Hmm, I think I might have to answer your vaguery with an all-purpose list. Please, do not take this as exhaustive--these are merely some of the thing's I've enjoyed that are even remotely flavoured with fantasy. Pseudo-Historical Fantasy: anything Guy Gavriel Kay Actual Historical Fantasy: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Maybe Historical? Fantasy: The King if Ys series by Poul Anderson Funny Fantasy: Small Gods by Terry Pratchett Gritty Fantasy: the Black Company novels by Glen Cook Mind-Numbingly Complex Fantasy: the Malazan series by Steven Erikson Urban Fantasy: Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint Epic Fantasy: A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM (yeah, yeah, I know) Work in Progress: the works of Patrick Rothfuss Bonus, because everybody should read these guys (but they're not strictly fantasy): Umberto Ecco and Jorge Luis Borge. Anyways, that's about all I can think of off the top of my head. Also, I'm exclusively a fantasy reader, so I'm sure there are more dedicated fans of the genre that could likely give you some better recommendations.