Really, man? You’re going to give an edge to Terry Brooks’ Shannara series :D?
But I agree about the Amber series ( eta: though it almost kind of scuttles into the “epic fantasy” genre through the back door ). Zelazny is a big favorite of mine.
Yes indeed, also a favourite of mine… and it squeaks within the OP’s rules as it has a sequel in The Moon of Gomrath, making that two skinny books. 
I didn’t comment earlier as I haven’t read GRRM (or at least this GRRM) so cannot say it’s “better than” but for epic fantasy I do think we need to mention David Gemmel, especially the Drenai series. On the remote off-chance that you’ve never read Legend (the first of the series) I’d happily recommend it. (Along with quite a few other of Gemmel’s).
Hey, I get to do this! I get to do this! I’ve never done this before.
<coughs> Ahem.
*I can’t believe no one has mentioned *Glen Cook’s Black Company series. Grim, kickass, intrigues, strategies, and a few good card games.
NB: I have not read any of the books in ASoIaF, so I can’t say if Glen’s stuff is better. But he writes some of the best stuff out there.
(And I’ll second Gemmel’s stuff, and Alan Garner.)
As the one who started the thread that inspired this one, I suppose I should post my list. I absolutely love E. R. Eddison and I rank his works first among epic fantasy novels, for their blend of adventure plotting, excellent writing, and effortless weaving in of philosophical and mythical themes. I also adore Tolkien–he comes second–and Mervyn Peake as well. Jack Vance is another favorite of mine, though I find his fantasy works to be hit-or-miss. His more numerous science fiction novels are where he really shines.
Hugh Cook’s Chronicles of an Age of Darkness is an obvious competitor to Martin’s series. Cook’s work is extremely violent and grim, but focused more on the realities of life in pre-modern times, such as disease, wounds, infections, starvation, and so forth. The writing is quite basic and straightforward, as Cook simply lets events unfold rather than trying to push the reader in any particular direction.
Madeleine Howard (pseudonym for Teresa Eggerton) is at work on a new series starting with The Hidden Stars. This is a ‘big magic’ series with lots of battles, major monsters, and all kinds of good, old-fashioned fantasy mayhem. Highly recommended.
Lastly I’ll give a shout-out to James Stoddard, author of The High House and The False House. Both are short, but absolutely excellent, fantasy adventures. Lots of intrigue, adventure, old-fashioned setting and characters, very well-written.
Someone else has read MacAvoy! I completely forgot about those books, but yes, I love them! And the Garner. And the Dunsany (which I suppose is epic, in the sense that it affects the world). I’ve only read a couple of Vance and Leiber stories; must remedy that. Gene Wolfe scares me, but maybe I should give him another shot.
Heh – I forgot about Amber because the books are so short! But yes, definitely. (I still prefer Tolkien, but again, I know that people diverge wildly on him.)
I really like the Byzantine books, but I’m kind of a Byzantium fan in general. I have a hard time with the lyrical writing, though, which was why I couldn’t say I thought he was better than GRRM. I do like him better, though. And people keep recommending Al-Rassan to me, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Hee. And yes!
For that very reason I was hoping you’d come in 
I’ll have to check those out. Besides Eddison and Tolkien (with you all the way, though I might reverse the order), I haven’t read anything on your list – I tried Cook but it was too grim for me at the time. Now I realize I could probably read it the same way I read GRRM – very quickly, and skipping over all the gore
I haven’t read all the series mentioned in this thread, but I’ve read more than a few of them. Of the ones I’ve read, there’s been some great ones, but the only ones that I could truly put on par with Martin is Zelazny’s Amber series. Oh, how I love me some Amber.
I guess if I had to choose, at this point, I’d go with Amber as being better than GoT, but only because it’s stood the test of time and GoT hasn’t. If, in another 26 years or so, GoT is finished and still holds up, I very well might change my mind.
off to set an Outlook reminder to check back in with this thread in July 2037.
I’ll second this one as a potential contender as well. This was a great read, and I can’t wait for the next one in the series, but once again, give it 20 or 30 years, and we’ll see where it stands.
It’s hard to quantify ‘better’. But in terms of enjoyment I definitely enjoyed Katherine Kerr’s Deverry series more.
And has been mentioned upthread, Robin Hobb’s work, in particular the Assassin’s Apprentice series. The Live Ships were still pretty good, but not as good I thought.
