VOTE for your favourite SF and fantasy authors of all time
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So, who are the greatest SF or fantasy authors of all time? Tolkien? William Gibson? Frank Herbert? Peter F Hamilton? Terrance Dicks? HG Wells? You tell us! Yep, it’s time for another SFX poll. Simple enough – we want you to vote for your top five favourite SF and Fantasy authors of all time. Comments welcome but not mandatory. The scoring will be in the usual fashion: we'll give five points for your number one author, four for second favourite and so on. We won’t place any restrictions on who you can and can’t vote for. Okay this leaves the field wide open for some bizarre voting, but these things tend to be self-regulating. You may have the urge to vote for Enid Blyton, and that’s fine by us. But bear in mind, they're not likely to get enough votes to make the final 50. But if thousands of you do love the Magic Faraway Tree enough to get Blyton into the list, then who are we to argue? (Though we do have very effective measures against block voting just in case anybody from the enidblyton.com forums gets wind of this poll). Three ways to vote: Post your votes in this thread on the SFX forum Let the voting begin |
1. JRR Tolkein (quelle surprise)
2. Terry Pratchett (i still remember the first time I picked up the Light Fantastic and cried with laughter all the way through)
3. Neil Gaiman (while I'm sort of acknowledging his comic work, his writing in both the comics and his novels is just brilliant and if the Eternal Ones aren't a genius literary creation, please tell me what is)
4. Arthur C Clarke (maybe not the best writer ever, but I find the ideas in his novels often blow me away and it is proper science-fiction!)
5. HP Lovecraft (again, not a brilliant writer, but his stories are compelling and terrifying in equal measure and his legacy on horror has, rather appropriately, cast a long, terrifying shadow)
So, there's my vote. And please remember, these are PERSONAL choices.
Posted by Simon D (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 12:57 PM GMT #
2. George R.R.Martin
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Roger Zelazny
5. C.S. Lewis
Posted by Henrik Hansen (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 01:05 PM GMT #
o J R R Tolkien - The daddy without him the modern fantasy would not exist.
o Raymond E Feist - Has created a world that the reader can believe that they are part of and characters they feel the know and care about.
o James Barclay - Takes the genre to the next level of realism with characters and epic battles.
o Peter F Hamilton - Space opera at it best, weaving many strands of story together across whole galaxies.
o Alastair Reynolds - Hard SF that makes the future real.
Posted by Mark wells (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 01:08 PM GMT #
2. George R. R. Martin
3. Robert Rankin
4. James Herbert
5. Weis and Hickman
Posted by Dave (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 01:17 PM GMT #
2. George R R Martin – For the Song of Ice and Fire series. Books you can really devour. Get on and finish the series already! That said, he writes so well his shopping lists are probably riveting.
3. Terry Pratchett – Of course. Don’t really have a favourite but enjoyed everything I’ve read. At the risk of being burned as a heretic, I actually prefer his later, more satirical stuff. He makes big ideas very accessible and tells a lot of truths. All with added trolls.
4. Philip Reeve – for the Mortal Engines Series. If you haven’t read these yet you are missing out. What an imagination. These books need to brought to the big screen soon.
5. A A Milne – OK this is the left field choice but I recently read The House at Pooh Corner to my daughter and it is a work of genius. Funny, touching, sweet without being sentimental and with characters that everyone can recognise. And it still makes me giggle.
Posted by Meillion (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 01:27 PM GMT #
2. Frank Herbert - It took me a long time to get round to reading this but definitely better late than never
3. Isaac Asimov - I think I've read all his short stories and I loved every single one. Never really got into his Foundation books though.
4. Piers Anthony - His Xanth series is both endless and amazingly puntastic :P I could read these forever...and do.
5. Alan Garner - Weirdstone of Brisingamen rocks. nuff said. I was read this too as I baby but failed to remember it so a reread was essential.
Posted by D'Anna (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 02:00 PM GMT #
1-Ursula le Guin-Earthsea, the best fantasy
world I've ever read about, and The Dispossessed
a brilliant meditation on the ideal society.
2-Clark Ashton Smith-while I love all the
"Weird Tales" writers (Lovecraft,Howard,
Bradbury,etc.) he was the best of the them,
able to imagine beautiful and terrifying
worlds in powerful prose.
3-Philip K. Dick-I have read "The Man in
the High Castle" twice, it's so good.
"Time out of Joint" and "Do Androids Dream
of Electric Sheep" also brilliant.
4-Lord Dunsany-Not as well known as he should
be, "The King of Elf-Land's Daughter" is
a brilliant imaginary world story about
love,imagination and the passing of time.
His short stories are excellent too, especially
the "Pegana" and "Travels of Mr. Jorkens" series.
5-Olaf Stapledon-"Last and First Men" the
brilliant story of humanity's travels
through the solar system,"Star Maker"
about the birth & death of universes.
But his most accessible story is
"Sirius", a beautiful tragedy about a
dog given human intelligence.He develops
a close friendship with a human woman-but
he is divided between his human/animal
natures, and the world of humanity has
no place for this "Outsider".
Posted by Mister Ray (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 02:24 PM GMT #
2. China Meiville
3. Peter Hamilton
4. Edgar Allen Poe
5. Ian M Banks
Posted by Wefter (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 02:27 PM GMT #
2. JRR Tolkien
3. Ursula K Le Guin
4. HG Wells
5. JK Rowling
Posted by Steven Gaythorpe (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 02:43 PM GMT #
2. Michael Moorcock
3. Jack Vance
4. Robert Silverberg
5. John Christopher
Posted by The stainless steel hedgehog (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 02:45 PM GMT #
2. E.E "Doc" Smith
3. Julian May
4. Harry Harrison
5. Robert Rankin
Posted by Valentine Kinnison St. Jack Jim Pooley (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 02:57 PM GMT #
2. Tim Powers
3. James Blaylock
4. ALan Moore
5. Robert E Howard
Posted by doz (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 03:00 PM GMT #
2) Neil Gaimen
3) Hal Duncan - I know he's something of a new kid on the block, but Vellum and Ink are masterpieces.
4) Ursula Le Guin
5) Philip K. Dick
Posted by shinysavage (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 04:39 PM GMT #
2. Philip Pullman
3. Terry Pratchett
4. JK Rowling
5. George R.R. Martin
Posted by Damien (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 04:48 PM GMT #
2) Terry Pratchett
3) Margaret Weiss/Tracey Hickman (Double choice due to their collaboration on the Dragonlance books)
4) Philip K. Dick
5) Iain M. Banks
Posted by Brodnick (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 05:09 PM GMT #
2. Herbert G. Wells
3. George Lucas
4. JRR Tolkien
5. Bill Finger
Posted by Edward. (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 06:03 PM GMT #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Philip Pullman
4. Robin Hobb
5. Robert Jordan
Posted by sabrina (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 06:20 PM GMT #
China Mieville for Perdido Street Station, which I feel is still his best by far.
H.G. Wells for The War of the worlds & The Time Machine.
And of course JRR who has influenced so much and so many.
Peter F Hamilton would have made the list also if it wasn’t for the ridiculous and extremely sudden ways his operas tend to resolve themselves.
Both Nights Dawn & Commonwealth Saga were stunning books until the last chapters of each.
Posted by He scoffs at fools whilst waltzing (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 06:24 PM GMT #
2. Iain M Banks
3. Neil Gaiman
4. China Mi{'}eville
5. Hal Clement
Posted by michael (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 06:24 PM GMT #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Sherri S Tepper
4. Robin Hobb
5. Tad Williams
Posted by SamT (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 06:34 PM GMT #
2 Guy Gavriel Kay
3 Neil Gaiman
4 Phillip Pullman
5 Mercedes Lakey
Posted by Sue Sexton (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 07:51 PM GMT #
Not necessarily in this order...
1. Stephen R. Donaldson
2. JRR Tolkien
3. Isaac Asimov
3. Iain M Banks
4. Philip K Dick
Posted by RepoMan (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 08:05 PM GMT #
1. JRR Tolkien : still the grand-master
After that...? These votes are based on body of work, rather than individual brilliance. But trying to order them seems invidious at best.
Terry Pratchett (fantasy vote)
Isaac Asimov (SF vote)
Alan Moore (comics vote)
Diana Wynne-Jones (left-field vote)
-----
But of course if you ask me tomorrow, I'd give you a completely different set of four. (e.g. Raymond Feist, Philip K Dick, Neil Gaiman and Jasper Fforde. Or maybe Stephen Donaldson, Arthur C. Clarke, Frank Miller and Tom Holt? See how stupid these questions are...)
