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First off, second the recommendations of Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock.
Suggestions which haven't been made here AFAICT:
- Jack Vance --- the Lyonesse Trilogy --- it's one of my favourites of high fantasy in the purest sense of the term (more on that below)
- Steven Brust --- the Taltos/Dragaera books --- if you enjoy Dumas, then you'll love _The Phoenix Guards_ and _Five-hundred Years After_
- C. J Cherryh --- _The Tree of Swords and Jewels _ and its sequel are just heartbreaking, the Morgain trilogy and its sequels are very cool.
- Robin McKinley --- if you like short stories _The Door in the Hedge_ is amazing. _The Hero and the Crown_ is a lot of fun.
High fantasy can't be about quantity of magic --- that would be a different axis --- it's more about the quality of the writing, and the story adhering to the traditions of the genre.
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