of vampire genre of if we want a modern one, Interview with the Vampire? It has a few books that has zero effect on other languages. Literally we never heard of it and I read everything and I’m part of several booktuber communities.
I think the anglocentric cultural impact really outweighed all other factors they claimed to consider for this list. Better they call it what it is - most impactful series of all time. The choices and positioning makes much more sense. But best of all time, no other qualifier? This isn't it. Too many obvious snubs in that case.
Great video, guys! Very funny. Yeah, Pratchett's Discworld series should have been No.1. But it does seem to be a biased list. Im not surprised the Harry Potter series takes the top spot. Whether or not they'll still be relevant in the decades to come remains to be seen - but authors like Tolkien, Pratchett, and CS Lewis will always have a strong following through the generations. Yes. The Dark Tower series can divide opinions. It doesn't help that the quality isn't consistent.
There are some things that Forbes posts that has me... 🤨 I think maybe they just reasearch things that would generate traffic and have someone write the article. I'm sure if you took some of the big booktubers and surveyed a bunch of hardcore readers, this list would look quite different. But... 🤷♂ Either way, this was fun. Thanks!
I am a teacher. You are mistaken about Harry Potter. Still the most widely read series among students. Students all wanting to get into the Harry Potter classroom in 5th grade. A few years ago, our Harry Potter club was by far the most popular club. Less anecdotally, the books are also perennial best-sellers. To deny HP’s impact on kids beyond your own generation seems more like wishful thinking on your part because you dislike the author. You may dislike it, but HP will be up there with other books & series that will always have an audience.
I said elsewhere in the comments but I'll copy here: On reflection, I don't think my argument came from a rational place. What I think I should have said, was: I'm looking forward to the day when Harry Potter isn't on the top spot anymore.
Yeah, Malazan is right up at the top somewhere on a fantasy based series next to Lord of the Rings. So far that’s the only one that could hit that bar. Nothing else. That’s how several of us start any list. Quality matters. Octavia Butler is missing from this list as it seems. She deserves a spot. From the new ones Dandelion Dynasty. Dune of course. Asimov was right choice. As in comics Sandman to choose one that book readers would read also. Discworld is a strong fact. Neuromancer is one of the foundations of cyberpunk. Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin was also a good choice. Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb easily instead of George RR Martin. This is finished and started in the same time. Vampire? Dracula. Etc…
I generally sympathize with your reactions, although I confess that there are 18 series on this list that I’ve never tried to read, so I can’t really comment on them. I did read the Belgariad series once, and it was sort of OK, but I didn’t greatly enjoy it and feel no particular urge to read it again. I know nothing about David Eddings as a person, and don’t really care. I think the series had a genuine impact in the late 20th century, when it was published, and perhaps deserves to be on the list on that basis (?). Rather similarly, the Harry Potter series had a major impact in its time, but that time is already past; it should be on the list, but not at the top of it. Lord of the Rings should surely be at the top on the basis of long-term persistent cultural impact. I’d like to see the Rivers of London series on this list, but I don’t know how much cultural impact it’s had at this point; it seems somewhat underrated, failing to attract awards. I personally disliked the Dark Materials series but can’t quarrel with it being on the list. Again, I think the Narnia series is overrated but I suppose it has to be on the list. Should the Murderbot series be on the list? What about Lois McMaster Bujold: the Vorkosigan saga, the World of the Five Gods? These are award-winning series.
Completely agreed Jonathan! There are some really glaring omissions. Where are the big crime series, too? Agatha Christie, Steig Larsson for example? Really poor “journalism” all round
I’m sad that I’m even having to type this on a video about books, but here we are. At Hardy’s Books we strive to be the best possible allies of the LGBTQIA+ community that we can, and want our channel to be a safe place where people of all identities can talk about books without fear of reading hateful comments. As such, any transphobic comments will be deleted. Thanks!
❤
I’m with you Laura. 50 shades ? NO
Maybe because it’s from Forbes, “cultural significance” means “made the most money”
As a teacher librarian, I can only speak from my limited experience, but I am surprised that the Alex Rider series isn’t on here. If I need to get a teenage boy to read a book, I give him an Alex Rider book and it seems to work every time. Just in terms of cultural significance I think it at least deserves an honorary mention.
I LOVED those books! I read at least 5 of them!
Your video on this list is far far higher quality than the list itself, ridiculous top 30, excellent commentary. Laura's reaction to number 6, I did the same lol. I'm also with you about the inability to separate the artist from the artist (edit, I mean artist from the art, oops).
Thanks so much! This comment made my morning! - Laura
I wasn’t shocked by this list being so anglocentric, but I was a bit surprised that it was SO genre heavy… Did their definition of “series” exclude things like Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels, or the Arsène Lupin books, or Tom Clancy? Not that those series have extreme literary merit, but neither does 50 Shades, for all the impact it had on the market. 🤷
the mystery books were exactly what was missing! Hardy boys but no nancy drew? No Sherlock Holmes - which gets remade and reimagined every couple of years?
I have a daughter in third grade. I am amazed how much the kids love Harry Potter still honestly. Super into it still. Like the author or not, it’s earned its spot.
