Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

I don't know if it's actually used, but "mythic fantasy" is a name I have come to attach to a certain thing:

A LOT of fantasy feature, as part of the backstory, the Glorious Golden Days of Legend, when magic was greater, heroes were demigods, all the artifacts were created and the great evil was sealed away.

Thing is, I've come to really want to read about those days, they sound terribly interesting. I don't know if it has to do with being in my thirties or if I'm not reading the right books, but I miss sense of wonder and awe in fiction.
I have toyed with the idea of writing a series that is basically the backstory for a more traditional fantasy, and grappling with the problem of making such a high-powered setting and characters relatable, but I have quite the backlog of projects as it is.

Is anyone writing these kinds of stories? Maybe something in the vein of the Silmarillion?

My Silmarillion is more of a bunch of loosely filed, varied in shape and shade pieces of paper tossed into a salad tosser with bits of sticky notes, paper clips and cutouts.
I do like to draft a mythos for my works, but it is more for my own reference, perhaps (you know, when I have acheived notoriety or some shred of popularity) I would polish and share it though. I too am facinated with histories and mythologies.

the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson has a lot of that kind of backstory woven into it. The books aren't an easy read, he doesn't stop to explain things but just puts it in and lets the reader work it out, but they're excellent (I think so, anyway, having so far read the first five) and I think have a lot of that mythic feeling of wonder and awe you're looking for. And a bonus, the whole 10-book series is complete, so no waiting years for the next book!

I loved the Malazan Books! And they do have a full feeling mythos. I really liked that little information was put into it, it kept the reader in the story. But enough of the mythos (information and actual figures) make an appearance to flesh it all out.

Man, I just picked up the boxed set (Malazan) and I am Looking forward to starting it more every day!!

David Eddings has some good series. My particular favorite is the Elenium series, I have friends who prefer the Mallorian.

I also thought that the first 4 dragonlance books were particularly good. Later ones written by random authors...not so much. But Fall/Winter/Spring and Summer were all great reads, great story, great world, great characters to cheer on. I named my cat after Tasslehoff Burrfoot. :)

Am I missing the point? You want a fantastical world you can really GO to, get lost in, and love. Yes? I felt that way about the Pern books. Though, they are tinged with Sci-fi in parts...how they get to the magic involves space travel. Still. I get lost in Pern. When I retread a Pern book, it's like coming home & old friends.

"I don't know if it's actually used, but "mythic fantasy" is a name I have come to attach to a certain thing:"

Start with the basics. Every culture on Earth has its myths, often borrowed from other cultures, yet made its own by tradition. If there is a particular culture that interests you, you could begin by reading their myths. After you feel fairly well acquainted with the myths, seek out fantasy novels based upon those myths.

Another approach is to consider which aspects of mythology you personally find wonder-inspiring. Where do your personal interests intersect with myth? Of course Tolkien loved ancient languages. I think he was awed by trees. Some writers have a passion for swords. Some love ritual. I fear that too many modern fantasy writers try to imitate Tolkien without taking their own myth-quest to find out what gives them a sense of wonder. That is why so much modern fantasy feels dead.