J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was voted the best fiction work of the 20th century in multiple major polls, including the BBC's Big Read (2003) and Waterstone's readers' poll. The epic fantasy work, published in 1954-55, has had enormous influence on modern fantasy literature and popular culture. Its enduring popularity, literary craftsmanship, and world-building consistently place it at the top of best fiction lists.