The selection is frustratingly thin. Here's what actually exists — and what to do when it doesn't.
If you love fantasy or science fiction and need large print, prepare for disappointment. LP publishers focus heavily on mysteries, thrillers, and literary fiction. Fantasy and sci-fi get the short end.
The reason is simple economics: a 400-page fantasy novel becomes 800+ pages in large print. A long series like The Wheel of Time would be physically absurd — each volume would be a doorstop. Publishers lose money on LP editions of already-long books.
That said, some large print fantasy and sci-fi does exist. Here's what you can actually buy in Canada.
HarperCollins publishes a large print edition of The Hobbit — and it's one of the better LP fantasy options. The book is short enough (300 standard pages) that the LP version stays manageable. 16-point type.
~$25-30 CAD on Amazon.ca
Random House published LP editions of the first few A Song of Ice and Fire novels. They're chunky — A Game of Thrones in LP runs over 800 pages — but they exist. Finding them new is tricky; used copies on ThriftBooks or AbeBooks are more reliable.
~$20-40 CAD used on AbeBooks or ThriftBooks
Thorndike Press published LP editions of all seven Harry Potter books. They're out of print now, so you're looking at used copies. Prices vary wildly — some volumes go for $15, others for $60+ depending on condition and which book.
$15-60 CAD used on Amazon.ca, AbeBooks, or ThriftBooks
Thorndike published an LP edition. Hard to find new, but used copies circulate. The sequel The Wise Man's Fear also got an LP edition.
~$20-35 CAD used
The 2023 fantasy megahit got an LP edition from Thorndike Press because of its massive sales numbers. This is how it works — only bestsellers get the LP treatment. Available new.
~$35-40 CAD on Amazon.ca or Indigo
An LP edition exists from Ace Books. Dune is one of the few sci-fi classics that got the LP treatment, probably because it never stops selling.
~$30-35 CAD on Amazon.ca
Thorndike Press, LP edition. A standalone sci-fi novel (no series commitment), funny and fast-paced. If you liked The Martian, this is the same energy. One of the best LP sci-fi options available right now.
~$30 CAD on Amazon.ca
Also available in LP from Thorndike. Short-ish, page-turner pacing, and you don't need to have read any other books first. Great entry point.
~$25-30 CAD on Amazon.ca
Literary sci-fi from a Nobel Prize winner. Quiet, thoughtful, and beautifully written. LP edition from Thorndike. Not action-packed, but it's one of the finest sci-fi novels of recent years.
~$30 CAD on Amazon.ca or Indigo
Fantasy and sci-fi novels are long. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson is 1,007 pages in standard print. In large print at 16-point type, that would be roughly 1,800 pages — probably split into two physical volumes. The printing cost doubles, but the audience doesn't.
LP publishers like Thorndike Press (part of Gale/Cengage) focus on genres with the highest library circulation: mysteries, thrillers, romance, and bestselling literary fiction. Fantasy and sci-fi get LP editions only when they cross into mainstream bestseller territory.
That means Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, Ursula K. Le Guin, and hundreds of other beloved authors have zero LP editions. It's not a gap anyone is racing to fill.
For fantasy and sci-fi fans with low vision, an e-reader is genuinely the best solution. A Kindle or Kobo lets you set the font to whatever size you need. Every ebook becomes a large print book.
The entire Kindle and Kobo catalogues are available to you — including the complete works of Sanderson, Hobb, Abercrombie, Le Guin, and every other author who'll never get an LP edition. A Kobo Clara starts at about $150 CAD at Indigo, and Kobo is a Canadian company based in Toronto.
Every Canadian public library lends ebooks through the Libby app. Borrow the ebook, open it on your Kindle, Kobo, or tablet, and increase the font size. Free, unlimited large print for any book your library carries. See our library ebooks guide.
Fantasy and sci-fi have some of the best audiobook productions in publishing. The Stormlight Archive narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading is a masterclass. Project Hail Mary narrated by Ray Porter is arguably better than reading it.
If you've resisted audiobooks, fantasy might be the genre that changes your mind. The production quality is genuinely high. Check our audiobooks vs. large print comparison for more on making the switch.
If you have a diagnosed print disability, the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) provides free access to over 230,000 titles in accessible formats — including DAISY audiobooks and ebooks with adjustable text. Registration is free through your local Canadian library. CELA carries a much wider fantasy/sci-fi selection than physical LP collections.