Posted by Scurra (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 09:11 PM GMT #
2. Grant Morrison
3. John Wyndham
4. Mervyn Peake
5. Michael Moorcock
Posted by David Yates (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 09:15 PM GMT #
2.Tolkein
3. Terry Brooks
4. Tad Williams
5. Robert Rankin
Posted by Angela Robinson (127.0.0.1) on March 11, 2008 at 10:27 PM GMT #
2. Terry Pratchett (his early stuff is funnier, his later stuff is more satirical and possibly better crafted)
3. Anne McCaffrey (it's not all about dragons, ya know)
4. Mercedes Lackey (I like the way she writes about people - shades of grey, but the good guys are always ultimately likeable)
5. Douglas Hill (wrote some excellent SF and fantasy for the early teens)
Posted by Maria Padley (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 12:42 PM GMT #
2. John Varley
3. Jon Courtnay Grimwood
4. William Gibson
5. Ian M. Banks
I think it's a shame that fantasy is being judged against Hard Sci-Fi as the Pratchetts and Tolkiens are going to wipe this. Personally I can't stand epic fantasy; show me a quest with a wizard with a magic rune and an elf and I'll show you how wide I can yawn. There should have been two categories
Posted by Jane (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 01:18 PM GMT #
2 Iain Banks
3 Terry Prattchet
4 David Brin
5 Oscar Wilde (Dorian Grey is Fantasy, so there.)
Posted by Freddie (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 01:18 PM GMT #
2. Anne McCaffrey
3. Arthur C. Clarke
4. Ray Bradbury
5. J R R Tolkien
Posted by vinyljunkie (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 01:41 PM GMT #
2) J R R Tolkien
3) Philip K Dick
4) Isaac Asimov
5) Orson Card
Posted by Zack (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 02:02 PM GMT #
2. Terry Goodkind
3. Robert Jordan
4. Scott Lynch. The lies of Locke Lamora is awesome.
5. Stephen King
Posted by No Elves or halflings here (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 02:41 PM GMT #
David Gemmell (fantastic writer)
JK Rowling (brought millions back into fantasy)
CS Lewis (books have stood the fickle test of time)
Jo Abercrombie (new on the block but awesome books)
Raymond E Feist (at his best brilliant although he goes off the boil now and then!)
and I feel guilty for missing off Scott Lynch!!
Posted by Nick Brett (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 03:23 PM GMT #
2. Ian Irvine
3. R. Scott-Bakker
4. Tolkien
5. Stephen Donaldson
Posted by Unicron (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 04:07 PM GMT #
2. Arthur C Clarke
3. David Brin
4 Jack McDevitt
5. Philip Jose Farmer
Posted by RobR (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 08:41 PM GMT #
One of only two writers whose books i have a full collection of. The other being Charles Dickens. the difference being i have read all David Gemmell's books.
2. DAVID EDDINGS.
The Elenium set of books is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read.
3. ROBERT HEINLEIN.
His Sci fi Novels are well crafted and enjoyable reading, but he also put out a little masterpiece called "JOB". This i have read countless times and I believe takes him out of the league of good writers into the exceptional.
4. JOHN WYNDHAM.
The MIDWITCH CUCKOOS, The KRAKEN WAKES Etc. The man was an excellent exponent of tension building. DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, nuff said.
5. H G WELLS.
The original king of science fiction. Okay there were a few who came before him. But as for keeping a reader involved in his book, there was nobody else to touch him. The Time Machine was pure class.
Posted by Joe Jenkins (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 07:42 AM GMT #
first SF I read as a nipper
2 - Alan Moore
he knows the score
3 - Neil Gaiman
Sandman gave me insomnia, ironically
4 - Kurt Vonnegut
"Isaac can't be with us, he's in heaven now"
5 - Douglas Adams
taught me to THINK
Dammit. Five's not enough.
Posted by Russell Parker (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 09:53 AM GMT #
1. Robert Rankin
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Jasper Fforde
5. David Gemmell
Posted by Ian Case (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 12:03 PM GMT #
2. Tolkien
3. Jack Vance
4. H.G Wells
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Madkevly (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM GMT #
2.George R R Martin
3.China Mieville
4.Jeff VanderMeer
5.Stephen King
Posted by mhayinde (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 01:08 PM GMT #
2. Iain M Banks
3. Gwyneth Jones
4. John Crowley
5. William Barton
Posted by Ian Sales (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 02:06 PM GMT
Website: http://justhastobeplausible.blogspot.com/ #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Tom Holt
4. Douglas Adams
5. Philip Pullman
Posted by Kirsty (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 05:07 PM GMT #
2 John Crowley
3 Dan Simmons
4 Michael Swanwick
5 Fritz Leiber
Posted by Paul (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 07:17 PM GMT #
Mr Pye is good too!
Dave
Posted by David Yates (127.0.0.1) on March 13, 2008 at 08:07 PM GMT
Website: http://www.myspace.com/dollydollysounds #
For so many reasons. The man who gave us Druss and some of the best books based around actual historical events but with a fantasy twist (he will be missed).
Raymond E Feist
For his never ending tale of Pug. I look forward to reading many more books.
Terry Pratchet
Nothing more needs saying, the man's a genius.
Chris Bunch and Allan Cole
Brilliant on their own, but this is for the Sten saga.
Terry Brooks
I know he's had some bad press from a few, but his latest offering combining the world of the Word & Void with the world of the Shannara legacy is coming along nicely.
Posted by Scot Elliot (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 08:04 AM GMT #
Stephen Donaldson - The chronicles of Thomas Covenant are may favorite fantasy series. A tormented hero, actions that have consequences, memorable characters [Mhoram], and good but sometimes convoluted descriptions.
Steven Erikson - Every book in the malazan series is a stunner. Great shaded characters, larger than life heroics, not afraid to kill his darlings (WHiskeyjack), (but a bit prone to bringing them back anyway), and the series does not peter out after book five as I found the WoT books doing.
John C. Wright - Up and coming SF author. I loved the Golden age trilogy. The wealth of imagination is stunning, lots of allusions (even to Sherlock Holmes). And a return to true heroics. I jump starts my own imagination.
Robin Hobb - Love the farseer books. Great use of first person narration, unusual villains, great use of dragons, good descripton of the protagonist, very involving. I do think the soldier son trilogy is a bit more boring, though again her style is great.
Posted by Johan Klein Haneveld (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM GMT #
[2] Isaac Asimov
[3] Terry Pratchett
[4] Peter F Hamilton
[5] Timothy Zahn
Posted by Neil Gardner (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 12:05 PM GMT
Website: http://www.brightonomicon.com #
2. Terry Pratchett – early stuff or later stuff, it’s all magnificent.
3. Douglas Adams - doesn’t appear to have received many votes, which surprises me? Hitchhikers was and still is a work of genius.
4. Terrance Dicks - Those Doctor Who Target novelisations still hold a special little place in my heart, they were a big part of my childhood and the reason why I went read so much sci-fi / fantasy since.
5. Bernard Cornwell – I love the Warlord Trilogy.
Posted by Rick (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 12:17 PM GMT #
2. Robert Rankin
3. Clive Barker
4. Tom Holt
5. Terry Prachett
Posted by evilcl0ne (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 12:19 PM GMT #
2 Douglas Adams
3 Philip K Dick
4 J K Rowling
5 Aldous Huxley (I just love Brave new world)
It's a crying chame about Terry Pratchett - lets hope he contimues to produce excellent work for a long time to come.
Posted by formulaonefiend (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 12:55 PM GMT #
2. Stephen King
3. Robert Rankin
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Christos (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 02:24 PM GMT #
2. Ray Bradbury
3. Stephen King
4. Philip Pullman
5. Philip K Dick
Posted by Dirty Mike (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 03:53 PM GMT #
2. Peter F. Hamilton
3. Ken MacLeod
4. Iain M. Banks
5. Arthur C. Clarke
Posted by David McLafferty (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 05:50 PM GMT #
You are all FOOLS! Fools! You hear me, FOOLS!
Vote Peake and live a better life.
Dave
x
Posted by David Yates (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 06:09 PM GMT
Website: http://www.myspace.com/dollydollysounds #
2. Max Brooks
3. Isaac Asimov
4. Douglas Adams
5. Kim Paffenroth
Posted by Ashley (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 06:14 PM GMT #
2. Isaac Asimov
3. William Gibson
4. Arthur C Clarke
5. David Webber
Posted by Brian Dobedoe (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 07:06 PM GMT #
2. Robert Rankin
3. Kelley Armstrong
4. Douglas Adams
5. Terry Goodkind
Posted by Rebecca (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 07:22 PM GMT #
Arthur C Clarke
Peter F Hamilton
Richard Morgan
Larry Niven
Alastair Reynolds
Posted by Steve Coombs (127.0.0.1) on March 14, 2008 at 08:06 PM GMT #
1. H.G. Wells. The father of sf, a true visionary. If you only know his books by reputation or film adaptation you really should go to the source. The Time Machine and The War Of The Worlds are absolute cornerstones of the genre. I've recently read The Island Of Doctor Moreau for the first time and it really knocked me out. Hard to believe it was written over 100 years ago.
2. Stephen King. For his incredible run of horror novels in the 70s/early 80s. Hard to choose a favourite, but The Shining might just edge it for sheer vitality and genuine chills.
3. Michael Moorcock. What a prolific, inventive author! From the bitterly ironic sf of Behold The Man to the multiverse-spanning Eternal Champion epics of Hawkmoon, Elric and co., Moorcock is unstoppable.
4. Dan Simmons. He triumphs in whichever genre he attempts but the honours must go to the Hyperion series. Dizzying sf concepts and heart-breaking human drama, it's all here. And who can forget the nightmarish Shrike?
5. Robert E. Howard. Conan by Crom! The daddy of blood 'n' guts sword and sorcery. No elves here, just a tangible, visceral view of a barbaric anti-hero in a vividly-realised secondary world.
