Fantasy - Your Favorite Authors

[Beisla]

This was done on the old board a couple of times, and I thought it would be a good idea to have this kind of a thread here, too - great for getting recommendations! :ok:

The idea is to post five of your favorite fantasy authors. If you absolutely must post more you may, but please try to stick to five (only five will be posted on the list, but additional recommendations are alwasy welcome). Please note! Please do not list Anne McCaffrey. Since this is a forum dedicated to her, it's quite obvious that she's one of our favorite authors and everyone knows her already. (And in any case she writes mostly scifi :D)
And please, make sure the author's name is spelled correctly and their full name, that way if someone wants to try out a new author they'll have an easier time finding their books.

It would be nice also if you posted a bit of info on the type of book and/or which books or series you should start with, or ones you recommed. :)

If this thread grows long enough I may do a list with the top authors. :)


I'm posting the current top ten here, the full list can be viewed here (http://annemccaffreyfans.org/forum/showthread.php?p=119224#post119224).

Mercedes Lackey 14
David (and Leigh) Eddings 11
J.R.R. Tolkien 8
Alan Dean Foster 7
Raymond E. Feist 7
Terry Pratchett 7
Robert Jordan 6
Melanie Rawn 6
Marion Zimmer Bradley 6
Robin Hobb 5

[Beisla]

OK, mine! :D (in no particular order)

J.R.R. Tolkien (no info needed I presume :D)
Guy Gavriel Kay - His first series, The Fionavar Tapestry, was high fantasy. The rest of his books are historical fiction mixed with fantasy: e.g. a world like medieval France, only mixed with fantasy and with a different map. (Meaning it's not set in our world.) Books can be read in any order (there's one three-part series, one two-part, and stand-alones). Very original, not really humorous or serious but not quite light reads either. Of the ones I've read I recommend The Fionavar Tapestry, Tigana and The Sarantine Mosaic.
Robin Hobb - Her books are traditional but not high fantasy: not as much magic as in some, but there are dragons! :D They're on the serious side. She currently has three series, all set in the same world. (She's working on a new one, set in a different world.) They are: The Farseer trilogy (Assassin books, starting with Assassin's Apprentice), The Liveship Traders trilogy (Ship books) and The Tawny Man trilogy (Fool books). It's best if you read them in that order, but the series will also make sense by themselves. But be warned: the last series has major spoilers for the first two (but the second has only minor for the first).
Orson Scott Card - I've only read the Alvin books, but I hear he has other great ones as well. The books are set in an alternate history United States, in a world where magic excists. They're light books, but very enjoyable and warm.

Last spot most difficult to pick! I'll say
Terry Pratchett - extremely humorous books, parodies fantasy and many other things. Some of the funniest books I've ever read. He has a series, and some books for younger readers. The Discworld books can be read in any order, but if you want to start with the first one it's The Color of Magic.

My other favories, of whose books I won't tell more now, are David and Leigh Eddings, J.K. Rowling and The Deathgate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (funnily enough I don't much care for their other books).

[McClance]

I haven't read and enjoyed too many Fantasy books besides those by Anne McCaffrey.

But there are a few:
Christopher Paoilini (I'm probably spelling that right) sounds good. I haven't read him yet, but I recently saw his Eragon at a bookstore and it sounds very interesting from what I read on the cover jacket.
And I thought Byron Priess' and Michael Reeves' Dragonworld was very good.

:bow: :) :bouncy:

[Faren]

Eddings...Belgariad and Mallorean are my favorite of his series

Mercedes Lackey! Valdemar is an excellent fantasy series, and I have enjoyed her other works very much!

Robert Jordan...Wheel of Time. It's a LONG series, and the characters are so numerous it's difficult to keep track of who is who, but what a rich world!

Terry Brooks...Love the World of Shannara :ok: I'm glad he has decided to keep writing more books about it.

Orson Scott Card...The Alvin series is wonderful, and so are his other books.

[AnnMarie]

Eddings.... I adore The Belgarian and the Mallorian!

Kathryn Kurtz .. the Deryni series are a very cool set of books that work the practicalities of magic into what could almost be an alternate history.

MZB ... okay, so it's only because of Mists of Avalon......


Terry Brooks..... the Shannara series


Peirs Anthony... I'll admit it, I love the puns of Xanth!

[granath]

Elizabeth A. Lynn. I've only read her The Chronicles of Tornor trilogy: Watchtower, The Dancers of Arun and The Northern Girl. They're set in a Medieval-type low-tech world, with witch-gifts (psi powers) thrown in, more accepted in some parts of the world than others.

Tolkien, the man who launched fantasy literature. I don't think anyone's written quite such a detailed world.

[Ian]

Tolkien of course
David Eddings - Belgariad/Malloreon/Belgarath/Polgara firstly, but the Elenium/Tamuli are good too.
Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman - Dragonlance Chronicles, a series that started out from D&D game sessions. Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first one, an epic tale of a group of imperfect companions fighting the evil plots & minions of the dark goddess Takhisis.
David Gemmell (A British writer of epic fantasy who doesn't seem to be well-known in the US unfortunately) The Drenai series is his largest (starting with Legend if I remember rightly) but he also has a few interesting takes on characters from our world, such as Alexander the Great (Lion of Macedon & Dark Prince) & King Arthur (Ghost King & Last Sword of Power).
R.A. Salvatore - Dark Elf series (Forgotten Realms, another D&D world & the one LL, BM & I adventure in) beginning with Homeland, telling the tale of Drizzt Do'Urden, a drow (dark elf) who leaves his underground home & the evil ways of his people to build a new life on the surface.

[-H-]

David Gemmell (A British writer of epic fantasy who doesn't seem to be well-known in the US unfortunately) The Drenai series is his largest (starting with Legend if I remember rightly) but he also has a few interesting takes on characters from our world, such as Alexander the Great (Lion of Macedon & Dark Prince) & King Arthur (Ghost King & Last Sword of Power).


Ghost King & Last Sword of Power? are they not the two books loosly set in the same world (although a few thousand years before)as the bloodstone series with the sharpshooting holy man???

if not i'm sure he did some i just don't know which ones they were!

my favorite Drenai character has to be Druss :D he's big! he's unstoppable! and he's got a mighty rage when he's angry .... erm he sounds a lot like the incredible hulk doesnt he ;)

[-H-]

Alan Dean Foster: i realy love his pip n flinx books, they're the adventures of a young man guy called flinx (no last name) who was tinkered with as a child by a secret underworld cult, to develop into this physic power house .... oh and he's got a companion called pip who's a poisonous mini dragon ;) they be realy good books and if you get a chance to read one ... go for it!

