What is considered the first epic fantasy novel?

One of the contenders for the first epic novel is 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'. It is an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem. It dates back to around 2100 BC and tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk. It has many elements that are characteristic of epic novels such as heroic deeds, a journey of self - discovery, and interactions with gods and supernatural beings. This work influenced many later literary works in terms of themes, narrative structure, and the portrayal of heroes.

One of the contenders for the first fantasy novel is 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'. It has elements like mythical creatures and heroic quests that are characteristic of fantasy. It dates back to ancient Mesopotamia.

Well, it's not easy to pinpoint exactly, but some say 'The Arabian Nights' could be among the first. It's filled with fantastical tales and magical elements.

One of the contenders for the first science fantasy novel is 'The Voyage to the Moon' by Cyrano de Bergerac. It was written in the 17th century and combined elements of science, such as early ideas about space travel, with fantastical elements like the strange creatures and situations on the moon. It was a very imaginative work for its time and set the stage for the development of the science fantasy genre.

Some might argue that 'Le Morte d'Arthur' by Sir Thomas Malory could also be seen as an early form of high fantasy. It contains tales of King Arthur and his knights, a world of chivalry, magic swords, and wizardry. It dates back to the 15th century and set the stage for many of the themes we see in modern high fantasy.

It varies greatly. But generally, it could be around 100,000 to 150,000 words. Some might be shorter, around 80,000 words if it's a debut with a more concise story. However, there are also those that exceed 200,000 words.

As mentioned before, Edmund Spenser wrote 'The Faerie Queene' which is an early example of the genre. His writing style was different from modern epic fantasy, but it had many of the key elements such as a grand adventure in a fantastical setting.

Epic works usually had a grand background, complex plots, profound theme, and excellent performance. They could reflect human history and social reality deeply and create extraordinary characters and stories. Epic works often used narrative structures, including adventure, war, myths, legends, and other elements. The theme usually involved human destiny, beliefs, morality, war, civilization, history, and so on. Epic works often used a large number of metaphor, symbolism, metaphor and other literary techniques to enrich their literary effects and expressiveness. Some epic works may be based on a specific historical period or cultural background, such as ancient Chinese "Qin Fu Yin,""Warring States Strategy,""Romance of the Three Kingdoms," or modern literary works such as American epic novels "Braveheart,""War and Peace," etc.

Definitely 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss. The story of Kvothe is told in a way that draws you into a world full of magic, but also danger and mystery. It has a dark undertone as Kvothe has to face many hardships. 'Gardens of the Moon' by Steven Erikson is also a must - mention. It's the start of the 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' series and sets up a complex world full of different races, magic systems, and political struggles, all with a dark edge.