Sorry to ramble on, and apologies to Iain Banks, Frank Herbert, Christopher Priest, Arthur Machen, Mervyn Peake, Roger Zelazny and many more for omitting them from the list. Maybe next time.
Posted by Simon Barton (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 01:17 AM GMT #
1. Iain M. Banks - The Culture are a brilliantly realised creation
2. Terry Pratchett - Ordinary people living ina stupid fantasy world and dealing with ridiculous situations sensibly.
3. Michael Marshall Smith - Spares is horribly prescient, shame it had to be ruined by 'The Island'.
4. Douglas Adams - Not a huge body of work, but enough ideas for plenty more.
5. Philip K. Dick - Wierd and paranoid stories involving bent realities and broken people.
Posted by Noel Kelso (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 01:38 AM GMT #
2. Robert Heinlein
3. Robert Rankin
4. Terry Pratchett
5. David Gemmell
Posted by Samuel Proctor (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 09:44 AM GMT #
2) Mervyn Peake
3) John Crowley
4) Julian May
5) JRR Tolkien
Posted by Mr Matt (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 10:04 AM GMT #
2 Neil Gaiman
3 Douglas Adams
4 Terry Pratchett
5 Michael Moorcock
(Mervyn Peake would have been next!)
Posted by Polly Cole (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 12:14 PM GMT #
1 Christopher Priest
2 Jonathan Carroll
3 Graham Joyce
4 Eric Brown
5 Ken Grimwood
Posted by replayer (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 01:20 PM GMT #
Posted by Dave Golder (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 01:23 PM GMT #
1 H G Wells
2 Stephen Baxter
3 Ray Bradbury
4 Terry Pratchett
5 Mervyn Peake
This is not in any order and there are so many others that the list should be top 50 authors!
Posted by Mr Bush (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 04:23 PM GMT #
2 George RR Martin
3 Steven Erikson
4 Stephen Donaldson
5 Terry Pratchett
Kind of in order, with Tolkien, Lovecraft and Eddings hot on their tail.
Posted by Jay (127.0.0.1) on March 15, 2008 at 09:12 PM GMT #
2. Isaac Asimov.
3. Terry Pratchett.
4. Neil Gaiman.
5. C.s. Lewis.
Posted by Amos (127.0.0.1) on March 16, 2008 at 10:15 AM GMT #
David Gemmell
Alastair Reynolds
Isaac Asimov
Michael Moorcock
Posted by Barb (127.0.0.1) on March 16, 2008 at 06:49 PM GMT #
2. C.J. Cherryh
3. John Ringo
4. David Weber
5. David Gerrold
Posted by SimonF (127.0.0.1) on March 16, 2008 at 08:50 PM GMT #
2) George R.R. Martin
3) Robert Jordan
4) Marion Zimmer Bradley
5) Mercedes Lackey
Posted by Martina (127.0.0.1) on March 16, 2008 at 10:12 PM GMT #
2) Dan Simmons
3) Jeff VanderMeer
4) China Mieville
5) Ray Bradbury
Posted by Daneel Lynn (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 12:31 AM GMT
Website: http://danjalin.blogspot.com/ #
1]George RR Martin
2)Robin Hobb
3}Scott Lynch
4)Michael Marshall Smith
5]Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by S Giesen (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 12:53 AM GMT #
HP Lovecraft
Ray Bradbury
Frank Herbert
Robert E. Howard
Seriously people, best five OF ALL TIME, not best five 'ongoing series that are currently selling quite well'. I'm not saying that the five above are THE FIVE, but they're certainly a lot closer than, say, George RR Martin...
Posted by Carnivore (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 08:53 AM GMT #
2. Naomi Novik (Temeraire series)
3. Stephen King (The Stand/Dark Tower series)
4. Ursula le Guin (Earthsea/Omelas)
5. Richard Matheson (I Am Legend - not the film version, though)
;)
Posted by JamieB (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 09:02 AM GMT #
2. Alan Moore
3. China Mieville
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Graham Joyce
Posted by Docker (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 11:30 AM GMT #
Posted by Paul Robinson (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 03:32 PM GMT
Website: http://www.queenieboy.blogspot.com #
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on March 17, 2008 at 04:28 PM GMT #
2. Jim Butcher
3. Neil Gaiman
4. JRR Tolkien
5. JK Rowling
This is hard because there are so many others who deserve a mention!
Posted by Macreiberts (127.0.0.1) on March 17, 2008 at 05:03 PM GMT #
Ursula Le Guin
Guy Gavriel Kay
Elizabeth Hand
Angela Carter
Posted by Cheryl (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 06:11 AM GMT
Website: http://www.cheryl-morgan.com/ #
Sigh.
I really think that you should go on line now and order a copy of Gormenghast and do your brain a favor.
It will love you for it.
Vote PEAKE for intelligent brains everywhere!
Thank you.
Dave
x
Posted by David Yates (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 07:55 AM GMT
Website: http://www.myspace.com/dollydollysounds #
1) Diana Wynne Jones - her writing literally saved my life!
2) William Gibson - I reckon cyberpunk is an expansion pack of SF
3) William Goldman - The Princess Bride is surely one of the most wonderful fantasy stories of all time?!
4) Neil Gaiman - King of my heart
5) China Mieville - The Scar is one of the best books ever
There are so many honourable mentions that I'll leave it to others to vote them in rather than mentioning them here.
Posted by Laura Norris (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM GMT #
James White
John Brunner
William Gibson
Christopher Priest
Posted by martin mc (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM GMT #
2. Mervyn Peake (I was going to say this anyway, not just because of the previous comment)
3. Philip pullman- YA or otherwise, the man has an imagination most authors would kill for.
4. Geoff Ryman. a more recent Author, but his small body of work is extraordinarily powerful.
5. Alan moore- comics are literature and this man is their king.
If I had space for more, I'd have added Jan Mark, Ursula leGuin (for the short stories more than the novels), Harlan Ellison, Brian Aldiss, Tony Daniel. Philip K Dick came close as did douglas Adams. Asimov, while undeniably important and immensly influential, is off my list because I was never such a fan of his WRITING, which was perfunctory at best, and his characters tended to be ciphers for the story. Same for Clarke. Gaiman is off because his non comics work isn't up to the standard of Sandman and his non-genre comics (Mr Punch and Signal to Noise), other than Good Omens.
Posted by Fatkraken (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 11:02 AM GMT #
Terry Pratchett
Weiss & Hickman (as a double-act)
Anne McCaffrey
Frank Herbert
Posted by Will Blue (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 11:42 AM GMT #
1.Tolkien (he wasn't going to be first but he basically set the standard so...what can you do?)
2.George R.R. Martin
3.Neil Gaiman
4.JK Rowling (Not a Potter fan myself but you have to give the lady her due)
5.Rudyard Kipling (Tell me that guy doesn't deserve a mention!)
Posted by Tibet Rising (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 11:44 AM GMT #
Philip K Dick
William Gibson
George R R Martin
Iain M Banks
Neil Gaiman
Posted by Damien G. Walter (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM GMT
Website: http://damiengwalter.wordpress.com #
2. Phillip K. Dick
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Elizabeth Moon
5. Robert Heinlein
Posted by Jo (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 12:08 PM GMT #
2 joe abercrombie
3 arthur c clarke
4 stephen baxter
5 frank herbert
Posted by thomas conneely (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 01:03 PM GMT #
2. Ursula K. Le Guin
3. Barry Hughart
4. J. R. R. Tolkien
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Petréa Mitchell (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 04:17 PM GMT
Website: http://www.bidalaka.com/picofarad/ #
Ray Bradbury
Roger Zelazny
Neil Gaiman
Phillip K Dick
FTMFW!
Posted by KFX (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 04:38 PM GMT #
2) Mary Shelley
3) C.S. Lewis
4) Douglas Adams
5) Margaret Atwood
Posted by Hayley Rowe (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 04:54 PM GMT #
2. Ursula K. Le Guin
3. Shakespeare (because the rude mechanicals performance of Pyramus and Thisby in A Midsummer Night's Dream is the funniest thing in any fantasy)
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Joanna Russ
Posted by Barbie (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 05:19 PM GMT #
2. Steven Erikson
3. L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
4. Lois McMaster Bujold
5. Eric Flint
Posted by harkujan (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 05:25 PM GMT #
Sniff.
Posted by Russell Parker (127.0.0.1) on March 18, 2008 at 11:11 PM GMT #
1) JRR Tolkien
2) Terry Pratchett
3) Tad Williams
4) Jasper Fforde
5) Scott Lynch (recently discovered)
Posted by Beth (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 01:51 AM GMT #
2. Gene Wolfe - A master of writing.
3. Ursula K. LeGuin - Writing like pebbles under clear running water.
4. Clifford D. Simak - Not terrific writing but wonderfully hopeful.
5. Roger Zelazny - Poetic and rich.
Others, which on a different day would be on the list include: Samuel R. Delany, Cordwainer Smith, Theodore Sturgeon, Alfred Bester, Fritz Leiber, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Tiptree, Jr., Geoff Ryman, Gardner Dozois, Michael Swanwick, Ian R. MacLeod, John Brunner, Octavia Butler and a host of others.
