Though the thread became probably too long for any sane person to read
, I have currently found the time to accomplish this! Thanks to all who mentioned authors I haven't read already.
Thanks also for reminding about Margareth Weis. Though she's not on par with Barbara Hambly or Caroline Cherryh, she writes well enough. And while she started from very humble beginnings of T$R book-hack, she had overgrown this. Her later books stink of melodrama, though, sometimes. But generally good-written and enjoyable. I personally like Star of the Guardians cycle most, though it's not fantasy and so slightly OT here...
Another case of gaming-company-books-done-well is, of course, production of Games Workshop. Here they seduced some already known British authors into writing some books using a world where their game takes place as a shared universe. I enjoy Jack Yeovil = Kim Newman particularly, but Brian Craig (don't remember actual name) is also good. This series is generally worth to read (maybe less so for those who don't play Warhammer, but still good nevertheless) and dark fantasy is what World of Warhammer is all about!
Considering maps - it's probably good idea, though Martin's would hold no interest for me!
Glen Cook didn't place official maps in any of his books afaik, but there are good-quality ones produced by fans. There is good map of Turtledove's World of Videssos also...
As for publishers - well, I generally agree with HoneyBadger's idea, but must point out that I had to take part in preparing some few books for publishing and it's really exact & boring job. Few authors would make this work willingly - and especially make it well.
Quote:
HoneyBadger said:
Leif, the Mahabharata is a trilogy consisting of approximately 1.8 million words. I don't think they had personal computers and word-processors 2400 years ago.
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Well, and Iliada is ten times smaller and ten times better! But here we can't blame poor quality on publishers' establishment - it's just a case of graphomania. Which isn't rare among self-publishers, unfortunately - but I can't say that it's less common among authors liked by publishing houses, too.
What I can add to this is that even recommendations by good authors on a back page doesn't garantee the quality of the book - sometimes I doubt if these authors are even aware that their names are placed there. But maybe it's just money - or even just good personal relationships...