My new favourite is Brent Weeks, and his Night Angel trilogy. He gets bonus points in that the entire trilogy was released within the space of about a year.
I’ve only read the first novel in the Martin series, but with the success of the show I expect my library will buy copies so I might get around to finishing it.
I was surprised that King’s Dark Tower and Donaldson’s Unbeliever didn’t get a mention. I’ve run into a lot of fans of both, although I’m not one myself.
I am a fan of Gene Wolfe, and was happy to see The Knight get a mention. I’d suggest the Latro and New Sun series, though.
Lord of the Rings.
The Belgariad.
The Dark is Rising series.
Narnia.
Discworld qualifies in part (it’s a wonderfully great fantasy series no doubt, just that only bits of it could be called “Epic”)
Amber.
Alan Garner just squeeks in, with two books.
I’m down with Earthsea, and the Long Price Quartet is wonderful (at least the first three are; our library system still hasn’t gotten the fourth), and Scott Lynch kicks all kinds of butt. Can’t stand Jack Vance, though; Terry Pratchett is fun but forgettable for me; Lord knows I tried and failed to enjoy Gormenghast; Erikson and Cook are just barely above mediocre in my book.
The only epic fantasy I’d add is China Mieville, whose work is pretty uneven but when it’s good it’s very, very good.
Lev Grossman reviewed Dance with Dragons this morning on NPR in a nicely spoiler-free segment. He said (paraphrased) that while Martin’s prose won’t win him any Pulitzers, his ability to plot is among the best in authors working today.
Here’s the link for the review ( thanks for mentioning it ).
The New Sun/Long Sun/Short Sun series might be what “scared” a reader above; I’ll read them again some day. But I’m finishing up my second reading of The Wizard Knight. I just got the new GRRM & will inhale it with glee. But I must read Wolfe slowly–those darned unreliable narrators. And the occasional glimpses of aching beauty. Oh, when Sir Able takes the shield he just won to the armorer for removal of the last owner’s symbol, he chooses a simple paint job, in green:
Anderson’s book is only one volume–but highly influential. As is Dunsany’s work. And one must meet Fafhrd & the Mouser–although their adventures are episodic, mostly originating as short stories
Of course I love Tolkien but I really haven’t read that much “epic fantasy.” Although The Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone by Greg Keyes impressed me…
The best epic fantasy series I’ve read recently is Brian Ruckley’s The Godless World trilogy, starting with Winterbirth.
Alot of the others mentioned in the thread are pretty good, too, though!
I haven’t read GRRM, so I don’t know what the cutoff point is. But, in addition to some of the others already mentioned (and I think Tolkien is the gold standard), I think someone ought to mention Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles. They’re for younger readers, and it’s been a while since I read the series, but I think it qualifies. And, Jonathan Stroud’s Batimaeus Trilogy isn’t bad at all.
Dennis L. McKiernan’s Mithgar series.
Are they derivative of Tolkien’s Middle Earth? Oh god yes. The difference is that McKiernan actually wrote a story while Tolkien wrote a travelogue.
For those who like their stories complete, of the twelve or thirteen novels in the series, almost every mystery and question was answered eventually. He specifically wrote a book to cover them all.
-Joe
The first two trilogies of The Deryni Chronicles by Katherine Kurtz.
Then again, I still do like The Belgariad/Mallorean, and Narnia, and The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings. I guess I should include in my favorites list (though not exactly fantasy), Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth / World Without End too.
I read a lot, and usually enjoy most of what I grab. The Wheel of Time led me into some of Sanderson’s works, and I actually enjoyed the Mistborn books.
I did buy all of the GRRM Game of Thrones books currently out for the kindle, and for once, I don’t seem to have a hard time putting it down. For all the hype, I can only think “Meh…”.
The first five, you mean, right? (The second five are readable but not very good).
Going to disagree with Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, which I found kind of dull.
Also going to put in a word for China Mieville’s Bas Lag stories (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, Iron Council) - of the three, I’d say The Scar was the best - which are crazy imaginative and have some interesting conflicts, though you have to be willing to deal with a certain amount of description of bodily fluids, which some people aren’t.
That was generous of you. I very rarely quit a book or series partway through, and I quit that one about halfway through the second book. Just so damned boring. Oh, and Simon is lost and starving. Again.
-Joe