From Middle-earth to Hyrule, here are the 14 most imaginative fantasy worlds

2. Randland, from The Wheel of Time

The world of The Wheel of Time, sometimes affectionately called Randland after the main character of the series, is a classic of the genre. This epic fantasy land sprawls across small villages, high mountains, parallel worlds, bustling cities, mighty fortresses and blistering deserts. To top it all off, author Robert Jordan populates these lands with diverse and vivid cultures, from the Aiel to the Cairhien to the Seanchan to the humble farming folk of the Two Rivers.

With 14 books and a prequel, a reader could spend a lot of time traveling this world. Along the way, they’ll visit various nations, each with their own distinct way of doing things. The accents and customs may seem unfamiliar at first, but readers will learn quick.

The level of detail is intimidating, and there’s always more to learn about the peoples and the world at large. The various cultures in the books are loosely inspired by cultures from the real-world, but Jordan gives each enough flavor to make them feel unique. On top of that, he delivers a well-developed magic system based on the One Power, with male and female magic users drawing from different halves of it.

And then there’s the time element. In The Wheel of Time, time works on a cycle. Ages come and go, repeating over and over again, with different variations each time. The past is remembered as myths and legends, and when we get back to the past, what happens now will be remembered the same way. There’s a strong blur between past, future, and present. This cyclical interpretation of time is very unique, and helps make Randland one of the most imaginative worlds in fantasy.