Recommend a truly epic read

[ForthegracegoI]

I’m really in the mood for something epic (maybe the real world is just too real atm and my book groups keep picking very depressing reads). I used to read a lot fantasy when I was younger, and with the nights drawing in, I think I’m hankering for something along those lines. I loved the Belgariad, the Dragonlance sagas. Big, long Stephen King novels as well - It, The Stand (though I haven’t read the Dark Tower series - 8 books might be too many). I have read the Lord of the Rings too many times, and just tried to read it again but it’s all messed up in my head with the films now. I’ve dipped in and out of YA fantasy, but I’m not really after all the teenage will-they / won’t-they love stories. I tried the Game of Thrones series a while ago but it didn’t really grab me.

So recommend me something really epic: magic powers, imaginary lands, hand drawn maps, quests etc all welcome.

Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time saga should keep you going for a good few months!.15 books and IIRC three of them were written from his detailed notes after he died. I started reading the series when I was in VIth form college and had a professional career, mortgage and two DC by the time the last book came out! It's a great story.

Try Victoria Goddard! A good place to start is Petty Treasons

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey? The latter in particular was a big influence of fantasy fiction. The Penguin translations by Rieu & Jones are good introductions to Homer.

The Odyssey is a fairly easy read. The Iliad is a bit more of a slog, but the Penguin edition has good intro/notes/story outlines to help a beginner.

Seconding Victoria Goddard!

The Goblin Emperor - it's a standalone, but feels pretty epic, and there are two tangential follow up books as well.

The Rook and Rose trilogy by M A Carrick is good, yes there's some romance but also a lot of politics and fantasy elements.

Raymond E Feist. Magician is the first, and there are loads of them. Highly recommend.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell maybe... it starts off very un-epic but expands as it goes on.

Have you read Mary Renault's alexander trilogy. Huge canvas, especally volume two. Epic and intimate. Wonderful.

Epic I will recommend is Secret Society. A whydunnit, the human condition,intrigue, old world beliefs and juxtaposition with modern world. Sex, intrigue, rivalries. All set in a New England University . Not completely criteria you asked but a modern classic

Is that 'Secret History' by Donna Tartt?

I'm a bit obsessed with the Court of Thorns and Roses books by Sarah Maas. Maybe a bit too obsessed. Fierce flying faeries, a wall between two worlds and lots of faerie sex.

I would try Stephen King's Dark tower, you could start with a couple of the books in the series. It is really so, so good!

The name of the wind- can’t remember if that is the first or second book. That really gripped me

Have you read the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay?

Was coming on to say Sarah Maas too!

I second a lot of these recommendations! Name of Wind, Wheel of Time and Guy Gavriel Kay are great. The very best however is Robin Hobb. Start with Assassin’s Apprentice and you’ve got 12 books ahead of you - about as questy and mappy as you can get!

Swan song by robert r macammon

Try either of the Dorothy Dunnett series

Lymond traverses tudor europe/ ottoman empire - politics, drama

Niccolo is set earlier and crosses Europe and Africa- think medicci

Both have huge historical context and lots of real characters interlaced with the fictional

Cheers all of you! Off to explore on Amazon / Abe.

I’ve read some of these, but not many.

I know you’ve turned away from LOTR but try again!

It’s the best and most intelligent fantasy work ever.

I came along to recommend this. Epic saga, lots of historical references. I haven't read it for years but I adored it and read it many time when i was younger.

Seconding Robin Hobb! Her whole world interacts across several series and is all very readable. That'll keep you going for a while.

I'm currently reading the Dune series (Frank Herbert). I tried them when younger and could never get away with them, but I'm finding them fascinating now in my mid-40's and a lot more worldly. On volume 5 and can't put it down. Technically Sci Fi but there's a lot of fantasy/ world building in there, 'magical' powers that are explained as genetics, fascinating characters.

All of the above are great!
The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is brilliant. I also enjoyed The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan, The Cold Fire trilogy by C.S Friedman, and everything by Sarah J Maas.

Yes! You’re absolutely right. Typo I apologise

Try;

Imaginary friend by Stephen Chobsky. Brilliant and totally unusual.

I loved these books but the author still hasn't gotten round to writing the last book. It's been 12 years so I'm not holding out hope.