Posted by Bob (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 06:05 AM GMT #
Posted by shinysavage (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM GMT #
2. Jasper Fforde
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Elizabeth (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 12:41 PM GMT
Website: http://www.simplyknitting.co.uk #
2. Laurell K Hamilton
3. Emma Bull
4. Terry Pratchett
5. JK Rowling
Posted by Suzanne (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 12:58 PM GMT #
2.stephen r.donaldson
3.j.r.r.martin
4.george r.r.tolkien
5.moore r.gargoyle
Posted by aku72 (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 08:28 PM GMT #
2. Gene Wolfe
3. Philip K Dick
4. H P Lovecraft
5. Alan Moore
Posted by Turan (127.0.0.1) on March 19, 2008 at 09:41 PM GMT #
2. HG Wells
3. James Herbert
4. Neil Gaiman
5. John Wagner
Posted by Paul (127.0.0.1) on March 20, 2008 at 10:54 AM GMT
Website: http://uk.geocities.com/yourtrainingmatrix/ #
Arthur C Clarke
David Gemmel
Peter Hamilton
Mervyn Peake
Posted by Stephen (127.0.0.1) on March 20, 2008 at 01:09 PM GMT #
2. Laurell K. Hamilton - The Anita Blake series
3. George R. R. Martin - Song of Fire & Ice series
4. Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files series
5. Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time series
Posted by morgan (127.0.0.1) on March 20, 2008 at 05:36 PM GMT #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. James H. Schmitz
4. Robert Heinlein
5. Jim Butcher
Posted by Lucy (127.0.0.1) on March 21, 2008 at 12:53 AM GMT #
2. Harlan Ellison
3. Jonathan Carroll
4. Orson Scott Card
5. Ramsey Campbell
Posted by Mike (127.0.0.1) on March 22, 2008 at 06:40 PM GMT #
2. Isaac Asimov
3. Frank Herbert
4. Patrick Rothfuss
5. Michael Scott
Posted by Daithi O Rian (127.0.0.1) on March 23, 2008 at 09:31 PM GMT #
Lois McMaster Bujold
Anne McCaffrey
Piers Anthony
Julian May
Alan Dean Foster
Posted by Margaret Karaba (127.0.0.1) on March 23, 2008 at 11:50 PM GMT #
1. Terry Pratchett
2. Micheal Moorcock
3. Joe Abercrombie
4. Robert E Howard
5. JRR Tolkien
Posted by Billy Potts (127.0.0.1) on March 24, 2008 at 04:48 AM GMT #
2. David Gemmell
3. JRR Tolkien
4. Robert Rankin
5. Edger Rice Burroughs
Posted by Gary Proctor (127.0.0.1) on March 24, 2008 at 04:37 PM GMT #
2. Terry Pratchett - for being so consistant
3. Frank Herbert - Dune - nuff said
4. Peter F Hamilton - writes such engrossing epics
5. Jasper Fforde - so inventive - best use of footnotes ever.
Posted by Rehan Mirza (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 11:15 AM GMT #
Terry Pratchett
Neil Gaiman
Robert Rankin
Grant Morrison
Clive Barker
Posted by James Southard (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 12:08 PM GMT #
2. George R. R. Martin
3. Ursula K. LeGuin
4. Frank Herbert
5. Robert E. Howard
Posted by Jan (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 12:25 PM GMT
Website: http://www.wetterspitze.info #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. JRR Tolkien
4. CS Lewis
5. Arthur C Clarke
Posted by Zan (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 12:35 PM GMT
Website: http://www.sfx.co.uk/trackback/sfx/Weblog/vote_for_your_favourite_sf #
2 - Terry Pratchett
3 - Dean Koontz
4 - David Gemmel
5 - James Herbert
Posted by Muppet Rat (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 01:25 PM GMT #
2 - Peter F Hamilton
3 - John Wyndham
4 - Julian May
5 - Robin Hobb
That was a struggle... Robert Heinlein, Ursula K Le Guin and Richard Matheson are pretty close runners up!
Posted by jo (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 02:55 PM GMT #
Piers Anthony
JRR Tolkien
Robin Hobb
Tad Williams
Michael Moorcock
Posted by kay (127.0.0.1) on March 25, 2008 at 05:13 PM GMT #
2. Peter F. Hamilton - peversely I actually prefer the Greg Mandel books, but deserves his place.
3. David Gemmell - a hack and slash merchant who repeats the same story over and over- often recycling character names. Yes. BUT when each new book came out I would be top of the queue. Loved his sparse writing style; and for a little boy [albeit in a grown ups body] his tales of good men standing against evil will raise goosebumps. Not a fashionable choice but one of my faves.
4. Stephen Donaldson - The Thomas Covenant series basically kick started the conflicted tortured hero genre. However, his "Gap" series is actually a far better read. Space Opera on a grand scale and great characters, some surprises and a multi-volume epic that has a resolution that leaves you feeling that the five books have been worth the journey.
5. Ian M. Banks - what more can I say?
Didn't give a vote to Pratchett or Tolkien because they will get plenty from other people, but, Robert Heinlein, Lois McMaster Bujold, Harry Harrison, Arthur C. Clarke, EE Doc Smith, Ursula K Le Guin, and Anne McCaffrey all very close.
Posted by Martin O'Brien (127.0.0.1) on March 27, 2008 at 10:57 AM GMT #
Douglas Adams - Talking books, Cricket and PJ's!
Robert Rankin - a pint of large please!
Simon Hawke - haven't seen his name here yet but the Time Wars were the first full science fiction series I read! KING OF THE FINAL CHAPTER!
Philip K Dick - Really needs no comment. So you won't get one. Except this one.
Posted by Badgerboy (127.0.0.1) on March 27, 2008 at 01:45 PM GMT #
1. Peter F Hamilton
2. CS Lewis
3. JRR Tolkein
4. JK Rowling (wouldn't have stood a chance in terms of writing skill but this is a "favourite" list)
5. Stephen King (if only for The Stand)
Posted by midnightz (127.0.0.1) on March 27, 2008 at 01:46 PM GMT #
2.Brian Aldiss
3.Ray Bradbury
4.Arthur C Clarke
5.John Wyndham
I must of stumbled on this thread through a wormhole into an alternative reality where Ballard and Aldiss don't exist. God forbid! No light weights here only masters of the genre. You'll be voting for Hubbard next!
Posted by leathered (127.0.0.1) on March 27, 2008 at 02:32 PM GMT #
2. Iain M Banks
3. Frank Herbert
4. Isaac Asimov
5. Fred Pohl
I guess I am a fan of effective worldbuilding, and Peter F.Hamilton edges it because he has created several entirely plausible futures.
Posted by Mischa Welsh (127.0.0.1) on March 27, 2008 at 03:45 PM GMT #
2. Jules Verne
3. Arthur C. Clarke
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Isaac Asimov
Posted by Rosmerta (127.0.0.1) on March 27, 2008 at 08:29 PM GMT #
2. Stephen Donaldson
3. Douglas Adams
4. J.R.R. Tolkein
5. Isaac Asimov
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on March 28, 2008 at 02:29 AM GMT #
2. Terry Pratchett (witty, observant, intelligent and just generally fabulous)
3. Scott Lynch (only read a book and a half of his so far, but damn this guy can write! By far the best I've read in a LONG time)
4. Julian May (The Galctic Milliu books will never be equalled)
5. Isaac Asimov (been a while since I read him, but he got me through the hell of high school, so I'll always have a soft spot for him)
Posted by Karen (127.0.0.1) on March 28, 2008 at 11:02 PM GMT #
My 5 would be...
1.Stephen Lawhead
2.Guy Gavriel Kay
3.C.S Lewis
4.Tad Williams
5.Robert Jordan
Posted by Bookgirl (127.0.0.1) on March 29, 2008 at 12:25 PM GMT #
2-David Eddings, meh I know its fluffy, but it's good fluff
3-Robin Hobb, because anyone who's name rhymes is good
4-Robert Rankin, if he can get published, so can I
5-Douglas Adams, FORTY FRICKING TWO
Posted by Jazz the Hobbit (127.0.0.1) on March 29, 2008 at 05:14 PM GMT
Website: http://www.myspace.com/a_past_and_future_secret #
Ballard is incomparable. Like the visual art of Bacon and Warhol, books like Crash and the Atrocity Exhibition show us what it is like to exist in the modern world.
2) Gene Wolfe
The Book of the New Sun is probably the most realised novel of imaginative fiction of the last Century. A beguiling epic of the far future that creates worlds within worlds before the reader's eyes.
3)
Samuel R. Delaney.
Before William Gibson, Delaney showed how to reinvigorated tired SF tropes with his zestfully complex, sensuous prose. Nova and Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand are timeless classics of Space Opera.
4) William Gibson
5) Clark Ashton smith (Yay!)
