Epic Books

Is there a book series epic enough that it can even rival lord of the rings? I'm starting to think not.

I'm FURIOUS that I'm only seconding Malazan book of the fallen- especially when some of you guys are recommending things like MTG novels or paradise lost (canonical literature =/= enjoyable literature). I'm of the VERY FUCKING STRONG opinion that it complete surpasses LOTR in almost every way (it loses on the create-your-own-language side of things).

The series is epic in length, epic in scope, and epic in cast. The first few novels also have the benefit of being completely interchangeable, so you're able to read them in whatever order you can find the books in. The latest novel left me amazed at how well the author is beginning to draw things together, and I honestly can't wait to read the next two entries in the series to know how everything will end.

Try Steven Erikson out; I promise that you will not be disappointed by what he has accomplished :). 

Side note: I don't hate paradise lost, but there's so much other stuff out there now that would make for a much better read. Milton's epic does have 12 books, but more than a few of them can be finished in 20-30 minutes, and that's while reading critically. The first few are pretty amazing though- satan makes for quite the charismatic general.