Raymond E Feist: his riftwar (and subsequent spin off) series are brill!
start off with magician and let yourself drown in his world of wonder !!!
Jimmy the Hand is just brilliant :D

Jean M Auel: Not a big producer of fiction like some authors we all know ;) , but if you read clan of the cave bear and get hooked, you've let yourself in for a veeeeery long wait for the next book once you enter her world ....... i'm still waiting :cry:

Terry Pratchett: every thing this man touches ... in a literature sense... turns to gold! his discworld books are the best ever!!!! if your feeling down read one and you'll be laughing your head off within no time ..you will probably start scaring the other people on the train though so be careful ;)
Rhincewind, The Luggage, Blinky, Susan, Death! Greater characters are hard to find! :bouncy:

The Unknown Author: that author i am yet to discover! for if i did not have a vacancy in my top lists why would i continue to read new books from new authors ... my mind would stagnate, my eye's would close !!!! i would be blind !!! eeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Elisabetha]

[B]The Unknown Author: that author i am yet to discover! for if i did not have a vacancy in my top lists why would i continue to read new books from new authors ... my mind would stagnate, my eye's would close !!!! i would be blind !!! eeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

That is something to consider, But I don't think I can now limit myself to 4 authors, 5 is difficult enough as it is. So I will just say that my list of favourite Authors is subject to change at all times. Depending on what I am reading / have just read, on my mood and on the new books I have yet to discover. ;)

BTW, I don't think this list is in order of most favourite. I think that that would be impossible.

Raymond Feist. I love the adventure sort of stories set in the great world of Midkemia. Though I have to admit that I like his books about Kelewan, co-written with Janny Wurtz better. I just love the character of Mara. Of the midkemia novels I like the Serpentwar saga best, but that could be because I started with them.

Jaqueline Carey. Of her I have only read the Kushiel series (I don't think anything else has been published yet). These books are very different from a lot of other fantasy that I have read, and I really like the way she has created her world, with resemblances to our world, but very different in all / most aspects of it. I also like the way she writes about different sexual habits / preferences. She treats all equal in her books and has created a society where everything (at least consentual) is allowed.

Sara Douglass. I really like her Axis trilogy, her Wayfarer Redemption trilogy and the Crucible trilogy. The Axis and Wayfarer books take place on a fantasy world that has three (maybe four) different races, and in the second trilogy there comes contact (of a kind) with startfaring people. The crucible trilogy takes place on earth, in the middle ages and is something of an alternate history. It is also something of an alternate discription of the christian religion. I really like the ideas she works out in these books.

Mary Gentle. I don't know if her books are fantasy or not. Two of them that I have read / am reading are alternate histories, Ash and 1610 A sundial in a grave. The other book i have read is not fantasy. Orthe is Science Fiction, but a very good book nevertheless.

And now for the very difficult fifth choice. I have a lot more authors left to choose from, and my choice today will probably differ from what I would choose yesterday or tomorrow.
I think I will put in David and Leigh Eddings. As they were the writers who got me back into fantasy after a few years of not reading it, or at least not specifically looking for it. My first fantasy was The Hobbit and a book by a Dutch writer (Thea Beckman). After those I sort of forgot about fantasy untill I happened upon the Elennium by the Eddingses. After that I was addicted and read everything my library had on the shelve.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

OK, mine! :D (in no particular order)

J.R.R. Tolkien (no info needed I presume :D)

No.... no info needed! LoL


Robin Hobb - Her books are traditional but not high fantasy: not as much magic as in some, but there are dragons! :D They're on the serious side. She currently has three series, all set in the same world. (She's working on a new one, set in a different world.) They are: The Farseer trilogy (Assassin books, starting with Assassin's Apprentice), The Liveship Traders trilogy (Ship books) and The Tawny Man trilogy (Fool books). It's best if you read them in that order, but the series will also make sense by themselves. But be warned: the last series has major spoilers for the first two (but the second has only minor for the first).

I've read the Assassin books, and am reading Fool's Fate right now. I don't know why I started with the third book, but I did. heh


My other favories, of whose books I won't tell more now, are David and Leigh Eddings, J.K. Rowling and The Deathgate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (funnily enough I don't much care for their other books).

I like J.K too... definitely!!! I could NOT put them down, and I can't wait for the next book!

I also love Mercedes Lackey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Ursula K. LeGuin.

As for others, I can't think of any at the moment. :D

[murphy]

This is so hard. There are so many good books out there, but here goes.

Melanie Rawn for her Dragon Prince trilogy, Dragon Star Trilogy and her unfinished trilogy of The Exiles. Great books!

Robert Jordon for his Wheel of Time series, even if he isn't moving the story along as fast as I would like.

Janny Wurts. First for her collaboration with Raymond Feist in the Empire series (takes place at the same time as Feist's rifwar series). Second for her Mistwraith series. So far there are 5 books out with the 6th due in February this year.

Robin Hobb for the reasons mentioned above.

C. S. Friedman for her Coldfire Trilogy. Really dark fantasy. Imagine a planet where your worst fears come to life.

As was mentioned above, this is subject to change when I find a truly good new author. :2cent:

[Anneli]

1) Mercedes Lackey: Valdemar

2) Katherine Kurtz: the Deryni books

3) Raymond Feist: a) the SepentWar quartet; b) the original trilogy

4) David Eddings: The Elenium trilogy. I also enjoyed the Belgariad quintet, but found the follow-up series to both (the Tamuli and the Mallorean) a bit contrived :(

5) Elizabeth Kerner: only three books to date, but they're a great read :D

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

:) This is so hard. Melanie Rawn for her Dragon Prince trilogy, Dragon Star Trilogy and her unfinished trilogy of The Exiles. Great books!

Robert Jordon for his Wheel of Time series, even if he isn't moving the story along as fast as I would like.

Janny Wurts. First for her collaboration with Raymond Feist in the Empire series (takes place at the same time as Feist's rifwar series). Second for her Mistwraith series. So far there are 5 books out with the 6th due in February this year.

Robin Hobb for the reasons mentioned above.

C. S. Friedman for her Coldfire Trilogy. Really dark fantasy. Imagine a planet where your worst fears come to life.

As was mentioned above, this is subject to change when I find a truly good new author. :2cent:

I've been wanting to read the Dragon Star books, but wanted opinions from others before I picked one up somewhere.

And I did forget to mention Robin Hobb in my list as well. :)

[murphy]

I found the Melanie Rawn Dragon Star books to be very well written and with a new slant on magic. They also tend to be rather heartbreaking. :2cent:

[McClance]

Alan Dean Foster: i realy love his pip n flinx books, they're the adventures of a young man guy called flinx (no last name) who was tinkered with as a child by a secret underworld cult, to develop into this physic power house .... oh and he's got a companion called pip who's a poisonous mini dragon ;) they be realy good books and if you get a chance to read one ... go for it!

Foster's Humanx Commonwealth series is the next on my list after I finish reading the Pern series in chronological order.