6) Alistair Reynolds
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on March 30, 2008 at 09:14 PM BST #
2/. Terry Pratchett
3/. Douglas Adams
4/. Philip.K.Dick
5/. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Mark Richardson (127.0.0.1) on March 30, 2008 at 10:43 PM BST #
David Gemmell
David Eddings
Diana Wynne Jones
Anne McCaffrey
John Wyndham
Posted by Carol Forman (127.0.0.1) on April 01, 2008 at 01:50 PM BST #
2. Alfred Bester. Read Tiger, Tiger. Now.
3. Terry Pratchett.Say no more.
4. Barry B Longyear. You haven't laughed until you've read City of Baraboo.
5. Aargh, too many choices...OK, Steven King.
Posted by Chris Laslett (127.0.0.1) on April 01, 2008 at 02:45 PM BST #
2. Charlaine Harris (Harper Connelly series is now better than the Sookie Stackhouse one)
3. Christopher Golden (Loved the prowlers books)
4. Victoria Laurie (Her books just make me laugh)
5. Amber Benson (The ghosts of Albion series is great)
Posted by Sara (127.0.0.1) on April 01, 2008 at 03:29 PM BST #
1. Robert Jordan
The Wheel of time. Masterpiece, a work of pure genius, all of the books flow perfectly and the imagery is uncomparable.
2. Robin Hobb
the farseer trilogy. An amazing read.
3. Gene Wolfe
The book of the New Sun. unbelievably brillaint.
4. Iain M Banks.
Anything by this man is exceptional reading.
5. Terry Pratchett
Makes funny books readable and makes you feel good about laughing out loud in public. Hilarious.
Posted by Ewan (127.0.0.1) on April 03, 2008 at 11:49 AM BST #
Isaac Asimov
tolkien
stephen donaldson
ursula k leGuin
arthur C clarke
Posted by jason (127.0.0.1) on April 03, 2008 at 09:44 PM BST #
(Nothing more I can say except observant and funny)
2) JRR Tolkien
(Again, nothing more I can say except, grand and epic descriptions and background)
3) Jon Courteney Grimwood
4) Jennifer Fallon
(The Second Sons series is the ultimate in cruel, subtle and dupiliciously evil characters.)
5) Kim Harrison
(The Rachel Morgan series is classed as horror in my local library, but I'd say it's fantasy. And her vampires lack cheese :-) Vampires are real people in her books, not necessarily just rock/sex gods with a little 'problem'.)
Posted by phoenix-forks (127.0.0.1) on April 04, 2008 at 02:15 PM BST #
Richard Matheson
C. S. Lewis
Christopher Golden
JRR Tolkien
Posted by Jenny Davies (127.0.0.1) on April 04, 2008 at 07:58 PM BST #
2 Lois McMaster Bujold
3 Terry Pratchett
4 Elizabeth Moon
5 Jacqueline Carey
Posted by Kate (127.0.0.1) on April 04, 2008 at 08:34 PM BST #
2. Isaac Asimov
3. Robert Heinlein
4. Ray Bradbury
5. Ben Bova
Posted by Ruth Mulhall (127.0.0.1) on April 06, 2008 at 10:20 PM BST #
1) Iain M Banks
2) Stephen Baxter
3) Neil Gaiman
4) Terry Pratchett
5) Douglas Adams
Posted by Dan Tessier (127.0.0.1) on April 07, 2008 at 11:40 AM BST #
Frank Herbert
Isaac Asimov
John Wyndham
J R Tolkien
C S Lewis
I also want Heinlein, McCaffrey, Adams, Cherryh...
Posted by Alison Keys (127.0.0.1) on April 07, 2008 at 12:12 PM BST #
At this very moment in time though...
1.Neil Gaiman
2.Iain M Banks
3.Douglas Adams
4.JG Ballard
5.Charles Stross
Posted by Ian Gray (127.0.0.1) on April 07, 2008 at 06:08 PM BST #
2. JRR Tolkien
3. China Meiville
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Peter F Hamilton
Posted by jan bagnall (127.0.0.1) on April 08, 2008 at 03:42 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. C.S. Lewis
4. Anne McCaffrey
5. John Wyndham
I would also have put up Douglas Adams but his Hitchhiker's books aren't quite as good as the radio and TV versions.
Posted by nelly (127.0.0.1) on April 09, 2008 at 06:34 PM BST #
2.David Gemmell
3.Katherine Kerr (the Deverry cycle is amazing!)
4.JRR Tolkien
5.JK Rowling
Posted by Lucy (127.0.0.1) on April 09, 2008 at 06:37 PM BST #
2) H.G.Wells
3) Edgar Rice Burroughs
4) Fritz Leiber
5) Harry Harrison
Posted by Li Pao (127.0.0.1) on April 09, 2008 at 10:55 PM BST #
2. M. John Harrison
3. Larry Niven
4. Eric Frank Russell
5. Richard Jeffries
Posted by Stu (127.0.0.1) on April 11, 2008 at 01:50 PM BST #
Posted by Jonny5 (127.0.0.1) on April 11, 2008 at 02:38 PM BST
Website: http://www.zz9.org #
2) Raymond E Feist
3) Tadd Williams
4) Robin Hobb
5) George R R Martin
Posted by J (127.0.0.1) on April 11, 2008 at 05:11 PM BST #
2 Stephen King
3 Michael Moorcock
4 Sheri S Tepper
5 Lawrence Watt-Evans
Posted by Gary M (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 02:23 AM BST #
2 Michael Moorcock
3 Brian Aldiss
4 Jon Courtenay Grimwood
5 Ursula Le Guin
Posted by Paul Oldroyd (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 09:41 AM BST #
Philip K Dick
Neal Stephenson
Jeffrey Ford
Connie Willis
Posted by CV Rick (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 01:09 PM BST
Website: http://www.cvrick.com #
2 George R R Martin
3 Steven Erikson
4 Peter Hamilton
5 Robin Hobb
Posted by Atit Patel (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 01:45 PM BST #
Ben Bova
Connie Willis
J.V.Jones
Justin Richards
Posted by Keith Harris (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 02:13 PM BST #
2. Clark Ashton Smith
3. Robert Silverberg
4. H.P. Lovecraft
5. Tanith Lee
Posted by Chris (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 04:29 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Robin Hobb
Martha Wells
Tad Williams
Posted by Dan P (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 05:49 PM BST #
Robert Heinlein
Philip K Dick
Juliet Marillier
Neil Gaiman
Posted by Hanna P (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 06:06 PM BST #
Richard Matheson
Ray Bradbury
Kurt Vonnegut
J.R.R. Tolkien
Posted by Jerry Gordon (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 06:27 PM BST
Website: http://www.jerrygordon.net #
2 - Julian May
3 - J.K. Rowling
4 - David Gemmell
5 - Anne McCaffrey
And to anyone who voted for Tolkien...ok, he basically started the fantasy genre, credit where credit is due, but man could he have used a good editor.
Posted by George Lister (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:48 AM BST #
2) robert silverberg
3) Lois McMaster Bujold
4) Neal Stephenson
5) Isaac Asimov
Posted by scifi fan (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:56 AM BST #
William Gibson
Robert Westall
Peter F Hamilton
Neal Stephenson
Posted by scottd (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 12:58 PM BST #
2 - Robert Rankin
3 - William Gibson
4 - David Eddings
5 - Raymond E Feist
Posted by Mark S (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 03:58 PM BST #
Robin Hobb
George R.R. Martin
Philip K. Dick
Roger Zelazny
Posted by Ethan (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 06:14 PM BST
Website: http://strange-birds.org #
Neil Gaiman
Charles De Lint(I can't believe no one voted for him- if you like urban fantasy you will probaly like him)
C.S. Lewis
Robert Heinlein
Posted by Jessica (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 06:31 PM BST #
1.Kelly Link www.kellylink.net
2.George Saunders www.georgesaundersland.com
3.Steven Millhauser
4.Aimee Bender www.flammableskirt.com
5.Jorge Luis Borges
Blame Neil Gaiman for the off-the-wall list. I linked through his blog. He has off-the-wall readers. I would vote for Gaiman, but he already has quite a few votes.
Posted by moody (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 06:33 PM BST #
2. laurell k. hamilton
3. francesca lia block
4. kelley armstrong
5. kim harrison
Posted by verena grimm (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 06:35 PM BST
Website: http://www.freaking-muse.net #
JG Ballard
Neil Gaiman
Stanislaw Lem
Iain M Banks
Posted by Paul (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 06:37 PM BST #
2- Neil Gaiman
3- Douglas Adams
4- C. S. Lewis
5- Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by Elle (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:00 PM BST
Website: http://elle-saito.zip.net #
2 - Douglas Adams
3 - Terry Pratchett
4 - Neil Gaiman
5 - Neal Stephenson
Posted by Gerriet (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:09 PM BST #
2. George R. R. Martin
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Patricia McKillip
5. Anne McCaffrey
Posted by Dietmar (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:21 PM BST #
2. Clive Barker
3. Storm Constantine
4. Douglas Adams
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by George (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:26 PM BST #
2)Frank Herbert for vision
3)William Gibson for style
4)Julian May for entertainment
5)Harlan Ellison for freedom
Posted by Matthew Sanborn Smith (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:35 PM BST
Website: http://theonethousand.blogspot.com #
Ursula K Le Guin
Octavia Butler
Terry Pratchett
HG Wells
Alan Moore
Posted by Kaz (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:54 PM BST #
Jack Vance
Harlan Ellison
Roger Zelazny
JRR Tolkien
Larry Niven
Posted by Rick Ollerman (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:55 PM BST #
Lewis Carrol
Alan Moore
Roger Zelazny
Terry Pratchett
Posted by Myrcell (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:56 PM BST
Website: http://www.mutescape.blogspot.com #
2. Neil Stephenson.
3. Douglas Adams.
4. Robert Rankin.
5. David Gemmell.
Posted by Christer (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:57 PM BST #
Posted by Renya (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:57 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Ursula K. Le Guin
4. Diana Wynne Jones
5. Philip Pullman
Posted by Nymeth (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:58 PM BST
Website: http://thingsmeanalot.blogspot.com/ #
2. Michael Crichton - For introducing me to the world that is science fiction. I still love Eaters Of The Dead.
3. Warren Ellis: For discarding ideas that other writers would die for. His works explode with creativity and the barrage of concepts overwhelm you.
