Just looking back at my last couple of months of reading, I'd recommend...
Dan Simmons, "Hyperion" and "Illium" (both are the starts of series)
Sussana Clarke, "Jonathan Stange and Mr. Norrell"
Connie Willis, "To Say Nothing of the Dog"
Jim Butcher, the Dresden Files series (starts with "Storm Front" but doesn't lose TOO much if you read them out of order)
Paula Volsky, "The Grand Elipse"
Lois McMaster Bujold, "Young Miles" (compilation of the first two books and first short story in a series)