Lord Foul's Bane, Published in 1978 by Stephen R Donaldson
Thomas Covenant lives in the real world, and has leprosy. He has lost two fingers from the disease, but the stigma has destroyed his life. People fear him, his wife left him, he is unwelcome in town... he suffers alone. And it has made him mad. Mad at the disease, mad at the people who have rejected him, mad at the ignorance. And then he is summoned to another world... a world of magic and fantasy creatures and people who are suffering evil in their land. Thomas doesn't believe, even being hailed as the "Unbeliever" by the people who so desperately need his help, believing he is their prophesied hero, Barek Halfhand. Insisting he's in a dream, his pain and apathy can not even allow what would be a fanciful escape. Instead, he lives out the experience with hostility and indifference, while a world begins to come apart around him.
I read this book (multiple times) and the 5 other books based on the character, world, and war between good and evil when I was around 12 years old. At 50, I still remember much of the story and it's effect on me. Thomas Covenant is an anti-hero. Unwilling to get involved, he reluctantly accepts only as much of the mantle of heroism as he is forced to... remaining faithful to his pain and despondency and depression. His character is amazingly well fleshed out and real, to the point that you can find yourself mad at him, begging him to do more... but it takes this fantasy series and creates something so much deeper. Dealing with ignorance and prejudice and loss and pain and how they can affect you even at your best moments... even when hope knocks, some are so broken they find it hard to answer. A fantastic, well written, surreal adventure in a world of magic and giants and all that we love about LOTRs, but somehow more poignant and complicated and satisfying.
I have to say, I have never heard of this. Sounds like an amazing premise. I will check it out for sure! One of the best things about a contest like this is finding new books to read! Good luck! Shout out to @wolfje, Great idea man.
Thanks bud, that's one of the reasons why I did this, get new inspiration, but I actually wanted to write about my favourite book, that's what inspired me.