[jamnar]

Tad Williams : anything, but mainly Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, starting with The Dragonbone Chair. :bow:

Raymond Fiest : Riftwar series

Stephen Lawhead : Song of Albion, and Pendragon

Julian May : Saga of the Exiles series

Katherine Kerr : Deverry Series and everything else.


It's hard to restrict this list to only five when there are so many to choose from.

[Elisabetha]

See, I now remember some aauthors who should have a place in my top five, were it not for the fact that a top five only has five places :roll: . Melanie Rawn is great, I like her Dragon Prince and Star scroll series a lot, am anxiously awaiting book three in the exile's series (when is she going to finish that?) and really, really liked that book she did on painters capturing people in their paintings (though I can't remember the title right now).
Ursula K. LeGuin is also a great fantasy writer and I think Julia Gray should have a place in my list (even if I have not yet finished reading her series as I am missing book 3).

To bad a top 5 has only 5 places :sigh:

[murphy]

See, I now remember some aauthors who should have a place in my top five, were it not for the fact that a top five only has five places :roll: . Melanie Rawn is great, I like her Dragon Prince and Star scroll series a lot, am anxiously awaiting book three in the exile's series (when is she going to finish that?) and really, really liked that book she did on painters capturing people in their paintings (though I can't remember the title right now).
Ursula K. LeGuin is also a great fantasy writer and I think Julia Gray should have a place in my list (even if I have not yet finished reading her series as I am missing book 3).

To bad a top 5 has only 5 places :sigh:

In re Melanie Rawn. According to her website, she has been working on the Captal's Tower since last January and it takes her anywhere from 18 months to 5 years to complete a book. (sigh) The book about the paintings is The Golden Key. :2cent:

[Rho]

A Top 5... it's so difficult.

*sigh*

In no particular order:

Robin Hobb, particularly the Liveship Traders. She just creates a really good world, with believable characters - even the Live Ships are believable.

Terry Pratchett - magic, sheer magic. :bow:

Juliet Marillier. I really like her stories and their blend of real life and magic. I also like her "take" on the fairy tale.

Alan Dean Foster too, especially his Commonwealth although I would class them as Science Fiction. I also like the Spellsinger books which are more Fantasy - large talking animals, magic etc.

Holly Lisle. A relativley new author – for me. I love her Secret Texts series.

But then, there is David Eddings (all of them), J K Rowling, Melanie Rawn (Dragon Prince/Dragon Star), CS Lewis, Tolkien – another 5.

[Stewart]

its difficult to chose but here goes 1 terry pratchet no info required no 2 the lady herself ann mccafrey no3 tolken because he was the granddaddy of fantasy no 4 im getting into robert jordan the wheel of time series very tolkien ish my type of epic and no 5 thats very difficult as i keep finding new authors all the time so this place remains vacent :applause: :bow: :bow:oh and i forgot up and comming authoe christopher pollini i think thats how you spell his name a young lad working on his second book in the ergon series a very young dragon hope to see more of this young talent in the next few years

[Kitsch]

Mine Are (in no particular order)

Tolkien

I have loved Lord of the Rings since age 11, the achievement of inventing such a detailed world with its rich history, different languages and characterisation is amazing. All that plus a gripping storyline. :ok:

J V Jones

Now this lady loses points for not pulling her finger out of her bum and getting Sword from Red Ice finished (release date put back 4 times to date :irked:) but her books draw me in and won't let go. Not afraid of the non-fluffy side of fantasy, either.

Guy Gavriel Kay

Tigana is just simply the most beautiful and heartbreaking book I have ever read. I savoured every last word and was so sad when it was finished. The Fionavar Tapestry is also great, with an interesting take on the Arthurian myth.

Ian Irvine

The View from the Mirror Quartet I loved because in it there was no one 'bad guys' just people who did what they thought was right for their race or family and in Llian's case, for the sake of the knowledge of the Histories. Also the magical talisman is not a cure-all but a twisted malevolent artifact with an agenda of its own.

Terry Pratchett

Genuis comedian with a flare for making a damn good satirical point whilst making you laugh your arse off. Great characters, and impossible to pick a favourite.

Now that was tough :noface:

[jen]

You've already listed many of my favorites so I'd like to add to the list of great authors.

Orson Scott Card: Ender Wiggin series
Gordon R Dickson's series on Jim Eckert/Dragon (tongue in cheek)
Brian Jacques' Redwall series
Frank Herbert's Dune books

[Hans]

Argh... only FOUR?

Eddings (both of them) (everything they write thus far)
Mercedes Lackey (Valdemar)
Stephen Donaldson (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant/Mordant)
Melanie Rawn (Sunrunner world)
I don't consider Auel to be fantasy, was so disgusted with her, probably marketing induced, silly overly involvement with prehistoric sex that I gave away the books I had by her! And after that I read one or two books that were written after her first one in tehsame style/same subject that were better than Auel's.

I also like the author Michael Horwood (Duncton Wood books, Stonor Eagles, Callanish, Wolves of Time etc.) very, very much. Not real fantasy so I can list him here :D I like the kind of stories in which animals have "human" roles, a genre of which Watership Down is, of course, a classic. How is that sub-genre called anyway?

[Beisla]

Argh... only FOUR?

No, five!

[Hans]

Eh.... OK, no mistake made as I skipped Tolkien as a given :) :roll:

[-H-]

Orson Scott Card: Ender Wiggin series


the ender series is one of the best series of books ever created in my humble yet opinionated opinion :D there is a new book coming out soon aparently (shadow of the giant) i think?

But dont forget the alvin maker books ... they're well worth a few reads too ....

[Elisabetha]

I definately agree with you -H-, the Ender series are great. What I really like is how he wrote the story of Bean some years after he wrote Ender's story. It is basically the same story, but seen from a different POV, without being repetitive. I also like the way he changes the kind of story it is in the different books.
I couldn't get into the Alvin maker stories, but I like the Earthfall books and I really like his stand alone Songbird. I also have a collection of his short stories, titled people on the fringe. This has some great stories.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Elisabetha]

J V Jones

Now this lady loses points for not pulling her finger out of her bum and getting Sword from Red Ice finished (release date put back 4 times to date :irked:) but her books draw me in and won't let go. Not afraid of the non-fluffy side of fantasy, either.



See, another author that should have a place in my already overflowing top 5 :sigh:

I absolutely adore her Baker's boy series and the stand alone The barbed coil is simply great. :good: I have not yet read her new series, I decided to wait untill it was finished.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I found the Melanie Rawn Dragon Star books to be very well written and with a new slant on magic. They also tend to be rather heartbreaking. :2cent:

Excellent! I'll have to find the first book in the series and start reading it... if it's as good as you say it is, I'm sure I'll end up with the rest of the series!

