The Lord of the Rings, in Three Volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King (Ballantine 01533)

Barbara Remington cover art. Three volume set consisting of The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King, with a new foreword by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's difficult to overestimate the influence of this epic fantasy on subsequent works in the genre, and on popular culture in general. These books have inspired numerous film and television adaptations, and encouraged the work of many notable authors (Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss, Tad Williams, etc., etc.). Absolutely essential for any avid reader of high fantasy.