Fiction rec. needed

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Hi everybody,

At this particular time, I feel like reading an "epic" novel. What do I mean? A long tale, with a wide cast of characters and a complex, engaging plot (possibly surrounded by a long series of subplots). The setting might be historical (colonial India is a favourite of mine, Victorian England is also a nice one), fantasy (but not sword&sorcery fare, mind you!) or something else entirely.

Again, I need 'engaging' fiction, possibly coupled with some literary depth (think of something in the vein of A-P Reverte's work, the master of the so-called 'literary bestseller').
The novel(s) might be classic, new or obscure, I don't care.

multiple recs are welcome.

Let the game begin!

― undulation, Sunday, 25 February 2007 14:30 (eighteen years ago)

Vikram Seth's "A Suitable Boy"?

― Casuistry, Sunday, 25 February 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

Obvious, but 100 Years of Solitude?

― max, Sunday, 25 February 2007 17:33 (eighteen years ago)

Well, you'd need to give us an idea of what you've already read. Have you read the obvious ones? Lord of the Rings? The Gormenghast books (first two only)? Because I would start with Gormenghast, if I were you.

― accentmonkey, Sunday, 25 February 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

'A Suitable Boy' is a great choice. 'Vanity Fair' or 'Our Mutual Friend' for the Victorian side of you. If you like science-fiction, try 'The Book of the Long Sun' by Gene Wolfe.

― James Morrison, Sunday, 25 February 2007 23:46 (eighteen years ago)

'The Quincunx' by Charles Palliser fits your description, I think I'd place it in the obscure category.

― sandy mc, Monday, 26 February 2007 06:25 (eighteen years ago)

Hi everybody,

Eventually, leveraging rec. coming from multiple boards, I ended up buying the following:

- Harry Mulisch - "The discovery of Heaven"
- John Crowley - "Little, Big"
- Vikram Chandra - "Sacred Games"

Thanks for your recs, I see there are some new ones since I last checked the thread and I'll keep those in mind for my next purchase (I'm an avid reader so it won't be long...)

― undulation, Monday, 26 February 2007 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

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