Top Five Modern Literary Sagas

I started to title this Top 5 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Sagas but remembered how much I hate that most book stores put their science fiction and fantasy in one giant section - do the broadsword-and-bodices really belong next to the far-future space operas - and changed my mind. But the original intent will probably become evident in the list. Sweeping in scale, grand in theme, broad in scope, it must cover long periods of time and have collections of colorful characters. Or it just must be a really long and cool book.

Caveats - I am only listing things I have actually read and am trying to work with intended sagas as opposed to a great first book with lots of sequels. But how to tell the difference between a saga and a series? I am also adding list ideas spawned by individual entries.

Not in any order, except first:

"The Lord of the Rings" by Tolkien. The first, the best, the all-time champion. There are 
contenders on the list below, but the scope, the passion, the detail, keep it on on top forevermore. I have read it every couple of years for most of life and it is always like having a reunion with dear friends in a beloved place. 
      Sub-list: "Things that happened in the movie that must be remembered as different than the book".

"The Dark Tower" by Stephen King. If you think you know King and haven't read this, you don't know King. The skills of a great writer applied to a different genre (or two) with spectacular results. Roland is up there with the great literary heroes.
        Sub-list: "People whose careers were saved by near-death experiences."

"The Baroque Cycle" by Neal Stephenson. This guy deserves his own post. Scary smart, eclectic, creative, hysterical - he is a giant - the kind of guy they invite to TED every year. This is a biiiigg book. Huge.
        Sub-list: "People who you admire but kind of hate because they're maybe too cool."

"Sprawl" by William Gibson. Truly original and I love original. It might make your head hurt but epiphanies can be fun. A new Gibson book is manna from heaven. Also known as the Neuromancer books.
        Sub-list: Sci-fi that you may or may not actually understand but love anyway."

"The Hyperion Omnibus" by Dan Simmons. This might fall in the "saga or series" question, but it is just so bloody good. And scary. This turns the already muddy genre into sci-fi/fantasy/horror.
        Sub list: "Great books with sequels that just don't cut it." This idea is a result of not putting "Dune" on this list.