No it isn’t. No matter the author, that hype was only in USA and UK. The movies made it famous elsewhere. Not the books. And at this very moment there are bookstores where it is missing in translation. Consider that. While Lord of the Rings was and is well known in translation too and it’s part of education in more and more countries. That’s the deal. It’s a classic that won’t change.
On reflection, I don't think my argument came from a rational place. What I think I should have said, was: I'm looking forward to the day when Harry Potter isn't on the top spot anymore.
Thanks for that! It's kind of mortifying what passes as "the best of all time". Twilight and Fifty Shades?? It's surprising the Dune series wasn't in there. And while I loved The Southern Reach trilogy, I wouldn't have put it on a top 30 list. Although it's likely to be one of my favorite reads of 2024, it is weird and difficult to understand what is going on.
That list is half about money half about “we heard in the news about it” list not about any impact on the genre or the readers of the that genre consider it that high ever or authors learn from that book or will it be considered classic like Lord of the Rings. That and Earthsea (without any of it, no Harry Potter) for example are way more impactful than Harry Potter was. Mistborn, no matter how much we like, it’s not that important to be an “all time book” on top30. Discworld is also… lower than 50 shades of nonsense? Hilarious. Twilight? And where is Dracula the very base of vampire genre of if we want a modern one, Interview with the Vampire? It has a few books that has zero effect on other languages. Literally we never heard of it and I read everything and I’m part of several booktuber communities.
I think the anglocentric cultural impact really outweighed all other factors they claimed to consider for this list. Better they call it what it is - most impactful series of all time. The choices and positioning makes much more sense. But best of all time, no other qualifier? This isn't it. Too many obvious snubs in that case.
19:53 I was ready to leave too 😂
Great video, guys! Very funny.
Yeah, Pratchett's Discworld series should have been No.1. But it does seem to be a biased list. Im not surprised the Harry Potter series takes the top spot. Whether or not they'll still be relevant in the decades to come remains to be seen - but authors like Tolkien, Pratchett, and CS Lewis will always have a strong following through the generations.
Yes. The Dark Tower series can divide opinions. It doesn't help that the quality isn't consistent.
There are some things that Forbes posts that has me... 🤨 I think maybe they just reasearch things that would generate traffic and have someone write the article. I'm sure if you took some of the big booktubers and surveyed a bunch of hardcore readers, this list would look quite different. But... 🤷♂ Either way, this was fun. Thanks!
Always fun reading a list from a group of journalists. Surprised that Lee Child and Michael Connelly are not on a general list.
No Dark Tower? That's just mental.
I’m sorry Cams 😭 I just really didn’t like that series!
I am a teacher. You are mistaken about Harry Potter. Still the most widely read series among students. Students all wanting to get into the Harry Potter classroom in 5th grade. A few years ago, our Harry Potter club was by far the most popular club. Less anecdotally, the books are also perennial best-sellers. To deny HP’s impact on kids beyond your own generation seems more like wishful thinking on your part because you dislike the author. You may dislike it, but HP will be up there with other books & series that will always have an audience.
I said elsewhere in the comments but I'll copy here: On reflection, I don't think my argument came from a rational place. What I think I should have said, was: I'm looking forward to the day when Harry Potter isn't on the top spot anymore.
Laura's reactions to 50 Shades had me cackling!
Yeah, Malazan is right up at the top somewhere on a fantasy based series next to Lord of the Rings. So far that’s the only one that could hit that bar. Nothing else. That’s how several of us start any list. Quality matters. Octavia Butler is missing from this list as it seems. She deserves a spot. From the new ones Dandelion Dynasty. Dune of course. Asimov was right choice. As in comics Sandman to choose one that book readers would read also. Discworld is a strong fact. Neuromancer is one of the foundations of cyberpunk. Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin was also a good choice. Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb easily instead of George RR Martin. This is finished and started in the same time. Vampire? Dracula. Etc…
The reaction about the number 6 series of the list was very funny 😂
I'm with you, tired of the wizardy boy been promoted, they are working on the new series and will put it everywhere
Suscribed ❤
I didn'r see the Little House series by Laura Ingels Wilder or the Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card. And not to have Sherlock Holmes!
Team Jacob!
I generally sympathize with your reactions, although I confess that there are 18 series on this list that I’ve never tried to read, so I can’t really comment on them. I did read the Belgariad series once, and it was sort of OK, but I didn’t greatly enjoy it and feel no particular urge to read it again. I know nothing about David Eddings as a person, and don’t really care. I think the series had a genuine impact in the late 20th century, when it was published, and perhaps deserves to be on the list on that basis (?). Rather similarly, the Harry Potter series had a major impact in its time, but that time is already past; it should be on the list, but not at the top of it. Lord of the Rings should surely be at the top on the basis of long-term persistent cultural impact. I’d like to see the Rivers of London series on this list, but I don’t know how much cultural impact it’s had at this point; it seems somewhat underrated, failing to attract awards. I personally disliked the Dark Materials series but can’t quarrel with it being on the list. Again, I think the Narnia series is overrated but I suppose it has to be on the list. Should the Murderbot series be on the list? What about Lois McMaster Bujold: the Vorkosigan saga, the World of the Five Gods? These are award-winning series.
Completely agreed Jonathan! There are some really glaring omissions. Where are the big crime series, too? Agatha Christie, Steig Larsson for example? Really poor “journalism” all round