LoL

[NeouofPern]

Mercedes Lackey... I love all her series!
Tamora Pierce... But not the Circle series
Holly Black... I heart Tithe

I'm not sure who else. I read too much to remember. o_0

[Kitsch]

See, another author that should have a place in my already overflowing top 5 :sigh:

I absolutely adore her Baker's boy series and the stand alone The barbed coil is simply great. :good: I have not yet read her new series, I decided to wait untill it was finished.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

Don't hold your breath, the release date of the third one has been put back about 4 times and now isn't on Amazon at all apart from a special order which is out of stock. :irked:

[jamnar]

I'd like to add Lynn Flewelling, author of the Tamir Triad (the third of which I'm waiting for), on the strength of the first two.

Clive Barker deserves a mention, although mainly horror, I loved the concepts of Weaveworld and Imajica, and am very impressed with Abarat.

There's a new Stephen Donaldson out, returning to Thomas Covenant, which means my re-reading the whole set, since it's been a while.

I want to put a word in for Tom Holt, his books are funny in a different way from Terry Pratchett (who has already been mentioned several times anyway).

Jonathan Wylie can't go without a mention, Dreamweaver is one of my favourite books.

[jen]

posted by H: the ender series is one of the best series of books ever created in my humble yet opinionated opinion :D there is a new book coming out soon aparently (shadow of the giant) i think?:devil:I've already read the first three chapters and I'm not telling ya how!

:sad:

:roll:

:angel: Oh, all righttttttttttttt. No need to whine so.

Go here (http://www.hatrack.com/osc/books/shadowofthegiant/shadowofthegiant_01.shtml)!

[Tabra]

More or less in order.

Glenda Larke- Her Isles of Glory trilogy are amongst the best, most origional books I've ever read, and I'm avid fantasy reader. If you see them (Not sure if when they're released in the US and UK, but they are due soon if not out now), the first book is called the Aware. Do your brain a favour and grab it!

Jennifer Fallon- Her Second Sons Trilogy is absolutely excellent. Well written and constucted. Plus, she's an Aussie.

Terry Brooks- Shanara series

Katherine Kurtz- Deryni series

Robert Jordan- Wheel of Time.

[bisb]

Mercedes Lackey--Valdemar series
Raymond E Feist--Midkemia series
Alan Dean Foster--Humanx series
Terry Pratchett--need I say more
last but not least any new author that I find

[-H-]

:devil:I've already read the first three chapters and I'm not telling ya how!

:sad:

:roll:

:angel: Oh, all righttttttttttttt. No need to whine so.

Go here (http://www.hatrack.com/osc/books/shadowofthegiant/shadowofthegiant_01.shtml)!


thanks for the link jen

but in order to retain my sanity i'm not going to follow up on it and wait for the entire book ... otherwise i will get hooked and go mad waiting for chapters 4 onwards ! (its happened before and i still explode in libraries with loud rants ;) )

[Silverspirit157]

Melanie Rawn - For the Exiles trilogy (PLEASE finish it soon!). Here is an author who isn't scared of killing off characters once they did what they were supposed to do. Hats off for that! Humourous, serious, lovely! And some rather refreshing ideas about society... :devil:

The Eddingses - Malloreon, Tamuli. For some reason, I liked the second series of each world more than the first.

Ian Irvine - Well of Echoes trilogy I think it is called..."Geomancer", "Tetrarch", "Scrutator" and "Chimaera". Another author whose characters are all flawed, no perfection in sight! Interesting to watch them evolve...the character I absolutely despised in "Geomancer" turned in my favourite by the time I got to "Scrutator". :D He's got some interesting magical ideas too...

Janny Wurtz/R. E. Feist - Empire trilogy. Gotta love Mara! :bow: So far, a fairly unique fantasy in which magic does NOT take centre stage, but rather a woman's strugle to save her family and her Empire. Ironically in the end, from magic! Very refreshing!

Terry Pratchett - The witches books. Nanny Ogg must be one of the best characters ever created! She holds the entire thing together IMHO!

[Bardmaiden]

Tom Holt - Really funny, very strange and totally cool! Try Flying Dutch or Who's afraid of Bewolf....Danny Bennett strikes again :fiend:

[murphy]

[QUOTE=Silverspirit157]Melanie Rawn - For the Exiles trilogy (PLEASE finish it soon!). Here is an author who isn't scared of killing off characters once they did what they were supposed to do. Hats off for that! Humourous, serious, lovely! And some rather refreshing ideas about society... :devil: /QUOTE]


According to her bb she started working on the Captal's Tower (3rd Book) at the beginning of January 2004. The bad part is that she said it took her 18 months to 5 years to write a book. :2cent:

[Kitsch]

Ian Irvine - Well of Echoes trilogy I think it is called..."Geomancer", "Tetrarch", "Scrutator" and "Chimaera". Another author whose characters are all flawed, no perfection in sight! Interesting to watch them evolve...the character I absolutely despised in "Geomancer" turned in my favourite by the time I got to "Scrutator". :D He's got some interesting magical ideas too...

Hurray! Another fan of Mr Irvine :bouncy: Have you read the View From the Mirror Quartet?

[B`dgyr]

J.R.R. Tolkien (the father of modern fantasy)
Mercedes Lackey (hey, magical talking horses and gryphons, what's not to love? And let's not forget bards!)
Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Trillium series,(co-written w/ Andre Norton and someone whose name escapes me, not to mention the Mists of Avalon and Firebrand)
David Eddings (The Belgariad! Rocks! The! World! Unfortunately, the best part about the Malloreon is that Belgarath finally gets what he deserves. :D )
Stephen King...Don't start yelling at me unless you have read the Eyes of the Dragon and The Gunslinger series. Unless you have read those tow books, you have no right to yell at me.

[Elisabetha]

Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Trillium series,(co-written w/ Andre Norton and someone whose name escapes me, not to mention the Mists of Avalon and Firebrand)


The trillium series was co written with Andre Norton and Julian May. I have to say though that I only liked the one written by all three of them. The ones that were written separately couldn't hold my attention.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Silverspirit157]

Hurray! Another fan of Mr Irvine :bouncy: Have you read the View From the Mirror Quartet?

No. None of the 3 libraries I visit stock him... :cry: So I can't finish the well of echoes either until I can actually BUY Chimera! :sad:

I'll get to it! It's on my wish list - right after I got a complete set of Eddings and Anderson books!

[selket]

mercades lackey diana tregarde series
patricia keannelly-morrison copper crown and throne of scone
raymond fiest magician series
mary stewart merlin series
charlaine harris vampires of louisiana series :cool:

[B`dgyr]

ooh! And the series Patricia Keneally Morrison did that begins with the Hawk's Grey Feather is great, Too!

