[EN1 Sailor]

Yep, David Weber’s Honor Harrington series would have been nice, as well as John Ringo's Gust Front and follow ups.

I couldn't stand LOTR, but I've read all 14 (or so) books in Asimov's Galactic Empire series and all of the Dune books and the subsequent off shoots.

[Eepsy]

If John Ringo had made the list I think the NPR editorial room would have looked like a scene out of Scanners....

[JMS]

John Ringo’s series - definitely and I would have liked to see the John Carter series by Edgar Rice Burroughs as well. Not sure if everyone would agree but it was one of my early favorites.