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Terry Goodkind: Read his first books years ago, think I got up to volume 6 or 7 and then stopped. Too much repetition.
Richard Jordan: Again read first couple of volumes and then stopped. Not because I was waiting for a new volume; just lost interest. As I recall, I though the series' title was apt: too much "recycling" of themes, like a wheel going round and round and round ....
Glenn Cook: read first three in an omnibus edition. I liked them, so not sure why I didn't continue.
Game of Thrones: read first four, which I really enjoyed. I reread the first three before reading the fourth volume (because to took 5 years for it to come out). When the latest volume came out decided not to buy it. I'm not going to invest any more time in the series until it is finished. I'm assuming that if Martin croaks before the series is complete, someone like Brandon Sanderson can finish up.
Steven Erikson: tried to read Gardens of the Moon a long time ago and couldn't get into it. Tried again year before last and devoured the entire series. Basically all I did in my free time until I finished. I think if you are going to read this you almost have to read them all at once (or pretty close to that). The series is not in chronological order but goes back and forth. The plots in each novel are rather complicated, there are numerous characters to keep track of and lots of "philosophical" bits (which some people really dislike). At times things can lag, but overall I think Erikson did a fine job with this +10,000-plus page epic.
So personally I would pick Erikson. One of the best series that I have ever read. I fully intend to reread it. In my opinion it blows Game of Thrones out of the water. Not that "Thrones" isn't good. It is very good, but in comparison it almost seems like a "traditional" fantasy series. At least to me. Which is fine.
One author I would recommend is K.J. Parker. He/she (no one knows) is considered a fantasy writer even though the books don't have any fantasy elements such as magic. Has written several trilogies as well as standalone novels. Common themes in the novels are economics, politics, power, tech, and the consequences of one's actions (which can lead lead to both predictable and unpredictable results). Which I guess might sound boring, but these are very well-plotted novels that present a rather dark view of human nature. Great stuff.
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