[Kitsch]

No. None of the 3 libraries I visit stock him... :cry: So I can't finish the well of echoes either until I can actually BUY Chimera! :sad:

I'll get to it! It's on my wish list - right after I got a complete set of Eddings and Anderson books!

I'd love to lend - but you're a bit too far away :sad:

[Lady Shayla Solo]

Here goes mine-
(In no order)
-David and Leigh Eddings- currently re-reading The Elenium series. Start with The Belgariad series. I doubt I need to go into way they're so good :D
-Sara Douglass- Start with the Axis series. I consider her 'dark fantasy'. Her characters dont always make the wisest choice.
-Anne Bishop- The Black Jewel Triology. Has some mature scenes, but very good characters and plot.
-Joanne Bertin- start The Last Dragonlord. Great take on weredragons!
-Christopher Stasheff- The Warlock Series (start with The Warlock insprite of himself). An olde but a good one. Nice blend from sci-fic to fantasy.

Also worth mentioning (mainly some new good authors) are Trudi Canavan, Elizabeth Kerner, Carol Berg, Laura Resnick, Irene Radford, Marjorie B Kellogg, and Jane Lindskold.

Here are my husband's-
(In no order)
-Connie Willis- Doomsday Book (named our daughter after the main character- Kivrin)
-Terry Pratchett- Discworld
-Mercedes Lackey- Elementral Masters and all her other work...
-Piers Anthony- Bio of a Space Tyrannt, etc...
-Lynn Flewelling- Nightrunner series.

And thats it...
Laters
Shayla

[Monkeysrule]

Brian Jaques (even if I only just started Redwall)
JKRowling!!!!

I have a little question...What genre is Watership Down?

[Kitsch]

Brian Jaques (even if I only just started Redwall)
JKRowling!!!!

I have a little question...What genre is Watership Down?

:erm:

Really depressing? *is still traumatised from watching the film*

[Monkeysrule]

Watership Down's not depressing!! At least not the book... It really made *what happens to a certain rabbit* not seem like such a bad thing.

[Monkeysrule]

But one book that's definitely really depressing is Lord of the Flies. And the movie is worse!!!

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

J.R.R. Tolkein - another big fan here!

Edgar Rice Burroughs - I love his Tarzan series, some situations get a little whacky, but they are such enthralling books.

Michael Chichton - Any author that invents a plausible way to ressurect dinosaurs I will love!

Peter David - I've only read his movie adaptations of Comic book movies, but he does very well with them.

William Goldman - I've only read one book by him, The Princess Bride, but that is such a smashing book he deserves to be on my top 5 :D

[Kemala]

Only 5 ~sigh~

in no particular order, and as usual subject to change

Anne Bishop

Mercedes Lackey

Katherine Kerr

Maggie Furey

Katherine Kerr

[Beisla]

Kemala, did you notice that you have Katherine Kerr twice?

[Beisla]

OK, I think it's time to do a tally. :D
The score so far is as follows:


Mercedes Lackey 14
David (and Leigh) Eddings 11
J.R.R. Tolkien 8
Raymond E. Feist 7
Alan Dean Foster 7
Terry Pratchett 7
Rober Jordan 6
Melanie Rawn 6
Marion Zimmer Bradley 6
Robin Hobb 5
Tamora Pierce 5

Orson Scott Card 4
Stephen R. Donaldson 4
J.K. Rowling 4

Anne Bishop 3
Terry Brooks 3
Brian Jaques 3


Piers Anthony 2
Jaqueline Carey 2
Stephen Donaldson 2
Sara Douglass 2
Charlaine Harris 2
Tom Holt 2
Ian Irvine 2
Guy Gavriel Kay 2
Katherine Kerr 2
Kathryn Kurtz 2
Ursula K. LeGuin 2
C.S. Lewis 2
Janny Wurts 2

Aaron Allston 1
Richard Adams 1
Kelley Armstrong 1
Catherine Asaro 1
Robert Asprin 1
Jean M. Auel 1
Clive Barker 1
Claire Bell 1
Joanne Bertin 1
Holly Black 1
Steven Brust 1
Edgar Rice Burroughs 1
Don Callander 1
Trudi Canavan 1
Jack L. Chalker 1
Michael Chichton 1
Mary Janice Davidson 1
Peter David 1
Gordon R Dickson 1
Shannon Drake 1 (AKA Heather Graham) 1
Dave Duncan 1
Jennifer Fallon 1
Lynn Flewelling 1
C. S. Friedman 1
Maggie Furey 1
Neil Gaiman 1
David Gemmell 1
Mary Gentle 1
William Goldman 1
Laurall K. Hamilton 1
Tara K. Harper 1
Simon Hawke
Barb and JC Hendee 1
Frank Herbert 1
J V Jones 1
Patricia Keannelly 1
Elizabeth Kerner 1
Gregory Keyes 1
Stephen King 1
Katherine Kurtz 1
Glenda Larke 1
Stephen Lawhead 1
Rachel Lee 1
Jane Lindskold 1
Holly Lisle 1
Elizabeth A. Lynn 1
Juliet Marillier 1
Julian May 1
Patricia A. McKillip 1
Robin McKinley 1
Elizabeth Moon 1
Andre Norton 1
Jody Lynn Nye 1
Christopher Paolini 1
Byron Priess & Michael Reaves 1
Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens 1
Jennifer Roberson 1
Spider Robinson 1
Fred Saberhagen 1
R.A. Salvatore 1
Sharon Shinn 1
Christopher Stasheff 1
Mary Stewart 1
Mary Stanton 1
Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman 1
Tad Williams 1
Jonathan Wylie 1


Whoa, that's a lot of great authors! :applause:
Keep 'em coming, everyone! :D

[DragonShadow]

C.S. Lewis
J.K. Rowling
Tamora Pierce
Robert Jordan
Mary Stanton
Myself/Best Friend
Eric Van Lustbader
Whoever wrote Eragon...
And many others...

[Dawn]

Guess I should finally add my list:

Mercedes Lackey
Kelley Armstrong
Charlaine Harris
Mary Janice Davidson
Shannon Drake (AKA Heather Graham)

[Nurianna]

Is it too late to add?

Anne McCaffrey
Mercades Lackey
Tamora Pierce
Issac Asimov
Orson Scott Card
Allen Dean Foster
Robert Asprin
Andre Norton
Rodger Zelaney
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Robert Heinlein
Elizabeth Moon
Elizabeth Ann Scarborugh
Marion Zimmer Bradley
:banghead: there are more... many, many more~

[rider_of_the_last_queen]

Jane Lindskold: She's written Through Wolf's Eyes, Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart, Dragon of Despair, Wolf Captured, and a few others. Her stories rock. I love them. The character Firekeeper is just so cool. She knows how to leave the reader in suspense and makes you wonder about Firekeeper's past. Firekeeper is a girl who was raised by Royal Wolves. They're like really smart wolves. Well, these other humans find her and bring her back to civilization. It is just sooooo cool. Hee hee. I'm not very good at discribing stuff so sorry if I haven't painted a good picture for Ms. Lindskold.

