How about fantasy in the linguistic style of Jane Austen? There's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. She wrote at least one novella in the same style, set in the same world, if you want to try that before embarking on a thousand page - but it's done very, very well, in language, creativity, and evoking of a strange alternate history.
I tried reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. It bored the hell out of me before I got a third of the way through.. My wife, who likes “arty” books, got half way through before ditching it. Dry doesn't begin to describe it. That book lacked action, drama, romance, wonder, and humor. I've read more entertaining technical manuals. Fortunately, it was a loaner...
On the other hand, Cherryh was not too bad. I enjoyed Downbelow Station and Merchanter’s Luck.
“I always found Cherryh dry, dry, dry.”
Yes, she starts her novels slowly, like Tad Williams, and builds the characters and the background before beginning the plot. She’s usually worth the wait, like Tad Williams.
I intentionally did not read this thread before posting, just to see who I remembered and who I rated high from memory.
I will change one of my fantasy ratings, Terry Prachett should be on the list—I suppose I’ll bump Evelyn Nesbitt.
My SF must have Orson Scott Card and Frank Herbert. Bump Sturgeon and Campbell for them.
David Weber is very good, but the more he focuses on politics and the less on action, the less I like him. I have read all of Honor Harrington novels and anthologies except the last one. I don’t know if he’ll last the test of time.
John Ringo is also very good. I loved the Posleen series. I just wonder if anyone will be reading him 50 years from now?