I'm a lifelong fantasy fan, and love many of the books mentioned here, but some of my all-time favorites are missing from this and the
previous thread:
Robert E. Howard's
Conan stories (available here as a free download here in
epub and
mobi/prc format). This is the birthplace of the sword and sorcery genre - strange tales of dark sorcerers, desperate treasure-hunters, haunted ruins, hidden kingdoms and the barbarian/thief Conan wandering Europe, Africa and the Middle East after the fall of Atlantis.
Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock - Winner of the 1985 World Fantasy Award. Mythago Wood is a terrifying and awe-inspiring story of one family's experiences on the edge of (and eventually into) an ancient British forest, where mythical archetypes are brought to life. It was followed by several sequels, but each succeeding book is a stand-alone novel.
The City of Saints and Madmen;
Shriek; and
Finch by Jeff Vandermeer - A series of stand-alone books, all set in the strange steampunk city of Ambergris. The books have a remarkably surreal atmosphere, bordering on horror at times.
Little, Big by John Crowley - winner of of the 1982 World Fantasy award, this is considered by many critics to be the finest work of modern American fantasy. Like
Mythago Wood, this is a family chronicle (although much more complex) set on the edge of an enchanted forest, presumably in upstate New York. A challenging read at times, it really rewards patience with beautiful prose and an ending reminiscent of
100 Years of Solitude.
Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea - the winner of the 1983 World Fantasy Award, Nifft the Lean tells of a thief and his exploits in grotesque and extreme landscapes and conditions. Really weird and really great.