I like The Eyre Affair and the sequel Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde. There’s going to be a third, The Well of Lost Thoughts, which comes out in the UK July 1st, but not here in the United States until next spring.
I second (or third) the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman. I just ordered Brief Lives and the Kindly Ones off of amazon.com.
A small nitpick. The Eye of the World is the name of the first book in the series. The series itself is called The Wheel of Time.
For those of you who have never heard of this series, be warned, it’s *long. Currently 10 books with an estimated 3-4 more to go.
And I agree with your analisis of the series, Dob. The most recent books have been a bit slow. There are just too many plot threads that Jordan is trying to keep going. Hopefully, as things move forward, the different groups of characters will re-combine so that the story can be more focused.
The Assassin series and the Madship series by Robin Hobb. I was engrossed by these 6 books, and they’re Fat Fantasy Novels. The first two books of the Fool’s series are out. I’ve read the first one and am waiting for the second to come out in paperback.
Very well done.
Barrayar, Lois McMaster Bujold
Honor Harrington, David Weber
Uplift, David Brin
Foundation, tho avoid the ones by Brin, Bear and Benford
Hitchhiker’s Guide, Douglas Adams
Chanur, C.J. Cherryh
Time Scout, Aspirin, Abbey
Web Shifters, Trade Pact, Julie Czerdna
I’m not much for fantasy, but:
Myth-, Robert Asprin
Discworld, with the exception of anything including Rincewind, Pratchett
Narnia, C.S. Lewis
Dragonbone Chair, Tad Williams
One thing I’ve noticed is that there are 3 publishers’ lists I buy more often… TOR, DAW and Baen
A lot of my favorites have already been listed, but for good measure, here are a few more:
Fantasy-
J. V. Jones, especially The Barbed Coil. (Gee, a favorite out of two whole books.)
Robin McKinley’s Damar and Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar. Also anything else by them.
Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn series. I’m not completely sure if they qualify as fantasy or science fiction, though.
Elizabeth Haydon’s Rhapsody series. I know there’s proper name for the series as a whole, but it’s late and I don’t feel like looking it up.
Dare I say it? Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth
Science Fiction-
James White’s Sector General series.
Andre Norton. Does she do series? Most of what I have by her are stand-alones.
Anne McCaffrey’s Pern. And anything else by her.
Lemony Snicket, but I’m not sure how to categorize him.
I just wanna jump in and say this is great!
I’m not going to put up a list, because everything I would put on it has already been mentioned.
Ok, one guilty pleasure; Jennifer Roberson’s “Sword Dancer” series. It’s not world shaking, ground breaking prose, but it’s fun reading.
Dob- I have not read the “Storm of Swords” series… but will make it a point to search it out upon my next trip to Barnes and Noble.
I’ll throw one tidbit out, not a series, but great Military Science Fiction- John Steakley’s “Armor”. (oh the folly of interstellar war, and foolish politicians that wanna be arm-chair generals)
I’ll add a few here:
Keith Laumer’s ‘Retief’ series
Sterling Lanier’s ‘Hiero’ series (only two books so far, but the second book ends in such a way that requires a sequel)
James Hogan’s ‘Giants’ series
Asimov’s ‘Robots’ series (he connected them with the ‘Foundation’ series before he died
Alan Dean Foster’s ‘Humanx Commonwealth’ series (especially any of the ‘Flinx’ books)
Charles Sheffield’s ‘Heritage Universe’ series (I love alien archeaology stories)
Everybody beat me to the punch. I’ll second the Reality Dysfuntion by Peter F. Hamilton, I think the series is actually Nightdawn. Very unusual blend of genres.
I’d also like to nominate: John Ringo’s Legacy of the Alldenata series.
Two books? I’ve read both A Cavern of Black Ice and A Fortress of Grey Ice by her, you mention the barbed coil and ISTR she has another series out there. That’s a fair bit more than two books. 
My list (in no particular order):
[ul]
[li]Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series[/li][li]Robin Hobb’s Assasin Series (The liveship series less so)[/li][li]Vernor Vinge, A Fire upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky[/li][li]George R R Martin, A Storm of Swords[/li][li]Dan Simmons, Hyperion[/li][li]Katherin Kurtz’s Deryni Series[/li][li]Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain[/li]
[/ul]
Hmm. Can’t think of any others, but I’m sure some willl come to me eventually. .
A Fortress of Grey Ice hasn’t been published in the US yet, AFAIK. I’m haven’t read any other books by her, so out of the two books that I have read, I have a favorite. Hopefully, Fortress is coming here soon. Time to check Amazon. And now I know to be on the lookout for other books of hers. Thanks.
Yes, indeedy. Several of 'em.
The Witch World series has many books and stories.
She has a “Magic” series, with titles like “Steel Magic,” “Fur Magic,” “Dragon Magic,” etc. which are definitely written for children. Indeed, many of her works were classified “juveniles” when they came out. Some of them still read that way, but others have held up well as adult fare.
Here’s an excellent list of her works, organized in the various series.
IMHO, the “Astra/Company of Pax” and “Ross Murdock/Time Traders” still hold up remarkably well on rereading as an adult.
Just remembered another great series: S.M. Stirling’s Nantucket trilogy - Island in the Sea of Time, Against the Tide of Years, and On the Oceans of Eternity.
John Varley’s Titan series.
I’m going to have to say Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series is my favorite too. Interesting that there are several who have nominated C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, (which I really liked as well) but no one has mentioned his one and only space trilogy. These consist of, Malacandra, Out of the Silent Planet (or Perelandra), and That Hideous Strength. I found them both engaging and thought provoking. Has anyone else read this trilogy?
Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials trilogy. Amazing series, really not a kids book at all. Narnia but better - people will still be reading this in 50 years.
Stephen Donaldson: First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Great writing, great ideas, barely a cliche in sight.
Iain M Banks: Culture series. 'Nuff said.
China Mieville: Perdido Street Station and The Scar. The future of fantasy is this man.
Peter F Hamilton: Night’s Dawn trilogy. yeees, part one is a lot better than the other 2, but it’s still great stuff.
Elizabeth Moon
Fantasy: The Deed of Paksennarion - outstanding, fantasy without being overly sentimental or mystic.
Sci-Fi: The Heris Serano series and the Esmay Suiza series (which tie in together). Good solid military SF, similar to the Honor Harrington books, which I also love, but have already been mentioned.
Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts:
Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, Mistress of the Empire. Fun without being spectacular literature.
Almost all of Harry Turtledove, in particular his alternative history The Great War series (World War I after the South won the Civil War and retained independence) and the Balance series (world War II, but the earth is invaded by aliens a couple of years in).
Thudlow Boink -
Thank you for the link!
Regards,
Shodan
Nitpick: George R. R. Martin’s series is called A Song of Ice and Fire. A Storm of Swords is the third book in the series.
I will second Octavia Butler and Roger Zelazny’s books. The 10 chronicles of Amber have been reprinted as a set and should be available everywhere.
Elric of Melnibone and Conan the Barbarian (among some of the earlier fantasy) both deserve mention. Elric for the dawning of the Anti-hero and Conan for all the hack and slash fun.
Everything pales after Terry Pratchett, but I would recommend:
Jack Vance’s Lyonesse series
and I second Michael Moorcock’s Elric series.