Reaper's Gale and Toll the Hounds by Steve Erikson

Although there are definitely some emerging criticisms of the latter half of the Malazan series (too many quickly shifting viewpoints, an ever increasing tendancy to philosophize from various characters' viewpoints, sometimes at length), I still can't put down these books, with their incredible and ridiculous spread of lore and pathos and fun, and their huge, bewildering story.