4. Terry Pratchett: For subverting a comical, fantastic world by creating murder mysteries, science fiction tales and political commentaries within their bounds.
5. Alan Moore: For the continued creativity in every work, from Swamp Thing and Watchmen to the League and Promethea to Voice Of The Fire and Lost Girls. His depth and breadth are well-nigh unparalleled.
Posted by Jordan Peacock (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 07:59 PM BST
Website: http://hewhocutsdown.blogspot.com/ #
1. Terry Pratchett
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Philip Pullman
4. Isaac Asimov
5. J R R Tolkien
Posted by Anu (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:08 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Douglas Adams
4. Michael Moorcock
5. Philip Pullman
Posted by Mallory (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:15 PM BST #
2. Iain [M] Banks
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by PhilWal (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:17 PM BST #
2. Octavia Butler
3. Tim Powers
4. Kim Stanley Robinson
5. Edgar Allen Poe
I'm being a little provocative as well; I'd have a hard time really picking an order and a short list restricted to five. And much as I enjoy Neil Gaiman's and Philip Dick's writing, I'm referring here to authors who changed my world view at some point.
Posted by Alethea (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:19 PM BST
Website: http://humans.scienceboard.net #
2. Tad Williams
3. Ursula K. LeGuin
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Terry Pratchett, why not.
Posted by labellementeuse (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Warren Ellis
4. China Mieville
5. Alan Moore
Posted by sketchyjoe (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM BST #
2. Douglas Adams
3. Orson Scott Card
4. Phillip Pullman
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Briana (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Robin Hobb
4. Philip Pullman
5. Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by Sara (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM BST #
Ursula le Guin
Neil Gaiman
Greg Bear
Douglas Adams
JRR Tolkien
Posted by Anne (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:24 PM BST
Website: http://top-of-world.blogspot.com/ #
2. Robert A. Heinlein
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Diane Duane
Posted by Hlynna (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:24 PM BST #
2. Sheri S. Tepper. Saying her work is feminist eco fantasy sci fi sort of does it a disservice but is why I love it. She has so many futures, so many scenarios, and such a sharp and compassionate eye.
3. Terry Pratchett. Because his work is insightful literature disguising itself as comic fantasy and thus slipping under many wires. He'd get my vote just for Granny Weatherwax
4. Iain M Banks. So many, many brilliant ideas
5.Neal Stephenson. For the magnificence of ability to write The Diamond Age AND The Baroque Cycle.
Honourable mentions to William Goldman, whose Princess Bride may be eternally blessed but other fantasies aren't so great; Michael Ende, because of the wonder of the Neverending Story and Momo; Tolkein for the complexity and thorough background for the world he made, and for Tree and Leaf (If I could ask one question of a dead person it might be: what happened to the Entwives?); Angela Carter, fabulist extraordinaire; and John Crowley who I'm surprised hasn't turned up more on this list.
Posted by redshoes (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:27 PM BST #
1. Neil Gaiman
2. Iain M. Banks
3. Douglas Adams
4. Alasdair Gray
5. Andreas
Posted by S Latendresse (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:33 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Mercedes Lackey
4. Andre Norton
5. Robert Jordan
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM BST #
2. Melanie Rawn
3. Mary Gentle
I don't think I have any overarching favorite authors beyond that. Certainly I have favorite *books* that are by other authors and rank equally with those three; or there are authors I just like a lot but wouldn't call absolute favorites; and there are some authors whom I would include except for they also have Big Negative Flaws.
For example, Anne McCaffrey would be in that list, except for that anything she's written since 1990 gets lots and lots of negative increment points.
Or I would put Charles de Lint up there for his short stories, but not (by and large) for his full-length novels.
And I really enjoy Neil Gaiman very much indeed, but not quite 100% enough to call him an absolute favorite.
I guess I can add two of these as my 4 and 5, but with those gross caveats.
4. Anne McCaffrey (but only 1990 and earlier)
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Darcy (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:39 PM BST #
Anne McCaffrey (has no-one voted for her?)
Robert Jordan
Raymond Feist
George RR Martin
David/Leigh Eddings (the 1st 2 series only, it has to be said)
Posted by Scarlett Azaria (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:39 PM BST
Website: http://crimsonsilk.typepad.com/ #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. E. Nesbit
4. C.S. Lewis
5. Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by Marian (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:44 PM BST #
2. Anne McCaffrey
3. Charles de Lint
4. Jim Butcher
5. Charlaine Harris
I know adding more votes would be too unwieldy but I have to say I could add ten more writers to this list easily - Simon R. Green, Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, Jasper fforde, Rowling, Tolkein, Karen Chance...oh, it's too much.
Posted by Bobbee (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:48 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Neil Gaiman
4. P.C. Hodgell
5 Ellen Kushner
Posted by J Sessions (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:52 PM BST #
1. David Eddings (it's about favourite authors, not the ones I necessarily think are the best ;). Because he got me into the fantasy genre, because his first two series were fast-paced, with decently-written characters and a decent plot. I still think the Belgariad and the Mallorean are a good series to get a teen started on the fantasy genre.
2. George R.R. Martin, based purely on the A Song of Ice and Fire series. The guy deserves to be better known outside of the fantasy genre, because it'd shut everyone up who thinks fantasy is all about valiant knights and damsels in distress and idealised versions of the Middle Ages.
3. Terry Pratchett. For still going strong. For allowing his series, his world and his characters to develop a lot. For being amusing and clever. For the sheer variety in the series itself.
4. Fritz Leiber. Because what's not to like about the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser? His world is a bit Discworldian, in that you get a sense of all sorts of cultures and cities with their own sets of morals and laws, and outlaws, of course.
5. Eddy C. Bertin. Because no one said the authors had to be best known for their English-language works! He writes wonderful sci-fi/fantasy/horror books for children and young teens, and I wish he got translated into English, so that more people could read his stories.
Posted by DTL (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:53 PM BST #
2. Douglas Adams
3. Susan Cooper
4. Allen Steele
5. Tad Williams
Posted by Erick (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:55 PM BST #
2. Lois McMaster Bujoid
3. Robin Hobb
4. C.J. Cherryh
5. Naomi Novik
Posted by yliu (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 08:59 PM BST #
2. JK Rowling
3. JRR Tolkien
4. Philip Pullman
5. Alan Moore
Posted by Boris (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:07 PM BST #
2.Stephen King
3.Orson Scott Card
4.Arthur C. Clarke
5.Douglas Adams
Posted by Nathan (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:11 PM BST
Website: http://dintywrites.blogspot.com #
Guy Gavriel Kay
Robin McKinley
Tamora Pierce
JKRowling
Posted by Jenn (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:11 PM BST #
2. Garth Nix
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Susan Cooper
Posted by Chelle (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM BST #
Guy Gavriel Kay
Terry Pratchett
C. S. Lewis
Robin Hobb
But, oh I could have put eleventy-billion more on this list. Or at least another dozen.
Posted by Jenna (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:13 PM BST
Website: http://eilonwy.etsy.com #
2. Michelle Sagara-West
3. Susan Cooper
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Ursula LeGuin
Posted by Madeline (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:13 PM BST #
2) Roger Zelazny
3) Neal Stephenson
4) Neil Gaiman
5) Orson Scott Card
Posted by Carl (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:14 PM BST
Website: http://genomescampaigns.blogspot.com #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Frank Herbert
4. Isaac Asimov
5. China Mieville
Posted by Silvia (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:16 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Douglas Adams
4. Arthur C. Clarke
5. Isaac Asimov
Posted by Tero Rantala (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:17 PM BST #
1. Neil Gaiman
2. Lois McMaster Bujold
3. Mary Doria Russell
4. Susannah Clarke
5. George R. R. Martin
...with Elizabeth Bear, John M. Ford, Robert Heinlein, Jo Walton, Naomi Novik, Tolkien, Lewis, and, um, Shakespeare, not quite making the list by a hair.
