At Snowlock Books, we use a label you might not find on other bookstores: Worlds.
While browsing Snowlock Books for your next read you may stumble upon a book with a World label (such as Middle-earth or Temerant). A World label signals that the book you are looking at is part of a larger, interconnected setting. It is what some might call a “shared universe.”
So why don’t we just say that?
“Shared universe” brings to mind movie franchises and overstuffed cinematic timelines. With the MCU nearly two decades old the term “shared universe” now comes with some baggage (both deserved and undeserved): corporate, sprawling, and occasionally exhausting. Furthermore, a shared universe implies science fiction. As a bookstore owner whose specialty is fantasy, the term World is more reflective of our goals. The term World also nods to secondary worlds, those familiar, fully-realized fantasy settings with their own unique history, culture, and magic. Worlds are expansive. They are where multiple stories unfold, often across decades, continents, or generations. They are immersive, organic, and something to explore rather than simply consume.
A World is Bigger Than a Series
We use two terms to define books relationships to each other.
A Series is a single narrative or a tight sequence of books meant to be read together, often in a specific order.
A World is the stage where an author sets multiple series, trilogies, standalones, or novellas. Some Worlds have just begun. Other Worlds have been around for decades, accumulating more entries every year. World labels help readers:
- see how series are connected,
- discover with which book or series to enter the World,
- and to plan their reading journey
Not All Worlds Are Built the Same
Some Worlds are tightly constructed with meta-narratives weaving between series. Others are loosely connected, with stories merely taking place on the same continent.
Here is a quick spectrum:
- Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson: Books across different planets, subtly (and then overtly) tied together. Characters cross series. Clues compound.
- Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien: The gold standard. The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are part of the same world, with deep historical and linguistic links.
- Malazan by Steven Erikson & Ian C. Esslemont: A sprawling, loosely chronological world written by two authors, designed for fans who enjoy diving into complex, layered narratives.
- Tales of the Flat Earth by Tanith Lee: Mythic, lyrical stories set in the same world but with different characters and arcs. You can enter at almost any book and get a complete experience.
- Discworld by Terry Pratchett: Episodic and satirical, with recurring characters and settings but little required order.
Three Worlds You Might Not Know (Yet)
Want to explore beyond the big names? Here are three lesser-known Worlds we love:
Elan by Michael J. Sullivan: Home to the Riyria Revelations, Riyria Chronicles, and Legends of the First Empire. Each series can be read on its own, but together they form a rich tapestry of history, magic, and friendship.
The Banished Lands by John Gwynne: If you like your fantasy bloody, bold, and full of monsters, this world spans multiple series steeped in prophecy and betrayal.
World of the Five Gods by Lois McMaster Bujold: Fantasy of manners meets divine intervention in this smart, character-driven World. Standalones and series alike show different corners of a faith-shaped empire.
You Don’t Have to Read It All, But You Can
Some readers dip into a World once, love it, and move on. Others set up camp and explore every novel, novella, and hidden bit of lore. Both approaches are worthwhile.
If you find a book you love, click its World label and see where it leads. You might end up meeting new characters, revisiting old favorites, or traveling to corners of the map you never knew existed. Wherever you land, Snowlock Books will be here to guide you when you are ready for the next step.
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