Quest, Journey, Underworld, Help, Rebirth

I prefer epics when it's simply thematic and used in modern and post-modern ways. I was taught Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse as an epic story, even though they barely leave home.

Snowy beat me to it. My favorite novel in the epic catagory. Put simply, it is the Arthurian legends but from the perspective of the woman (Guinevere/Morgaine) rather than the men's (Arthur/Merlin). I don't feel the men are simplified or minor players though at all.

My other fave's have been mentioned:

Alaska, James A. Michener

Shogun, James Clavell (watched the original run of the mini-series as a kid, loved Richard Chamberlain, had to read the book as an adult, highly recommend).

Dark Tower series and The Stand by Stephen King (favorite author and quite a few of his novels would count as epic).

Two years before the mast by richard henry dana jr. great story, pretty damn epic.