It's hard to say for certain who wrote the first science fantasy novel. There are several contenders like Mary Shelley with 'Frankenstein' and Jonathan Swift with 'Gulliver's Travels'. Each of these works has elements that could classify them as science fantasy, but they were written in different historical contexts and for different purposes.
Edmund Spenser wrote 'The Faerie Queene' which is often regarded as an early fantasy novel. He was a well - known English poet, and his work in this area helped to shape the future of the fantasy genre with its complex characters and magical settings.
The first novel that was considered a fantasy novel was Journey to the West.
This question was a little difficult to answer because fantasy novels were a relatively broad concept. Different people might have different understandings of this word. But if we answer according to the common definition of a fantasy novel, then the first novel that is considered a fantasy novel is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Mary Shelley is often credited with writing one of the first science fiction novels, 'Frankenstein'. In this novel, she explored the idea of creating life through scientific means, which was quite revolutionary at the time. Her work had a profound impact on the development of the science fiction genre.
Mary Shelley wrote the first science fiction novel, which is 'Frankenstein'.
One of the early contenders for the first ever fantasy novel was 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'. It was written by an anonymous author in ancient Mesopotamia. It contains elements like a hero's journey and encounters with supernatural beings, which are typical of fantasy.
There is some debate about who exactly wrote the first urban fantasy novel. Some people might point to Fritz Leiber and his works like 'Our Lady of Darkness' which had early elements of urban fantasy.
For 'The Odyssey', it was written by Homer. His works have been studied for centuries for their literary merit and their contribution to the development of various genres, including fantasy.
As mentioned before, Edmund Spenser wrote 'The Faerie Queene' which is an early example of the genre. His writing style was different from modern epic fantasy, but it had many of the key elements such as a grand adventure in a fantastical setting.
The author of The Hobbit was J.R.R. Tolkien. His imaginative storytelling made this fantasy novel a classic.