re: Nerd Fiction for Book Readers

I too have read almost all popular fantasy - at least the series that came out prior to about 2005. I've read SOIAF a few times and also couldn't get into Malazan. Malazan dumps you in the middle of the story, gives you a bunch of different story lines from the get go, and gives no clear protagonist. SOIAF at least started slowly and built up.

I love high, epic fantasy like Wheel of Time (my favorite), Lord of the Rings, and the first 5 books of Sword of Truth. I have read the Silmarillion twice and loved it. I do not think Sanderson is in the same realm as the guys writing high fantasy. He is good at magic but I do not like his character development or prose in general. He ruined Wheel of Time and Mistborn was a big disappointment.

I loved the Chronicles of Amber. It is from the 70's but very unique.

I would love to find the next Robert Jordan or Tolkien, but I just don't think there are any currently writing outside of Martin, and he takes 20 years to write a single book.