Laurell K. Hamilton: She's written a bunch of books about a woman who kills vampire and raises zombies and other stuff like that. I only have two of her books. She's written Guilty Pleasure and A Kiss of Shadow, A Caress of Twilight, and Seduced by Moonlight. There are more but I can't remeber them all right now.

Barb and J.C. Hendee: They wrote Dhampir, Theif of Lives, and Sister of the Dead. Their working on another story right now, but I can't recall the name of it. Their books are about a woman named Magiere who finds out that she's half-vampire. Her companions are a half-elf named Leesil and his dog Chap. In the first book the move to this town called Miiska. They have to get rid of three vampire wrecking havoc on the town. Well, one of them escapes and they kill the other two. In the second book they meet up with the vampire that had escaped. In book three they discover Magiere's origan. Too cool. Trust me! It's fantastic!

Jaqueline Carey: She wrote Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar. It's about a young woman named Phedre who is sold to this man as a child. He teaches her the how to observe, remeber, and analyze things. He also taught her the arts of the bed chamber. It's got a lot of plot twists and "bad" parts in it. The people who you think are the good guys turn out to be the enemy and it just drives you crazy not to know whose behind all the trouble in Terre D'ange. She's written some others books too, but I've only read these three. Hee.

Tara K. Harper: She's written Wolfwalker, Shadow Leader, Storm Runner, Wolf's Bane, Silver Moons, Black Steel, Grayheart, and Wolf in Night. Ok, I've only read a few chapters of Wolf In Night. From what I understand so far, this girl named Nori is the daughter of a Wolfwalker (a human who's bound with a wolf telepathiclly). She meets up with this yearling named Rishte. It's cool. It's a sci-fi story and it's really cool. Now if only I could pull myself away from the computer long enough to read more. Oh well, it's really cool. You should read it.

[Monkeysrule]

I see you really like wolves.

Here's a list:

Anne McCaffrey (yes, I count her as fantasy!!) for her Pern series
JKRowling (tied w/AMC for first) for her HP books:ok:
Richard Adams (Also tied) for Watership Down, a really great book w/great characters
Whoever wrote Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (his name escapes me...)
Brian Jaques because from the first page Redwall kept me reading and there are a whole bunch more I have yet to read

[Monkeysrule]

There's more, but those are the only ones that I remember...

[rider_of_the_last_queen]

JKRowling is very good too. I couldn't put her books down once I started.

[Monkeysrule]

HBP is coming out in July!!! Woohoo!!!
:woohoo: :hopping: :frolic: :hopping: :woohoo:

[Beisla]

List edited...

Nuri and DragonShadow, since you're only allowe to pick five, I took the five first names from you lists. If you wish to choose differently, please tell me and I'll edit.

Monkeys, I'm not counting Anne McCaffrey, since part of the reason for this thread is to give ideas about new authors to try, and also since these forums are dedicated to Anne, I figured everyone already knows and loves her books. :)

[McClance]

Whoever wrote Eragon...

That would be Christopher Paolini. :)

[SFAHarper]

Five, Five, I can only pick Five. Bloody hell that's gonna be blasted hard to do.

Eddings, Jordan,.....yikes pick between McKinley, Bradley, Hodgell, Tolkien, Goodkind, umm....who else, who else, Rowling.....Five

1. Jordan
2. Eddings
3. Rawn (only Exiles)
4. McKinley becaue I totally identify with Hari and Aerin
5. and well....I can't pick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Going insane with the strain to pick only one more!!!!!!!!! AIIIIIIIIHHHHHHHHHH!
There are so many. Brian Jacques, C.S. Lewis, Sherryl Jordan (no relation to Robert as far as I know), oh my gosh, I can name so many more......dont' make me choose

:note: SFA :note:

[Flinx]

Reading through the thread so far, I'm surprised by some of the choices that I wouldn't even consider fantasy because I automatically think of them as science fiction.

Here are some of my favourites;
Aaron Allston - Galatea In 2-D & Doc Sidhe
Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere, Stardust & American Gods
Simon Hawke - The Wizard Of 4th Street series & Brewster Doc trilogy
Jody Lynn Nye - Mythology 101 series & Dreamland trilogy
Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens - The Chronicles Of Galen Sword series

Tried to pick some authors that hadn't been mentioned before.

[ilona]

Well I guess I can just about pick 5 for this list but it is VERY difficult, so in no particular order (I don't have favourites as I love to many authors)
Mercedes Lackey Valdemar Series, Trudi Canavan Dark Magician etc., Elizabeth Moon Paksennarrion Stories & others, Alan Dean Foster Humanx Series
Natuarally I love Anne's books and would normally add such great authors as Tolkien, Paolini, Kerr etc. but I'm only allowed 5 :(

[cwolf]

Stephen R. Donaldson - The chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. was a 6 book series starting with White Gold Wielder, but I have word that he's created a third set called The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. So I guess that makes it 9 now.

Alan Dean Foster- The Spellsinger Series.

Spider Robinson- Even though his Callahan series has some sci fi, there are some fantasy characters in it too.

Fred Saberhagen- Dracula series.

All the authors of the Forgotten Realms books.

[Dragonwarden]

:erm: just 5 huh! you do have to make this hard don't you. ok! Here goes.

Jack L. Chalker The four lords of the Diamond series and the well world series
Andre Norton All of her books:sad: of course there want be any more.
Alan Dean Foster Pip and Flinx series
Stephen R. Donalson The Mirror of her Dreams series
Claire Bell People of the sky

of course James P. Hogan is running a close fifth with Claire Bell sadly she only has a few books.

[granath]

To my meager list on the first page I'd also like to add Robin Hobb. I've only read Assassin's Apprentice, as well as the short story in Legends II and I'm sold.

[persephone]

Ursula K. Le Guin: Everything by her, except maybe her poetry. I'm not a big poetry fan, even if it is by my favoritestest author ever
Patricia A McKillip: I absolutly love her most recent five or six novels, especially Ombria in Shadow and Alphabet of Thorns
Tite Kubo: Why have I allowed manga to take over my reading selections? I don't know, but the series Bleach could be a major factor.
Steven Brust: Who wouldn't love Vlad Taltos, super cool assassin/sorcerer/fugitive from mob justice? Since this happens to be sandwiched between two manga series, I just thought I'd mention that it is, in fact, not a manga.
Masashi Kishimoto: Naruto is an excellent manga as well.

