Which Long Fiction Novels Are Considered Must‑Read Epics Of All Time?

2026-07-19 16:41:34
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6 Answers

HollyBell
HollyBell
Detail Spotter Student
I lean toward epics with a strong sociological bent. 'The Power Broker' by Robert Caro, though nonfiction, reads like a monumental epic. It’s the biography of Robert Moses, but in telling his story, Caro tells the epic story of 20th-century New York City—how power shapes a metropolis, for better and much, much worse. The depth of research and narrative force is staggering. It’s a masterpiece of scale.
2026-07-20 00:07:45
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VeraWolfe
VeraWolfe
Favorite read: Shards in Eternity
Story Finder Student
I see a lot of classics listed, which is fair, but what about an epic from a completely different cultural lens? 'The Tale of Genji' by Murasaki Shikibu, often called the world's first novel, is an epic of courtly life in Heian Japan. It follows the 'shining prince' Genji through his political and romantic entanglements across decades. The attention to detail, emotion, and seasonal aesthetics is breathtaking. It’s a slower, more introspective kind of epic, concerned with beauty and melancholy.
2026-07-20 22:39:18
9
TheBook
TheBook
Favorite read: The Dragons of Edon
Clear Answerer Police Officer
For a pure adventure epic, nothing beats 'The Lord of the Rings'. It created the modern fantasy genre for a reason. The journey from the Shire to Mount Doom, the history of Middle-earth hinted at in every chapter, the languages, the cultures—it’s a complete secondary world. The stakes are the fate of all life, but it’s carried by the friendship of the hobbits. It’s the blueprint.
2026-07-20 23:20:58
4
AbbyNeal
AbbyNeal
Favorite read: The Hero King
Clear Answerer Editor
Don’t neglect the epic poem! Milton’s 'Paradise Lost' is a novelistic, deeply imaginative retelling of the fall of Satan and mankind. The scale is cosmic, the language is sublime, and the character of Satan is weirdly compelling. It’s a challenging read, but it has influenced countless novels in its ambition to explain the ways of God to men. It’s an epic of theology and rebellion.
2026-07-24 01:29:03
1
NightBee
NightBee
Sharp Observer Mechanic
For a more action-oriented, modern epic, the 'The Stormlight Archive' is building something massive. Sanderson plans ten doorstopper volumes, each with intricate world-building, unique magic based on ideals, and huge casts. The first book, 'The Way of Kings', is a slow burn, but the scale of the conflicts—both internal and world-ending—is already immense. It’s a classic fantasy epic in the making, wearing its heart and its scope on its sleeve.
2026-07-24 17:15:16
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Let me get some popcorn, this thread is already delivering. I'm just here to see if anyone brings up 'The Sparrow' by Mary Doria Russell. Now that is an epic of ideas wrapped in a devastating human story. Not a series, but man, it packs more punch than most ten-book sagas.

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