Just found this thread as I seldom visit this section of the forum.
I am a fairly big historical fiction fan, so waiting in anticipation for Bernard Cornwell's new Saxon Chronicles book to see what Uhtred is up to now he has finally reclaimed Bebbanburg (Bamburgh), I have a feeling that he will play a pivotal role in Aethelstan's battle at Brunanburh where he becomes Englaland's first king.
Pretty miffed I've had to wait an extra year while he released a vanity project in Fools & Mortals, which was the only book of his I couldn't finish.
While I wait though I'm reading Giles Kristian's (fastly becoming as good as Bernard) new one Lancelot. It's certainly one of those books you can't put down, and an interesting interpretation of the Arthurian legend, again up there with The Warlord Chronicles. If you're into this genre I'd certainly recommend his Raven saga and the Rise of Sigurd too, which way round you read them will give you a different perspective of the characters.
Another fantastic series is Angus Donald's Outlaw series, very sad at the end though.
Something completely different (still fiction) is Frank Tayell's, Surviving the Evacuation series. It is set after a zombie apocalypse but it is not farfetched and written in a very real way, of how things would actually happen (within reason) it's more about how the human race would survive a disaster like this, with some political thriller in the back ground, tis very good.
Also the wonderful Sir Terry Pratchett, nothing else to add there.