I second most of these recs (haven't read the Harrison or Lynn, though I've read others by those writers.) C. L. Moore is indeed pulpy, but give her a shot. Her short story "Shambleau" is deservedly famous, and will give you a taste of her style, as will the Jirel short Black God's Kiss.
Monette is somewhat Kushner-esque; I'm surprised I didn't think of her earlier.
Barbara Hambly can be wonderful or mediocre. DO NOT read the sequels to Dragonsbane (which has a beautiful and satisfying ending, anyway.) That's great, so's the Darwath trilogy (beginning with The Time of the Dark, so is the Windrose duology (beginning with The Silent Tower)-- those were one of my requests for Yuletide, in fact, and I wrote a bit about why I like them in my letter to Santa: http://edonohana.livejournal.com/16478.html#cutid1
Re: Epic fantasy with interesting relationships
Monette is somewhat Kushner-esque; I'm surprised I didn't think of her earlier.
Barbara Hambly can be wonderful or mediocre. DO NOT read the sequels to Dragonsbane (which has a beautiful and satisfying ending, anyway.) That's great, so's the Darwath trilogy (beginning with The Time of the Dark, so is the Windrose duology (beginning with The Silent Tower)-- those were one of my requests for Yuletide, in fact, and I wrote a bit about why I like them in my letter to Santa: http://edonohana.livejournal.com/16478.html#cutid1