Memorable epic fantasy

[elvet]

I love epic fantasies, but I am aware that afterwards most of them tend to meld into one big quest (at least in my memory they do ). However, even after a few years, some special ones stand out. Which ones did you find memorable and why?

My list:
Lord of the Rings - My first fantasy book, it sets the bar for the best described fantasy world out there. You believe that Middle Earth exists. The history, religion, languages and societies all come to life. The weakest point are the characters, but the story and the background stay fresh in your mind.
Otherworld (Tad Williams) - It was refreshing to be out of the midieval backdrop. Not prefering science fiction, I was worried that the techy part of the story would be off putting. Though it played a large role in the books, the rest of the story and characters was fantasy through and through. My most vivid memories are the description of the world where the insects were giants.
Sunsword (Michelle West) - 3 words - strong female characters. The women in this story are as varied as you can get. From harum wifes to kingdom rulers to battlefield leaders to gypsy matriarchs, they stay true to their character and yet evolve into believable women of power. Part of the story is yet to be resolved, and I'm anxiously waiting it's continuation.
Farseer/Liveship Traders/Tawny Man ( Robin Hobb)- A combination of strong characters, first person perspective and an imaginative world make these stick out in my mind. I particularly liked the concept behind Live Ships, and the matriarchal society of the Rain Wilds.
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Stephen Donaldson) - Despite it's tendency to despair, I like the basic idea of a forgotten, debased human in this world coming into power and admiration in another world.

Honorable mention - first Kushiel trilogy (Jaqueline Carey). It was romantic with just the right amount of eroticism not overwhelm the story.

 

[nixie]

Elvet, try Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars, Steven Erikson's Malazan book of the Fallen or The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny.

 

[jackokent]

I'd certainly recommend Janny Wurts' War of Light and Shadows. If you start it now you should be finnished by the time the last book is published.

It is memorable for me because the characters have a bit of depth. I have a real difficulty finding books where I genuinely care about the protagonists. Also there are a lot of moral issues in it for them to face, the writer knows her stuff being a a keen student of historical weaponery, a sailor and rider, the story is rivetting. My only complaint is that last book isn't finished.

 

[elvet]

Elvet, try Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars, Steven Erikson's Malazan book of the Fallen or The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny.

Am on book 2 of Crown of stars, and loving it so far .
The Malazon books are on my list too. I've read Chronicles of Amber, but didn't really like it.

I'd certainly recommend Janny Wurts' War of Light and Shadows. If you start it now you should be finnished by the time the last book is published.

Sounds good.

 

[Sathai]

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin is the one that stands out the most for me.

 

[Anthony G Williams]

Try Guy Gavriel Kay - just about everything he writes is epic and he is great at creating atmosphere. My favourite of his so far is Tigana.

 

[elvet]

Try Guy Gavriel Kay - just about everything he writes is epic and he is great at creating atmosphere. My favourite of his so far is Tigana.

I've read all his books but Ysabel. I love his writing, but didn't include his only because most of his books are 1 volume reads. I arbitrarily consider epic to mean 3 or more volumes. Fionavar was good, but I like his later stuff more - Tigana, Song for Arbonne, Lions of Al-Rassan.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

Try Robert Jordan's Wheel of time series.

 

[Bikewer]

I'll recommend one of my favorites with a warning.

The Worm Oroborous by E.R.R. Eddison. Epic indeed, detailing the remarkable war between two powerful groups with plenty of sword-swinging, potent sorceries, marvelous beasts, naughty villains, and so on.

Here's the warning; you'd better like middle English. Well, not exactly, but this is fantasy as perhaps Shakespeare (or even someone a tad earlier) might have written it. To my way of thinking, absolutely wonderful. However, it might be heavy going for some.
Well worth the effort, IMO.

If you hunt around the libraries, you might find the great annotated version which gives you the sources and etymology of all of Eddison's great stuff.

 

[GOLLUM]

Let's not forget Greg Keye's Kingdom Of Thorn and Bone quartet or the Thomas Covenant Chronicles plus Ricardo Pinto's Dance Of The Chameleon sequence.

 

[Anthony G Williams]

I arbitrarily consider epic to mean 3 or more volumes. Fionavar was good, but I like his later stuff more - Tigana, Song for Arbonne, Lions of Al-Rassan.

I think epic describes the theme rather than the length - to me, it means larger-than-life characters engaging in struggles with huge consequences for their civilisations, often over a long period of time.

Anyway, Tigana is the same length as a trilogy from an earlier age

 

[Connavar]

Rigante series by David Gemmell

 

[elvet]

Thanks to some of the comments, I picked up these first in a series books:
Daggerspell (Katherine Kerr)
The Briar King (Greg Keyes)
A Game of Thrones (Martin)
Lord of Snow and Shadows (Sarah Ash)

I already have Gardens of the Moon (Erikson) and Sorcery Rising (Jude Fischer). Lots of potential here to keep me in epics until the end of the year!

 

[j d worthington]

I'll recommend one of my favorites with a warning.

The Worm Oroborous by E.R.R. Eddison. Epic indeed, detailing the remarkable war between two powerful groups with plenty of sword-swinging, potent sorceries, marvelous beasts, naughty villains, and so on.

Here's the warning; you'd better like middle English. Well, not exactly, but this is fantasy as perhaps Shakespeare (or even someone a tad earlier) might have written it. To my way of thinking, absolutely wonderful. However, it might be heavy going for some.
Well worth the effort, IMO.

If you hunt around the libraries, you might find the great annotated version which gives you the sources and etymology of all of Eddison's great stuff.

A tad later than (most of) Shakespeare, actually... but yes, the caveat is a good one. A superb book (as are all of Eddison's fantasies.

Even more troublesome (as far as the idiom, anyway) is William Hope Hodgson's The Night Land -- but also well worth reading.

 

[svalbard]

Try R. Scott Bakker's series, that starts with The Darkness That Comes Before. It's layers within layers, a wonderfull tale.

The Lions of Al-Rassan was a brilliant story.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well, I'll go down the "most memorable" route rather than just recommend stuff which I like, most of which have already been quoted.

The fantasy epics I found most memorable, in that I can still remember large chunks of dialogue and minor characters, have to be Ray Fiest's original "Magacian" series, with his "Empire" series close behind. Not because they were particularly original concepts (although I did love the rift idea) but because it was the first time I had encountered such wonderful characters! The bad guys (Guy de Bas-Tyra boo hiss!) were just such great well-rounded creations and not the 2D villains which populate bad fantasy. Even minor characters (Dolgan the dwarf, Meecham, Garret the tracker) were so well crafted that you almost wished the story would veer off and follow them for a bit - this was of course before I read the Wheel of Time, now I know better!

 

[j d worthington]

Incidentally, I'd also like to suggest Fletcher Pratt's The Well of the Unicorn here; but with a certain caveat as to the idiom there, as well....

 

[Marvolo]

I've almost finished reading A Game of Thrones for the second time (the first was years ago).

Very good.

 

[Rosemary]

I'm not sure if these would be considered 'epic' as in length of the series but Sara Douglass - 'Axis' Trilogy and 'Wayfarer Redemption' trilogy follow on. Some very striking characters, world building and great plot-line. Not sure how many times I have read them but there's always time for another re-read of her two first trilogies. One of my favourite authors.

 

[BAYLOR]

The Malazan Saga by Steven Erikson . 10 book in the series , very intense and intricately plotted and Epic on a grand scale. Beyond this series there are other book writer ntthat are set in in Erikson fantasy universe.