Posted by R. Emrys (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:20 PM BST
Website: http://ashnistrike.livejournal.com #
2 Iain M Banks
3 Isaac Asimov
4 Greg Bear
5 Jack McDevitt
My sci-fi list, I can't possibly put fantasy in there too
Posted by gen (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:28 PM BST #
JK Rowling
Susan Cooper
Isaac Asimov
Ray Bradbury
Jules Verne
Posted by Amy (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Orson Scott Card
4. Neal Stephenson
5. Michael Ende
Posted by Teresa (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM BST #
Jacqueline Carey
Alfred Bester
Anne Bishop
Neil Gaiman (yeah he's that great, he counts twice)
Posted by Gwendolyn (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
HP Lovecraft
Alan Moore
Edgar Allen Poe
Harry Turtledove
Posted by Sparkles (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:38 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Douglas Adams
Phillip Pullman
Roger Zelazny
Posted by Slightlybent (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:40 PM BST #
2.Roger Zelazny
3.Jack L. Chalker
4.Andre Norton
5.Poul Anderson
Posted by Larry (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:47 PM BST #
Neil Gaimen
Tolkien
Phillip Pullman
Stephen King (Dark Tower series)
Posted by mike (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:48 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Douglas Adams
4. Diana Wynne Jones
5. Arthur C. Clarke
Posted by sparkli (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:49 PM BST #
2. Ursula K. LeGuin
3. C.S. Lewis
4. Peter S. Beagle
5. Jack Vance
Posted by zts (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:51 PM BST #
2. Susan Cooper (one of my early fantasy influences)
3. John Wyndham (one of my early science fiction influences)
4. Connie Willis (also someone I'll read anything by)
5. Theodore Sturgeon (not enough people are voting for him)
Honourable mentions include: T. H. White, Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, David Eddings (but only for his first series), Ursula K. Leguin, Philip Pullman, Anne Rice (but only for Interview With a Vampire), etc. etc.
Posted by Laurie (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 09:51 PM BST #
1. Neil Gaiman
2. Sheri S Tepper
3. David Eddings
4. Clive Barker
5. Susan Cooper
Posted by kim (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM BST #
2. JK Rowling
3. Philip Pullman
4. Jasper Fforde
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Katy (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. CS Lewis
4. JRR Tolkien
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Lynn (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:04 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Jonathan Stroud (Bartimaeus Trilogy)
5. George R.R. Martin
Posted by SS (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:10 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Alan Moore
Terry Pratchett
David and Leigh Eddings
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
J.R. Tolkien
Posted by zeynep (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:16 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Guy Gavriel Kay
Ursula K. LeGuin
J. R. R. Tolkien
Garth Nix
Posted by lauren (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:25 PM BST #
I also hate having to do favorite authors.
Even more, I hate having to put them IN ORDER.
But anyway - here's a really rough ranking that doesn't actually express anything to my satisfaction -
Susanna Clarke
Terry Pratchett
Orson Scott Card
George RR Martin
Greg Bear
Posted by Aoede (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:29 PM BST
Website: http://www16.brinkster.com/enchantress12 #
2. Frank Herbert
3. Dan Simmons
4. David Eddings
5. Robert Jordan
Posted by Thayder (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:34 PM BST #
Just because a book is an acknowledged classic doesn't mean that each individual personally considers it to be the top five BEST OF ALL TIME. I didn't particularly like Tolkien, Herbert, or Lovecraft; I liked Bradbury's short stories a lot better than his longer works; who's Howard?
And just because a book is modern and/or sells well doesn't mean that it's devoid of literary quality.
Honestly.
Posted by Aoede (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:35 PM BST #
2. Samuel R. Delany
3. Octavia E. Butler
4. Joanna Russ
5. Tamora Pierce
Posted by Lila Futuransky (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:39 PM BST #
2. Douglas Adams
3. Neal Stephenson
4. Arthur C. Clarke
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by Kyven (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:44 PM BST #
2. Isaac Asimov
3. Douglas Adams
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Robert Sawyer
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 13, 2008 at 10:46 PM BST #
1. David Lindsay
2. William Hope Hodgson
3. H P Lovecraft
4. Robert E Howard
5. Clark Ashton Smith
Posted by Screwy (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 10:56 PM BST #
2. C.J. Cherryh
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Marion Zimmer Bradley
That's today; ask another day, get another answer.
I wouldn't split this into separate SF/F lists; somethings seem to me to straddle the line. But I WOULD prefer a list of 10, or even 20; there are just too many favorites!
Posted by cicely (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 11:08 PM BST #
2) Neil Gaiman
3) Robert A. Heinlein
4) Douglas Adams
5) Frank Herbert
Posted by Stephen (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 11:39 PM BST #
Ursula Le Guin
Susanna Clarke
Poppy Z. Brite
William Gibson
Posted by Kathryn (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 11:50 PM BST #
2. Gene Wolfe
3. China Mieville
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Michael Moorcock
Posted by Yozhique (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 11:52 PM BST #
2. Ursula le Guin - A Wizard of Earthsea is one of the most beautiful, staggeringly well written book I've ever come across. Despite the succinct nature of it and its language every sentence every sentence carries so much meaning, this book is poetry as fiction.
3. Terry Pratchett - everything about this man is brilliant, it was his Witches books I came to first, I loved the way he made Fantasy stare face to face with feminism. And Death, you just want to give him a hug!
4. JRR Tolkien - I know I'm going for all the obvious here, but The Lord of the Rings changed my life, I still have dreams where Gandalf is my Grandad.
5. Jenny Nimmo - I nearly put Mervyn Peake here, but when I think back I can't forget the Snow Spider. Until Tolkien came into my world it was my favourite book every, when I read it now I still get a tingle down my neck whenever Arianwen appears. When I was a boy i very much wanted to be a wizard, and I very definitely wanted my own snow spider as a familiar.
Posted by John Conway (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 11:59 PM BST #
2. C.S. Lewis
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Terry Pratchett
5. George R.R. Martin
Posted by Arwyn (127.0.0.1) on April 13, 2008 at 11:59 PM BST #
Susannah Clarke
Diana Wynne Jones
Ursula leGuin (for her SF not fantasy like most here)
China Mieville
Phillip K. Dick
Posted by kurushi (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:16 AM BST #
2. T.H White
3. JRR Tolkein
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Guy Gavriel Kay
Posted by thirdpear (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:18 AM BST #
2. terry pratchett
3. neil gaiman
4. hp lovecraft
5. robert a heinlein
Posted by seris (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:44 AM BST #
1. J R R Tolkien
2. Mervyn Peake
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Kurt Vonnegut Jnr
5. Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams
(I can't decide - can you give them half a point each please? - sorry!)
Posted by Maggie (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:46 AM BST #
2) Alan Moore - for From Hell, Promethea and V for Vendetta particularly. Watchmen pretty good too...
3) Alan Garner - The Owl Service is one of the most outstanding books I know
4) Ursula Le Guin
5) Philip Pullman
bubbling under are TH White, Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Mervyn Peake and Iain M Banks
Posted by Adam Horovitz (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:49 AM BST #
2. George R.R. Martin
3. Douglas Adams
4. J.R.R. Tolkein
5. Ursula K. LeGuin
Posted by Kait (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:00 AM BST #
1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Neil Gaiman
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Patrick Rothfuss
Science Fiction
1. Frank Herbert
2. Orson Scott Card
3. Douglas Adams
4. Robert Heinlein
5. Ray Bradbury
Posted by Cliff (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:08 AM BST #
2. Julian May
3. Isaac Asimov
4. Jasper Fforde
5. Harry Harrison
Posted by Stuart (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:11 AM BST #
1. J.R.R. Tolkein
2. P.C. Hodgell
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Fritz Leiber
5. Frank Herbert
Others I really like: Ursula LeGuin, Orson Scott Card, Robert Heinlein, J.K. Rowling, Andre Norton...the list goes on.
Posted by Karen Murphy (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:24 AM BST #
#1 = Neil Gaiman {my ABSOLUTE favorite ~ I adore his imagery, his ideas, his sense of humor, his style of writing ~ his graphic novels are even amazing & i'm not generally into those. So in short (or long) ~ all of it.}
#2 = Ray Bradbury {for his brilliant imagery & metaphors}
#3 = George Orwell {for 1984 alone ~ it's my all-time favorite book...so far}
#4 = J.K. Rowling {for getting people to read again}
#5 = J.R.R Tolkien {for getting people who weren't into fantasy into it in the 1st place}
(and #6 = Arthur C. Clarke ~ his grand ideas were always right on the mark.)
(and #7 = C.S. Lewis ~ for the most magical story about a piece of furniture ever.)
(and #8 = Susanna Clarke ~ She is already a literary giant.)
(and #9 = Lewis Carroll ~ i read Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass every year.)
(and #10 = Edgar Allen Poe ~ i know he's not really sci-fi/fantasy, but there was definitely fantastical element to his work.)
