Favorite fantasy author

[Endoperez]

Originally posted by Teraswaerto:
Sorry to say, but Eddings is quite possibly the worst fantasy writer in existence (though I've heard that Mercedes Lackey is even worse, I've not had the displeasure of reading her stuff myself). The same (not particularly good & horribly cliched to boot) plot and identical characters only with new names in book after another.

He was one of the first fantasy writers I read, so I didn't know the clices. Besides, I would say he has come up with atleast 4 plots for his 20+ books. One for Belgariad/Mallorean, one for Elenium/Tamul and one for Althalus, and I counted Belgarath/ Polgara as fourth because so much new happens in them. The characters between the stories also change quite a lot. I'm not saying they would be very good, but atleast they are different... Sparhawk has little common with /Bel)Garion, and the closest thing I can think of is Talen/ Silk. But I haven't thought about that, so I jsut might not have noticed...

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Teraswaerto:
Sorry to say, but Eddings is quite possibly the worst fantasy writer in existence (though I've heard that Mercedes Lackey is even worse, I've not had the displeasure of reading her stuff myself). The same (not particularly good & horribly cliched to boot) plot and identical characters only with new names in book after another.

You do have valid points about Eddings. The Sparhawk novels, while decent, would have been better if I'd never read the Belgariad and Mallorien. And while I think the Redemption of Athalus is great, the characters are, indeed, cliched, and the plot is a condensation of the same thing as in his multi-volume series. It's still a fun read though.

Lackey is awful. 'Nuff said.

[BuayaDarat]

I voted for other - Robert E Howard

[rabelais]

Originally posted by Jasper:
Guy Gavriel Kay and Glen Cook were also notably missing, IMHO.

Hear! Hear!

Fionavar was the best ever and The Black Company is still strangely addictive.

(Bring back the Limper!)

Also various Authors named Ian and one with the Last name of Zelazny. And Ursula LeGuin. Duh.

For a certain demographic Rowling might also have been included. Andre Norton anyone?

Oh and technically McCaffrey, though none for me thanks!


Rabe the Increasingly Curmudgeonly and Adverbially Momentous (whew!)

It's really impossible to name them all... who is this Martin everyone has a shrine to?

[Jasper]

I like Guy Kay's historical fantasy best, but definitely agree about The Black Company books -- like the game Myth, only better.

I'd somehow forgot Ursula LeGuin (Earthsea) and Michael Moorcock (Elric), two more of my Favorites! A quick scan over my books also finds Lord Dunsany (King of Elfland's Daughter), Robert Holdstock (Mythago Wood), and Barry Hughart (Bridge of Birds).

I've also a shine for several "graphic novel" authors, notably Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Stardust), Jim Fitzpatrick (Book of Conquests), and Mark Smylie (Artesia).

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Jasper:
I like Guy Kay's historical fantasy best

A quick scan over my books also finds Lord Dunsany (King of Elfland's Daughter), Robert Holdstock (Mythago Wood), and Barry Hughart (Bridge of Birds).

Are these UK authors? Because I've never seen/heard of them before and I'm pretty darn well read.

[Teraswaerto]

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jasper:
I like Guy Kay's historical fantasy best

A quick scan over my books also finds Lord Dunsany (King of Elfland's Daughter), Robert Holdstock (Mythago Wood), and Barry Hughart (Bridge of Birds).

Are these UK authors? Because I've never seen/heard of them before and I'm pretty darn well read.

---

If you've never heard of Dunsany, Kay or Holdstock, perhaps you're not quite as well read as you thougth.