Great Fantasy authors?

[Brian G Turner]

It's too easy to have a generalised idae that the fantasy genre is too stuck in cheap commercialism and pseudo-Tolkien imitation.

So I would like to devote this thread to nominating the great fantasy authors, and also the reason for the nominations.

 

[dwndrgn]

Melanie Rawn - The Golden Key (collaboration with two other authors) This is a fascinating story of magic through art, secret societies, family loyalties and political plotting. The Dragon Prince - An interesting world in which greed, family loyalty, growing older and watching your children make their own choices and mistakes, magic, forensic discovery and innovation all compete to be the theme.

Robin Hobb - Begin with the Farseer trilogy, a story of how one person can give up his life to a cause, learn to live with it, learn to love it and then learn to regret it. Great insights, introduces The Fool, the interesting subject of political assasination and the vagaries of genetics.

Elizabeth Hayden - Rhapsody is a fully realized world with new and unusual races, the paths your life can take from small and seemingly insignificant choices...

 

[Brian G Turner]

I am obviously far too much the cultural recluse. I haven't heard of either of the female authors listed above.

 

[dwndrgn]

This is what is fun about a bookstore or library..you can just wander around and find a million cool things to look at. I admit this makes it hard to make a decision in the end, but it sure makes for a fun hour or two in your own head.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Actually, going around the books physically is much more fun than virtually. Being able to hold and view the books from different angles, seeing the light reflect on the cover - being able to open any up and read a passage or two at choice - the opening sentence...checking out the POV style...

Definitely agree with you there.

 

[dwndrgn]

Oh yeah, even the smell of a bookstore is great! My husband refuses to go with me anymore because he gets bored after an hour or so...

 

[Brian G Turner]

LOL! MY kids love it though - a bit too much sometimes. Can't get that on Amazon.

 

[teddyrux]

If you're looking for a non-Tolkien fantasy author, I suggest you read C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy.

 

[Brian G Turner]

For my own part, I'll add the following to the list:

Ursula LeGuin
Gene Wolfe
George RR Martin

 

[Arch]

All fantasy is different. It's a wide wide genre with lots of little niches. It's not all Tolkien and that's just a part. Fantasy comes in all shapes and sizes and every reader demands something different. Those authors with most fame have captured more of the elements that a wider base prefers to read.

 

[dwndrgn]

Brian - I've edited my earlier post about the female authors, just in case you decide to come out of your cultural 'reclusion'

I've no idea why so many of the fantasies I've read in the past year are written by women. I've never picked a book by an author (unless I've already read the author and liked their stories) but lately everything I've read (ok, most everything) has been by females. I can't imagine it is really a female point of view. For the most part the protagonists are evenly split between women and men.

 

[littlemissattitude]

Tim Powers. He sets his fantasy very much in a real setting. I like that sort of combination. And he does his research. One of his books partially takes place in an area where I used to live, and as far as I can tell, he got the landscape just right, all the way down to street names. Very cool.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I bet no one writes a fantasy story set in Hull, Yorkshire, where I am. Even I won't write that!

And thanks for the warning about the edit.

 

[milamber]

George R R Martin hands down, though I'm not very well read.

 

[Brian G Turner]

The name of George R R Martin keeps coming up - I erally should get around to reading "Song of Ice and Fire" when I'm done with the current writing.

 

[Goto Deng]

I'd recommend "The Hedge Knight" for those who would like to try George R R Martin but haven't yet the time for a four volume masterpiece. There's a graphic novel version, though I haven't seen that yet.

Another favorite...
Rheingold by Stephen Grundy

 

[milamber]

Book 4: A Feast For Crows is due out at the end of the year, with another 2 books to go. Also, The Hedge Knight can be found in "Legends" and the sequel in "Legends II."

Keep in mind that Martin takes on average 3 years to write each brilliant book, so it's a long wait.

 

[milamber]

Anyone an Outer Limits fan? The first episode I saw back in 95 was The Sandkings, based on a Martin screenplay.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I'm afraid I only ever saw a couple of episodes. Which one was the "Sandkings"?

 

[milamber]

The very first episode. (excluding the 60's series of course)


Sandkings - March 26, 1995

A scientist has his project on Martain life scuttled by the
Government after one of the alien critters almost escapes. Unwilling
to abandon his research, he smuggles a sample of Martian sand
containing eggs out of the lab and incubates them. What hatches
is intelligent, fast - and hungry.

[viewer warnings] [V AL]
[Guest Starring]
Beau Bridges {Dr. Simon Kress}
Helen Shaver {Cathy Kress}
Dylan Bridges {Josh Kress}
Kim Coates {Dave Stockley}
Special Guest Appearance by:
Lloyd Bridges {Col. Kress}
Based on the Novella by George R.R. Martin
Teleplay by Melinda Snodgrass
Directed by Stuart Gillard
Featuring:
Patricia Harras Debbie
Nathaniel Deveaux Security Captain
Deryl Hayes Policeman
Mark Saunders Lab Assistant
J.B. Bivens Mover
David Cameron Technician #1
Special Vocal Effects by Frank Welker

Notes: This episode featured three generations of Bridges - Lloyd,
son Beau, and grandson Dylan who made his professional acting
debut. One scene in the episode had over 200 live scorpions.