From the top of my head:

Feast of Souls (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36157.Feast_of_Souls) has a quite interesting and dark universe and okay characters.

Mists of Avalon (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/402045.The_Mists_of_Avalon) is an epic book, though might not appeal to a male as much.

If you're up for some pseudo-realistic science-fiction where people who LARP take over the world when electricity fails, check out Emberwerse books, namely Dies the Fire (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/116445.Dies_the_Fire).

Windup Girl (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6597651-the-windup-girl) was quite interesting as well, dark dystopia.

Also for heavy science fiction, there's the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson which is awesome.

Actually this is a hint to register at Goodreads and fail at having a life for next few months. ;)