If I like D&D and LotR....

[mcrow]

I should check out what novels?

Having read all of the books that take place in Middle Earth and my fair share of D&D novels, what other fantasy books should I read?

I like my Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, and Gnomes and epic stories. What do you suggest?

 

[Tinker Gnome]

If you have not yet read them...Dragonlance Chronicles!!!!!!

 

[mcrow]

If you have not yet read them...Dragonlance Chronicles!!!!!!

Yup, done that. I have read almost all of the DL novels, Eberron Novels, and a bunch of other D&D related novels. I'm looking for something outside D&D and LotR, but on the same theme.

 

[Mallus]

(Must resist saying something snide about Dragonlance, must resist...)

Have you tried Raymond Feists's Riftwar series? They begin with Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master? It's a single novel published as two volumes in paperback. I think they fit your bill rather nicely.

 

[The Serge]

Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Terry Brooks spent much of his career writing books for people who liked LotR and wanted more.

 

[WayneLigon]

Dennis L. McKiernan's work, which is a straight unabashed LotR pastiche in the beginning, then branches out as he grows as a writer. He's also written some great gaming material in the Citybook series by Flying Buffalo.
Terry Brooks: Sword of Shannara series
Robert E Howard: The Bloody Crown of Conan, The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian, The Conquering Sword of Conan, Kull, Exile of Atlantic, The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane
David Eddings: The Belgariad. The second series is a comfortable retread of the first, with some interesting character banter. Belgarath and Polgara are good books, though.
Pretty much anything Robin Hobb has written.
Same with Tad Williams.

Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones - This is really more of a book for writers than fantasy readers since it's likely to cause them to devour their own intestines. Funny and sometimes bitterly sarcastic, it's a good guide to all the pitfalls, cliches and overused tropes.

 

[Particle_Man]

The Deed of Paksennarion trilogy, by Elizabeth Moon (not sure if I have the spelling of Paks right) has a Tolkein feel and a D&D feel (it is a very good take on Paladins)

Includes Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Oath of Gold, and I can't remember the third.

Another seminal D&D work (where trolls come from as we know them, and also has a good paladin type, and a gnome) is Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions.

 

[drothgery]

Jhereg and the rest of the Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust
The Deed of Paksenarian by Elizabeth Moon

 

[Mistwell]

Nobody has mentioned The American Tolkien yet?