reading recommendations, please?

[ravnsdaughter]

I got into reading science fiction and fantasy relatively late in life, though I'm familiar with a lot more authors than I've read because of working in a library for a while. So, I have two questions for my f-list in this regard:

First, what series would consider to be scifi/fantasy classics and/or must-reads?

Second, I've never read anything by Neil Gaiman, but would like to. Which book should I start with?

Third, graphic novels. What would be a good one to start with? (keep in mind I can't stand anime).

Edit: stuff I have read/really liked, off the top of my head:
copious amounts of Marion Zimmer Bradley (she's a favorite author of mine)
Lord of the Rings
Piers Anthony's Incantations of Immortality
A few books of the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, I'm slowly working my way through them (and love them to bits)
Rick Cook's Wizard's Bane series (another favorite)
The Kushiel trilogy and the followups, by Jacqueline Carey (which I consider fantasy, anyways)

Comments

[sterlingspider.livejournal.com]

In the "OMG so good the idea of getting someone to read them usually has me jumping up and down and practically peeing my pants with excitement" category...
The Hyperion Tetrology by Dan Baker
The Books of the New Sun (including the 5th) by Gene Wolfe
The Black Company series by Glen Cook
if you like Pratchett: the Discworld books (they do start a touch slow, totally worth the slight slowness of the first three books)
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King (start with Eyes of the Dragon if you want the full "Dark Tower as Fantasy" experience)
Any of The Eternal Champion cycle by Michael Moorecock (start it the basic Elric of Melnibone books, branch from there)
The Fafhard and the Grey Mouser books by Fritz Leiber
The Dragon and the George (and sequels) by Gordon R Dickson
I've never met a Gaiman book I didn't like.

Seconded by a billion to start with Sandman if you're looking for both a good start to Gaiman and graphic novels.
I do like my graphic novels a bit dark but I wholley endorse Preacher and pretty much anything by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan is the usual starting point there) Also the Batman-Dark Knight series, and (of course) Watchmen and V for Vendetta.

[dagnabitt.livejournal.com]

I loved The Eyes of the Dragon. Reminded me a touch of Aladdin.