Sci-fi/ Fantasy Authors

Esav Benyamin said:
That's OK. The Stainless Steel Rat is still one of the great characters in SF. THAT'S a series they could make movies out of, and sequels and prequels, for years! Even Hollywood couldn't ham him up too badly. :p
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On that, at least, we agree.
 
nybble said:
in terms of series, zelazny's amber series is tough to beat, although I *love* brust's jhereg and phoenix guard. definitely read the amber series, the first 5 books are amazing.
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Ya know, much as I love Zelazney, which I do, I have never been able to get beyond the middle of the 3rd book in the Amber series and I cannot say why. It sure starts with a "BANG!!" in Nine Princes in Amber.

How many here have read any of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker stories and, if so, what do you think of them? I love them, especially his take on the Orpheus and Eurydice story, "The Stone Place", and his excellent "Wings Out of Shadow". If I told you more about that latter one, I'd spoil it for you.
 
Thought of another three. If you've never read Tim Powers, I can't recommend him highly enough. Plus, his Drawing of the Dark is easily findable in trade paperback. The Stress of Her Regard and On Stranger Tides are likewise very enjoyable.

If you like whimsical fantasy, look for Barry Hughart. He's only written three books that I can track down, but the first of them Bridge of Birds can be had in many bookstores. The Story of the Stone and Eight Skilled Gentlemen are harder to find, but I see them in used bookstores from time to time.

Finally, all the regular names in old school science fiction and fantasty have been mentioned, so I'll recommend a slightly more obscure one. Manly Wade Wellman is excellent, if you like dark-ish fantasy from the pulp era. His Silver John stories are pretty well known, but 'most everything he wrote is entertaining at least.

James
 
FullerH said:
Ya know, much as I love Zelazney, which I do, I have never been able to get beyond the middle of the 3rd book in the Amber series and I cannot say why. It sure starts with a "BANG!!" in Nine Princes in Amber.
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Huh! I loved the series first to fifth, could not get enough of it. I even liked the second series of 5, although not in the same way I liked the first. To me, the first five are groundbreaking and the second is just great fun. I guess everyone's got their own tastes!

FullerH said:
How many here have read any of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker stories and, if so, what do you think of them? I love them, especially his take on the Orpheus and Eurydice story, "The Stone Place", and his excellent "Wings Out of Shadow". If I told you more about that latter one, I'd spoil it for you.
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The only saberhagen I've read are the sword books, never think too much about them, but I do remember quite liking them.

Ah well and I don't think one can stress reading Ender's Game too many times in any given thread. :) I guess while I'm delving into sci-fi - snowcrash is a must and I found vinge's "true names" novella surprisingly prophetic in it's way.
 
I would like to add David and Leight Eddings and their Sagas of Belgarion and Sparhawk.
Also Margaret Weiss has really good ones.

Juha
 
Any of Orson Scott Card's books are quite good (Ender's Game and that whole saga are really pretty decent), for fantasy I would like to recommend Terry Pratchett a very comical english fantasy author.
 
I have to agree with many of the names on these lists and there are quite a few here that I have not yet read anything of so its time for a visit to amazon.com.


There are two Authors that I really enjoy and I have not seen listed.

First is Guy Gavriel Kay, a Canadian, Anything he has written is excellent but I would recommend you read at least two of his books, Tigana and the Lions of Al-Rassan, you wont be disappointed.

The next author I really like is David Gemmel, I have read pretty much everything he has published and all of its very good. Start with Waylander or Druss the Legend and you again wont be disappointed.
 
My all time favourite is Larry Niven, and if you love "hard SF" I don't think anyone else can match him. He did some wonderful "End of the world (as we know it)" stuff, like Footfall and Lucifer's Hammer. But some of his collaborations with people like Jerry Pournelle and Steve Barnes (?) have been fantastic. For an excellent series, try the Flandry series by Poul Anderson. Good lighthearted fun, and usually a bit on the quirky side.

Cheers, Acolyte.
 
alternative history:
Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore

modern stuff:
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

evil aliens:
The Vang: the military form by Christopher Rowley

time travel: the Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
 
A new writer that's attacting a lot of interest is China Miehville. Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and The Iron Council are available, all set in/around his created city of New Corboruzon.

Miehville is a very "literate" writer, with a knack for description and invention. Those of us that love language think he's great, those used to more contemporary writing styles might find the prose a bit dense.
 
More props for David Gemmel, he does SF and fantasy and does it very well. The first two or three books by Terry Goodkind are awesome, IMO they go down hill fast after that.

William Gibson, awesome near future SF, very literate

Song of ice and fire (?) by Martin is excellent and I am waiting impatiently for the next book, four I think.

great thread.
 
I've seen Robert Jordan and George R. R. Martin mentioned several times, but I'd just like to put 'em up again. Any guesses as to where my screenname came from? ;)

Surprising that I've only seen David Eddings mentioned once. Been around for a while, too; I just reread the Belgarion series' and autobios for the umpteenth time and looked at the copyright date on Pawn of Prophecy. 1982!! That's before I was born! Good stuff. :D

Brian
 
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