(puts on WoT nerd hat)  The final volume of WoT, which will probably be called A Memory of Light, is being finished by Brandon Sanderson, best known for the Mistborn series (though I've not read it).  To my knowledge he's of no relation to Robert Jordan, though Jordan's widow (who is also his editor) was responsible for making the choice.  If Wikipedia is to be believed (I don't have the time or patience to sift through the numerous blogs), Jordan finished about 50,000 words of what could be as many as 600,000, but had extensive notes that detailed what he wanted to happen to each character, secret, etc.  The book is supposed to come out sometime next fall (2009).

I am a huge Wheel of Time fan, although I completely understand, and in some cases share, the views of those who say it drags in the middle of the series.  Nothing ever happens fast, and most books follow a fairly predictable pattern of foreshadowing, slow progress, and then a large conflict or battle that changes the overarching situation (capture of a city, death of a Forsaken, etc.).  The endless bickering of the Aes Sedai does get boring at times, but most of the central core characters have enough depth to stay interesting... saying more would do those who have not read and plan to a disservice.

Tolkien is obviously the first modern high fantasy epic, but LotR is really showing its age, and is just not accessible to a lot of contemporary readers because of his preoccupation with the very rich, but sometimes very dry, history of his world.  One of the neat things about WoT is that the world is very rich, has a very deep history full of proper nouns, but Jordan never deluges you with it, and you learn about it slowly over time rather than in great swaths of pages while you're waiting for something like the siege of Helm's Deep (I apologize if I've misrepresented the series at all... it's been *quite* some time).

Also, it's hardly high fantasy but anyone who enjoys the genre and sarcasm should check out Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos books... because who doesn't love a wisecracking assassin with a pet miniature dragon?

Damn, you must be some kind of masochist then.  I can't stand Robin Hobb. 

Don't get me wrong:  Her overall storylines are interesting enough.  However, she makes her characters so damn unlikable, I find myself literally wishing they would die and/or receive the comeuppance they so richly deserve. 

I was somehow able to force myself to read the first Farseer trilogy (how I made it through without killing myself I'll never know).  I also tried the Liveship Traders trilogy, but I gave up in disgust less than halfway through the first book.  I didn't even bother with the second Farseer/Fool trilogy. 

G. R.R. Martins Song of Fire and Ice is by far the best and (sorry for that) more adult-style than Tolkiens books. Off corse during the time of Tolkien no one could dare to write such books ...

If you like these ones please try also the Sword of Shadows series (J V Jones). Not the same level but quite nice.

Greats from Europe!

Really depends on what you define as "epic".
But I'd say "everything Eddings".

Funny you mentioned that book. I just bought it a few weeks back and I was wondering if it was worth reading.

I read the WOT a few times. The first few books I always loved but at some point he did start to rave. Still one of the best series out there. I had fun re-reading that story by jumping some parts of it. It's very very interesting this way

I just adored The sword of Truth series by terry goodkind. He just finished the Epic I think it was 10th book or something. Very good. I personnaly felt a bit of a let down in the end but it's worth a read for sure.

David Edding Belgariad and Malloreon are part of my personal collection because it's an easy read funny and fast paced. The story is just way out there.

I forget the name of the Author but the story of Thomas Covenant was as much a pain as it was a fun read. Maybe I was just to young to really appreciate it. But the story was good. I just hated the main hero. I hate somebody who always whines.

There are so many all great reads.

It has to WoT for number 1.  Other good ones include Eddings, definitely Feist with the whole Riftwar series, and here are two that nobody really mentioned.

Well, they're both probably not considered as epic pre se, but still good none-the-less.  McKiernan who has, what 3-5 books set in the same world.  And then there's Lumley who wrote 6 smaller novels in a series called Titus Crow.  If you are a lover of all things Lovecraft...then this series will do you good.  This whole series is based on the Cthulu Mythos, which is basically considered Dark Fantasy.

Anyway, just my two cents.

I'm glad someone mentioned the "Chronicles of Amber" - definitely one of the best.

Regarding "Star Wars" - Science Fiction that stays within the known or 'reasonable' speculative laws of science is definitely Science Fiction, but I would argue that any science fiction in which you *can't* say that such and such is impossible because it violates the 'known' laws of the universe qualifies as fantasy - even Star Trek had (with occasional bad writing) some definite technological rules - certainly the worst violator that I would still qualify as Science Fiction - {G}.

Also, particularly for those that enjoy steampunk, I recommend to you the best Sherlock Holmes rip-off ever writ, Lord Darcy. For those with more boiler plated detective tastes, the Dresden Files is good modern fantasy - the TV series was okay but his twisty little plots never translated over well (would have done better as a miniseries or TV movies IMO), but the books are great fun!

I have a soft spot in my heart for Diane Duane's Young Wizard series - it's like Harry potter, only with good writing, consistent characters, a logic to the magic, and adults that aren't idiots.

E. E. "Doc" Smith's Lensmen, sadly, probably *does* qualify as Sci-Fi, but it's over-qualified as 'Epic', so dammit I'm throwing it out there anyway!

And no one has mentioned the *original* pulp fantasies yet? Conan the Cimmerian and Barsoom!?!?!

Heathens, all'a ya!

{G} - Jonnan

Don't make me sic Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser on you!

Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson hands down... read it you will not be sorry.

LoTR, it set the bar. It is the standard by which all else is judged.

I enjoyed the Wheel of Time as well. However Robert Jordan cetainly repeated himself alot. Aside from the first and last 50 pages the entire 10th novel was unnecessary.

Now for what I did not like... Terry Goodkind...uggh. I admititly only read about 2/3 of the first book but I just couldn't do it. Character development, interaction and plot seemed overly simplistic. In my opinion and keep in mind it is my opinion it seemed like it was written either for or by elementry school students.

No one has mentioned Guy Gavriel Kay yet? What kind of epic fantasy thread IS this anyway? If you like fantasy you HAVE to at least read Tigana. The Fionavar Tapestry is good too, but you MUST read Tigana......

1. LOTR (read and discussed so often that it almost feels "generic", but then everytime you take the book up again you are enchanted ...)

2. The first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Epic, unique.

3. E.R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros. No easy read (old-English ...) but a masterpiece, and epic. Written before LOTR it inspired Tolkien (and this time it is actually true and not a commercial argument)

Also epic feel in Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fjonavar Tapestry - recommended.

IMHPOV Robert Jordan has mistaken page count for epic feeling. If someone would be nice enough to cut out at least half of the Wheel of Time I might actually finish it and enjoy it. When money is involved people just don't know when to stop ...

The latter two books are much better. The first really drags along, so give it a second chance and start with the second one.

And don't get me started on the WoT books... or I would probably get banned from here.