There are a vast array of talents and specializations that give each writer a different style according to their preferences. Some of the greatest writers in the science fiction and fantasy genre are called epic writers and they are so named for the immense size of their novels and the detailed worlds they create. Arguably the genre of epic novels started with the titan himself, J. R. R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. As a series, The Lord of the Rings has inspired many to read and write epic novels. Today’s greatest authors in the fantasy genre are in some way inspired by Tolkien.
Some of the best epic novel writers at this time are Robert Jordan and “The Wheel of Time”, Brandon Sanderson and “The Stormlight Archive”, George R. R. Martin and “The Game of Thrones” and Patrick Rothfuss with “The Kingkiller Chronicles”. Each of these authors is currently writing or has written an expansive world more intricate than the vast majority of written works. Almost every writer at this level has multiple character perspectives highlighted by shifts from chapter to chapter with the exception of Patrick Rothfuss. Authors at this level will often use one time characters to give a unique perspective on events or switch over time to an ever expanding group of character perspectives.
Epic novels set themselves apart from the rest by the level of detail and care in crafting the world. Reading a well-crafted epic fantasy novel should feel like the reader inhabits the world. No matter how strange the setting may be, it feels alive. Characters may be in a fantasy setting in the clouds or under the sea, but the challenges they face in everyday living are relatable to the reader. Characters encounter struggles with leadership, crippling depression, overwhelming grief which make fantasy feel more real than other genres. These are the types of books that a reader can sink their teeth into and enjoy time and time again.
