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Favourite Sci-fi and/or Fantasy Authors
Written By ldragon on May. 22, 2008.
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I know this question is pretty loaded and over-used, but I've always stuck to my few authors, on really venturing beyond them on recommendation. My reading piles are pretty small at the moment, having polished off a good few books recently, so I'd like to see the authors you all come up with :)
For me, my favourite author of the moment has to be one Iain Banks. I've read almost all of his books, including his short story collection, and his ability to bring something original to the genre is unparalled, judging from the other stuff I've read in my young years. Also, for different reasons, Douglas Adams' books are never a dull read :).
In terms of fantasy, even though I don't read a lot of it, I've recently taken to the epics of Terry Goodkind, read about 3 of his books now, completely engrossing, lost a few good afternoons to them. And of course Terry Pratchett's Discworld is always fun. Joe Abercrombie is someone I've had my eye on recently, I've read most of his books, he gots a very natural gift for weaving a raw, powerful story. I particularly liked Before They Are Hanged, part 2 of the First Law Trilogy, gobbled that up in no time. (Incidentally, just realized the last book is out, just ordered it off Amazon :p)
All contributions are welcome :)
Didnt realise there was no Books category, so I put this in the writing section for now :P
Kamigoroshi
Written May. 22, 2008 / Report /
Well the writing community fits in fine...and I don't know where to start.
Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, John Scalzi, Phillip K. Dick
That takes care of the science fiction authors I love the most, especially Isaac Asimov whom I've read all his works and short stories.
Now I don't usually read fantasy novels and its hard for me to say that I like Philip Pullman after only just one of his series which was His Dark Materials trilogy. But if there was a fantasy author I constantly read, it would be Laurell K Hamilton with her sex driven Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series and her (also) sex driven (but more integrated) Merry Gentry Fey Princess series.
The other fantasy author I love would be Brian Jacques and his Redwall series. It might be for kids, but damn if a kids book was filled with heroism, death, intrigue and a clear distinction between good and evil.
ldragon
Written May. 22, 2008 / Report /
Ah, how could I forget Herbert and K. Dick, love their stuff as well. Is there no edit button on here or something?
Ozone42
Written May. 22, 2008 / Report /
Orson Scott Card - creates excellent characters.
Greg Bear - real good hard sci-fi heavy on the sci.
Alastair Reynolds - one of the newer talents out of the UK. Great space opera, imaginative universes.
Gnorb
Written May. 22, 2008 / Report /
Favorite authors, for me, often depend on the medium (comics, books, blooks, flash fiction, short stories, novels... etc). But, lumping all mediums to one list:
Gene Wolfe (Hands down, one of the greatest American authors of the 20th c.)
J. Michael Strazcynski (Comics)
Neil Gaiman (Mostly his short stories)
Iain M. Banks (Not to be confused with the Iain Banks who resides in the same body but doesn't write sci-fi)
Arthur C. Clarke
Issac Asimov
Honorable mentions are:
Alastair Reynolds (Haven't read enough to make him one of my favs yet)
Michael Stackpole (Fantasy stuff is usually great)
Orson Scott Card (Echoing Ozone42's statement)
Frank Herbert (his worlds are AWESOME)
publicenergy
Written May. 22, 2008 / Report /
I like Robert Rankin. Although more for the humour than any fantasy/sci-fi element. It's probably very British, but I love story elements such as
a)everyone is more interested in a darts match at the local pub than an impending alien invasion
b)a planet where the TV was invented before the wheel
c)Guru type character driving a car that runs on water spotted filling up with 4star.
d)Elvis time travelling.
e)Reincarnated indian chief Sitting Bull working as a councillor in Brentford.
He describes his style as far fetched fiction. It is that. Ridiculous but funny. Pratchet wouldn't mention frotteurism in his books, Rankin would! :)
Nils
Written May. 23, 2008 / Report /
Just two novels that I love:
Solaris, Stanislav Lem
Inter Ice Age IV, Kobo Abe
Some good pointers here to check out guys, thanks.