[skysong]

Where to start?
Anne Bishop
Mercedes Lackey-anything by her!
Rachel Lee-Drusilla's Dream (short story)
Catherine Asaro-the Charmed Sphere
Sharon Shinn- any of her books that involve Samaria: Archangel, Angelica, Angel-Seeker, Jovah's Angel, the Alleluia Files, also Summers at Castle Auburn, Jenna Starborn, and the Truth-Tellers Tale

[Mayhem]

Does Piers Anthony count?

[McClance]

I will add Don Callander's Dragon Companion books to the list. ;)

[Lady Shayla Solo]

Anyone want to tally this up?
Laters
Shayla

[Aurelia]

Tamora Pierce
David Eddings
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Melanie Rawn (I'm reading a book by her now--it's awesome)
Jennifer Roberson

[vampire_huntress]

The only book that I own by Marion Zimmer Bradley is called "The Fall of Atlantis". I've read that book so many times that it's falling apart. My father gave it to me years ago and I LOVE it! I haven't read anymore of his works but from "The Fall of Atlantis" Marion Zimmer Bradley is a wonderful writer. One of the best that I've ever read.

[Beisla]

Okay, I've tallied the count again. The list of authors is getting rather long, so you can view the full version here (http://annemccaffreyfans.org/forum/showthread.php?p=119224#post119224).
I'll post the current top ten here and in the first post of the thread. (The number after each name is the number of votes.)

Mercedes Lackey 14
David (and Leigh) Eddings 11
J.R.R. Tolkien 8
Alan Dean Foster 7
Raymond E. Feist 7
Terry Pratchett 7
Robert Jordan 6
Melanie Rawn 6
Marion Zimmer Bradley 6
Robin Hobb 5



Also, some notes...
Persephone, I didn't add the manga authors since I'm not really looking for comic/cartoon type fantasy.
Yes, Platinum, Piers Anthony counts (at least someone's already said him, and...)
Shiaki, when you typed Linksuld, did you mean Jane Lindskold? (Didn't add that yet.) I don't know who the author of the series you mentioned is. And I couldn't find a Drudand in fantasticfiction or Amazon.com.
Everyone, please make sure the authors are spelled correctly and with their full names, since there are a whole lot I've never heard of so I can't post the correct form.

[murphy]

Also, some notes..
Yes, Platinum, Pierce Anthony counts (at least someone's already said him, and...)
Shiaki, when you typed Linksuld, did you mean Jane Lindskold? (Didn't add that yet.) I don't know who the author of the series you mentioned is. And I couldn't find a Drudand in fantasticfiction or Amazon.com.
Everyone, please make sure the authors are spelled correctly and with their full names, since there are a whole lot I've never heard of so I can't post the correct form.[/COLOR]

Beisla, it's Piers Anthony (being a Nazi here) and I think the series is Tamora Pierce. At least she has written a Circle of Magic series. [Helpful Henry here.]:2cent:

[Beisla]

Beisla, it's Piers Anthony (being a Nazi here) and I think the series is Tamora Pierce. At least she has written a Circle of Magic series. [Helpful Henry here.]:2cent:Sorry, I'm not familiar with the author so I didn't realize I'd spelled his name wrong. Wasn't paying attention when I copied his name down. :blush: Thanks for pointing it out to me, and the series, too.

[McClance]

Now that you've mentioned it...

On "Byron Priess & Michael Reeves"

It should be "Reaves"

Not that big of a deal, really. But you asked to make sure the authors' names are spelled correctly, so...

[Lady Arwyn]

Favorite fantasy...

Mercedes Lackey, especially for her Valdemar series and her new dragon series. Her other stuff is ok too :evil:

but also...

Robin McKinley (Blue Sword universe)
Kristen Britain (Green Rider)
Jennifer Roberson
Anne (A.C.) Crispin (Exiles of Boq'urain)
Robin Hobb (Mad Ship trilogy)
Mary H Herbert (Hunnuli series)
Sarah Zettel (Sorcerer series)
Karen Ripley (Slow World series)
Claudia J Edwards

and for youth/young adult authors...
Tamora Pierce
JK Rowling

[Aurelia]

Tamora Pierce is my favorite fantasy author!

[Shalyn]

May as well get mine in:

Sharon Green
Sherri S. Tepper
Mercedes Lackey
Diana Wynne Jones
Orson Scott Card

It is so hard to pick five from all I have!!!

[cosmic dancer]

My favourite fantasty authors (other than Anne):

Terry Pratchett - the man is a genius!! Both me & my hubby love diskworld and the characters he has created that live there. His humour seems to be able to work on a number of levels.

J.R.R Tolkein - how could anyone not love LotR and the Hobbit?

Ursula Le Guin - I really enjoyed the first three Earthsea books, but wasn't so convinced by the forth.

J.K. Rowling - The Harry Potter books may be aimed at children, but like many adults I really enjoy them too. They are very well written and as such can be hard to put down. A sure sign of an excellent book.

I know this is only 4, but I can't think of any other fantasy authors that I really like. I only got into fantasy books fairly recently and so there's lots of authors still to try. I got my first Robin Hobb book for Christmas, so when if I enjoy it, she may get added to my fav author list!

[j_mercuryuk]

I hope I haven't posted already, I've checked, but I do miss things sometimes. It's a little hard for me to choose as fantasy is all I really read. So at a push I would say (other then AMC, cause that's alittel obovious):
JRR Tolkien: Come on, this man was on another level completely. I'm now addicted to LotRs fanfiction (and guilty of writing some myself)
JK Rowling: I'm guilty of trying to aviod the trend, until I heard the PS on the radio, now I can't get enough. Her books will surely become classics.
David Eddings: I love his books (though Polgara annoied me too much to finish her book), I read all but one book in the Belgriad series in a week. It was half term and I basically sat in my room for the week. I've really got to read some more of his books.

I'm still unsure about Gath Nix, I'm loved Sabriel but Lireal is taking me longer (partily because I do alot of other things) so I've only read one and 2/3 of his books. Not really enough to judge.
Terry Pratchett I reall must read some time. I was pushed even more towards him after seeing an amituer play of 'Maskerade' at a local theatre. I only reason I haven't read it before now is because I picked up 'The wierd sisters' at my school library and it had no chapters. I don't like reading books with no chapters.

[Dragonrat]

Oh gods, where to start???

Mercedes Lackey - the Valdemar series is wonderful; I want a Companion and to be Taylaydras. (sp?)

Pratchett - not just for Discworld, but The Carpet People, Good Omens and The Unadulterated Cat.

Laurell K Hamilton - despite the rather carnal leanings, still one of my favourite authors, both for the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series, plus Nightseer and Death of a Darklord.

David Gemmell - I drop everything when he puts out a new book. I think my favourite would have to be Lion of Macedon, based around Alexander the Great.

Can't decide on number five, so I'm putting two.

Christine Feehan - her Dark series is excellent, even if it is marketed as romantic fiction.

