I'm looking at my bookshelves right now. I only keep "absolute favorites"! HA! Two big bookshelves of absolute favorites.
Sci-Fi: The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin
Cyberpunk: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Classic: The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
Farming: All Flesh is Grass by Gene Logsdon
Fantasy: This one's a toughie, I read mostly fantasy, and there are a lot of great ones out there.
My favorite is probably The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series by Steven Erikson. It's a little hard to get into at first, but worth it! (If you're into that sort of thing
)
Also, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. They are much lighter reading, and loads of fun. I think they qualify as fantasy, anyway. They are set in modern day Chicago, and the protagonist is a professional wizard with a great sense of humor. Of course, I'm biased. I'm in love with Harry Dresden. Don't tell my husband!