Kelley Armstrong - The Women of the Otherworld series, starting with Bitten. I prefer the ones centred around the werewolves, but they're all good.

And that's leaving out Christopher Golden, Sherrilyn Kenyon, the Hendee's, Eileen Wilks, Brian Lumley, Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger series, Katherine Kerr, JV Jones and Terry Brooks. :sad:

[Ember]

Has this thread finished, or can I add my favourites, too? (Sorry, but I didn't see this one until just now.)
Ok, then:
1/ David and Leigh Eddings (Elenium/Tamuli series)
2/ Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
3/ Robin Hobb (Liveship Traders)
4/ Maggie Furey (For the Aurian series)
and 5/ Ryo Mizuno (Although I've only ever seen adaptations of his Record of Lodoss War series and its sequels)

[Beisla]

Don't worry, I'm glad you found it again. :D
I just update it now and again, when new people find it.

[Bane]

5 top authors...

Orson Scott Card, not just for the Ender's books. I like his book Homebody, too.

Jacqueline Carey- I have read and own the Kushiel series. I'm waiting patiently for Kushiel's Justice the next installment in the Imriel trilogy. Kushiel's Mercy is still in the making. She also has Banewreaker and Godslayer, but I have yet to read those. She's also got short stories in Emerald Magic, Angels, and I-94.

Edgar Allen Poe- Nuff said.

Laurell K Hamilton- Yeah yeah. Despite the sex scense, I still like her books.

I keep the fifth space open. I may not have found that great author to put here. Though this should probably be in the fourth slot rather than the fifth.

[Ember]

Hmm, having been loaned a copy of War of the Flowers, I would have to add Tad Williams to my list. I loved that book!

[skysong]

:faint:
I forgot Tanith Lee and Garth Nix.
Tanith Lee- Red Unicorn, Gold Unicorn, Black Unicorn, The Sliver Metal Lover, Metallic Love, the Cladi Journal Series, the The Secret Books of Paradys

Garth Nix- Shades's Children, Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Seventh Tower Series

[Mage]

Hmmmm. To come up with five favorites is a difficult prospect, since there aren't many authors I just LOVE that much.

The top of my list is definitely Neil Gaiman. I like his writing more than Anne McCaffrey's, to be honest.

Next I'd say would be Holly Lisle. She's pretty new, so not many people will have heard of her. I don't like the World Gate series as well as the Secret Texts. She writes suspense, too, but I haven't read any of that. Definitely, the Secret Texts books are her best fantasy novels.

I've read a bit of Terry Brooks, and even though Shannara's a very blatant Tolkien ripoff, I love his writing.

Kristen Britain is a new, upcoming author who takes cliches and makes them fun in Green Rider and its sequel, First Rider's Call. There isn't much magic, and some may be reminded heavily of Valdemar, but overall her work's well-written and fun. She just needs to break loose from those cliches a bit more. Personally I found her first novel more entertaining than the first Valdemar novel, but I'm sure that others hate her.

There is no Number Five to my list, mainly because I haven't spread out my reading that much, but also because I can't honestly call several of the fantasy authors I have read "favorites."

I'd list Tara K. Harper and David Brin, except that they write sci-fi, not fantasy. However, both are truly awesome writers.

I'd also list Christopher Paolini or J.K. Rowling, but to be honest, neither hits my favorites list. Paolini's work is fun to read, but it is not well-written. I feel much the same about J.K. Rowling, as her characters come off as very flat, even considering the books are meant for kids. I've read one of Melanie Rawn's novels, but not enough to judge her work. I've also read a book by R.A. Salvatore--again, not enough to judge him by.

[murphy]

Hmmmm. To come up with five favorites is a difficult prospect, since there aren't many authors I just LOVE that much.

The top of my list is definitely Neil Gaiman. I like his writing more than Anne McCaffrey's, to be honest.

Next I'd say would be Holly Lisle. She's pretty new, so not many people will have heard of her. I don't like the World Gate series as well as the Secret Texts. She writes suspense, too, but I haven't read any of that. Definitely, the Secret Texts books are her best fantasy novels.

I've read a bit of Terry Brooks, and even though Shannara's a very blatant Tolkien ripoff, I love his writing.

Kristen Britain is a new, upcoming author who takes cliches and makes them fun in Green Rider and its sequel, First Rider's Call. There isn't much magic, and some may be reminded heavily of Valdemar, but overall her work's well-written and fun. She just needs to break loose from those cliches a bit more. Personally I found her first novel more entertaining than the first Valdemar novel, but I'm sure that others hate her.

There is no Number Five to my list, mainly because I haven't spread out my reading that much, but also because I can't honestly call several of the fantasy authors I have read "favorites."

I'd list Tara K. Harper and David Brin, except that they write sci-fi, not fantasy. However, both are truly awesome writers.

I'd also list Christopher Paolini or J.K. Rowling, but to be honest, neither hits my favorites list. Paolini's work is fun to read, but it is not well-written. I feel much the same about J.K. Rowling, as her characters come off as very flat, even considering the books are meant for kids. I've read one of Melanie Rawn's novels, but not enough to judge her work. I've also read a book by R.A. Salvatore--again, not enough to judge him by.

Which one of Melanie Rawn's books did you read?

And, have you tried Steven Erikson or George R. R. Martin?

[Mage]

Which one of Melanie Rawn's books did you read?

And, have you tried Steven Erikson or George R. R. Martin?


I have one of the Dragon Prince books, I believe. I haven't read George R. R. Martin, ore Steven Erikson. I've read Tolkien, however. I don't have a lot of money right now to spend on books, although once I do, I'll start a buying spree on Amazon. ;)

If I'm totally honest, I feel a lot the same about Anne McCaffrey as I do about J.K. Rowling and Christopher Paolini--fun to read, but not exceptionally well-written. She's got a good voice, but there are other problems that I notice now. :shrug: I'm still a fan, but she wouldn't likely make my favorites nowadays. I've read a lot of authors, but some of them I tend to just stick on and read more of. I don't really mind if the writing isn't fantastic, as long as it's fun to read--however, good writing is definitely a bonus. That's why cliche-type writers don't make the absolute top of my list (and why Kristen Britain was an iffy one when I posted her on my top five). There are just some writers out there who are truly great, like Gaiman and Lisle.

I have to say, it bothers me that a lot of the most popular writers aren't really that good. Take Mary Higgins Clark, Dan Brown (whose popularity probably came from the shock value, since the writing itself is nothing spectacular), and even Christopher Paolini. Though the only one of them who made me want to throw the book was Mary Higgins Clark... Anyway, my point is you can't judge what will be popular by how good the writing is. Plot, targeted audience, the cover art, marketing--many things are involved. The majority of readers quite frankly aren't going to even notice if it stinks.