Crap...and if i could also submit a #11 ~ Roald Dahl...He was brilliantly funny, wonderfully fantastic and
a #12 ~ Douglas Adams for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
I really need to stop now, as I've gotten a bit carried away with this. =)
Posted by scarletwanderer (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:34 AM BST
Website: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8886366 #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Robert A. Heinlein
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Jack Vance
Posted by Jeremy Fletcher (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:36 AM BST #
2: Isaac Asimov
3: Neil Gaiman
4: Arthur C. Clarke
5: JRR Tolkein
Posted by Rob Kaas (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:38 AM BST
Website: http://robkaas.wordpress.com #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. H.P. Lovecraft
4. Oscar Wilde [if this doesn’t count as SF/F, then make it Michael Moorcock)
5. John Wyndham
Posted by Kate (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:43 AM BST #
harry harrison
george rr martin
neil gaiman
richard matheson
Posted by kitty ramone (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:53 AM BST
Website: http://kittyramone.wordpress.com/ #
* Neil Gaiman
* Alan Moore
* Terry Pratchett
* Robert Rankin
* JRR Tolkien
Posted by Danny (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:08 AM BST #
1. Terry Pratchett
2. Robin McKinley
3. Jane Lindskold
4. Robert J. Sawyer
5. James Alan Gardner
Posted by Jennifer (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:08 AM BST #
2. Jacqueline Carey
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Tamora Pierce
5. Guy Gavriel Kay
Posted by Mori (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:15 AM BST #
1) Phillip K Dick
2) Robert Heinlein
3) Alan Dean Foster (for his first 20 or so books)
4) Terry Brooks
5) Douglas Adams
Posted by Carlos Andres (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:17 AM BST #
1) Neil Gaiman
2) Clive Barker
3) Tolkien
4) Stephen King
5) Frank Herbert
Posted by Kristin (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:56 AM BST #
2. Karl Edward Wagner
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. C. J. Cherryh
5. George R.R. Martin
Posted by Dan (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:09 AM BST #
2. steven erikson
3. sergei lutyaneko
4. terry pratchett
5. r.a. salvatore
Posted by broken serenity (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:09 AM BST #
2) Isaac Asimov
3) Terry Pratchett
4) Neil Gaiman
5) HG Wells
Posted by Becky Zoole (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:15 AM BST #
2. C. S. Lewis
3. Jules Verne
4. Robert Heinlein
5. Lewis Carrol
Posted by Kristin (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:17 AM BST #
2. Kurt Vonnegut
3. Douglas Adams
4. Ray Bradbury
5. Stephen King
Posted by Damian (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:35 AM BST #
2. Phillip K Dick
3. Arthur C Clarke
4. Garth Nix
5. Neil Gaiman
well, that was annoying having to pick only 5...
Posted by Jasmine (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:47 AM BST #
2. JRR Tolkien
3. Ray Bradbury
4. Kage Baker
5. Juliet Marillier
Posted by Angela (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:48 AM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Isaac Asimov
4. Spider Robinson
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Frelghra (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:01 AM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Patricia A. McKillip (for Ombria in Shadow, in particular)
4. C.S.Lewis
5. Madeleine L'Engle
Posted by Senryu (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:33 AM BST #
1. Theodore Sturgeon - Mentioned only twice so far? I bet most of the authors nominated would have him on their own lists.
2. Alfred Bester - With his frantic, passionate energy, nobody could beat him for combining a honed literary sense with a rollicking, thumping good story. To this day, if I pick up "The Stars My Destination," I'm not putting it down until I've finished it.
3. Arthur C. Clarke - Alongside Sturgeon, proved that science fiction is real literature, with as much or more to say about humanity as it says about science or the future.
4. Neal Stephenson - A contemporary author who's proving there's still territory in science and humanity yet to be explored.
5. Randall Garrett - Struck down far too early, his wit and humor are too often overlooked these days. If you're a fan of classic science fiction, his collection "Takeoff" is not to be missed.
Five is too short for this list, of course. I've had to bump Asimov and Heinlein (of course, they've been pretty well covered by others), as well as Doc Smith and just too many others. But FWIW, there you are.
Posted by Bryan (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:37 AM BST #
2. David Brin
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Philip K. Dick
5. William Gibson
Hard for me to leave off Tolkien and Dan Simmons, but we all left someone off...
Posted by Caitlin (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:44 AM BST #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien (forever grateful for a story about good vs evil)
3. Kurt Vonnegut (surprises me with every short story)
4. Mary Zimmer Bradley (appreciative for bringing power back to the female)
5. Elaine Cunningham (under appreciated for her skills and personal contact as a writer)
Posted by Jeff (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:54 AM BST #
~Neil Gaiman (since Sandman i've been loving his work)
~Philip Pullman (for his Dark Materials, although his Sally Lockhart books arent bad either)
~Pratchett and Anthony have to share for Discworld and Xanth respectively
~Roger Zelanzy for Amber
~And although i want to say Tolkien/Lewis for traditional reasons, i'll have to put in Pamela Dean for her wonderful Tam Lin and The Secret Country trilogy
cant wait for Going North from Dean and The Graveyard Book from Gaiman!!
Posted by laura (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:30 AM BST #
2. Robin McKinley
3. Diana Wynne Jones
4. Sharon Shinn
5. Lois McMaster Bujold
Hon. Mention: Patricia McKillip
Girls RULE!
Posted by bme (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:33 AM BST #
2. John Crowley
3. Robert Heinlein
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Wardenclyffe (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:34 AM BST #
Kim Stanley Robinson
Octavia Butler
Niven and Pournelle (I really love them together, apart they are still great, but together they make the top 5)
Sean McMullen (I guess I'm a sucker for the idea of dueling librarians with guns.)
Robert Heinlein, Daniel Keys Moran, David Gerrold, Ben Bova, Robert L. Forward and Spider Robinson also close on my list of authors who I like a lot.
Posted by Caro (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:50 AM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Anne McCaffrey
4. Neal Stephenson
5. William Gibson
6. Tolkien
7. Piers Anthony
8. Harlan Ellison
(I could go on all night but I think I was supposed to stop at 5!)
Posted by KevinBe (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:53 AM BST #
2.Susanna Clarke: actually has my nod for favorite book, but has only released two. We'll see...
3. Ursula K. LeGuin: her fantasy, not her sci-fi. Earthsea is brilliant.
4. Octavia E. Butler: best use of the science fiction genre I can even imagine (esp. the Parables).
5. J.K. Rowling: because Harry Potter rocks my socks.
As an ending note, I believe that anyone voting for Christopher Paolini deserves to be disqualified.
Posted by Deo (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:56 AM BST #
2) Terry Pratchett
3) Neil Gaiman
4) George R.R. Martin
5) Isaac Asimov
Each of these authors falls onto my "Top 5" list because he has shown me a world that I did not believe was possible before his book came along. Unfortunately, any "Top 5" list will necessarily exclude at least a dozen quality authors, if the list comes from a person even moderately well-read. Alas.
Posted by Jim Grayson (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:29 AM BST
Website: http://jelegar@livejournal.com #
2) Terry Pratchett
3) Stephen R Donaldson
Genre-spanning masters (one of dreams and surrealism, another of comedy, and the last of language/world intensity) all. I'll put down money for any of their books in a heartbeat and not be disappointed.
4) Isaac Asimov
I couldn't quite grok his Foundation series either, but all the Robot tales and his other shorts were wonderful things.
and an unresolvable three way tie:
5) Ed Greenwood / Elaine Cunningham / Marion Zimmer Bradley
Great worlds. Great characters. Joyful romps in a world not our own. So they're not great classical literature or speculative fiction, so what?
That was tough. I had to leave out other classic authors like Tolkien and Philip K Dick, and my recent enjoyable finds of Kelley Armstrong and Dan Abnett.
Posted by Julian (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:30 AM BST #
1. Orson Scott Card
(from the first time I picked up Ender's Game and struggled through Xenocide, years ago, to picking up anything with his name on it every chance I get now, I will never stop reading and loving OSC.)
2. Terry Pratchett
(I think I was 10 when I first asked mum which book went first and went through all of the discworld that existed up to then, and watching more and more books coming out since has been one of life's greatest joys. I get more out of them now than I ever did then; the man writes depth into his comedy that just improves as I get older.)
3. Robin McKinley
(a small collection of books, but each as brilliant and beautiful as the last. an authour that can revisit the same story and create something completely new out of it.)
4. Philip Pullman
(I stole the HDM books from my brother's shelf, and ever since have loved them dearly.)
5. JK Rowling
(I swore to myself up and down that I wouldn't mention her, because in actual writing it can't even compare to the rest here, but I can't deny that her books effected my life immensely, as they did with a lot of my generation.)
Posted by Liz (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:40 AM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Diana Wynne Jones
Robin McKinley
Terry Pratchett
JRR Tolkien
Near misses:
Patricia McKillip, Anne McCaffrey, Ursula Le Guin, Poe, Lord Dunsany, William Hope Hodgson, Orson Scott Card, Hal Duncan, Douglas Adams etc etc
Posted by Morag (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:47 AM BST #
1. Neil Gaiman
2. J.R.R. Tolkein
3. C.S. Friedman
4. Robert Jordan
5. Lynn Flewelling
Posted by Muterari (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:55 AM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Philip Pullman
4. Juliet Marillier
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Sally (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:57 AM BST #
2 Tim Powers
3 Neil Gaiman
4 Orson Scott Card
5 Susanna Clark
Posted by Dan Hawkins (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:00 AM BST #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. J.K. Rowling
4. Guy Gavriel Kay
5. China Mieville & Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by Davina (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:39 AM BST #
2. Réné Barjavel (apparently my favourite novel has been translated as The Ice People)
3. Isaac Asimov
4. Douglas Adams
5. Lovecraft
Posted by Magali V (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:39 AM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Janny Wurtz
5. CJ Cherryh
Posted by Trevor (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:40 AM BST #
1.Terry Pratchett
2.William Gibson
3.Neil Gaiman
4.Douglas Adams
5.Philip K. Dick
Posted by Gassalasca (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:45 AM BST #
2. Stanislav Lem
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Douglas Adams
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by Kibrika (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:57 AM BST
Website: http://kibrika.wordpress.com #
2. Susanna Clarke
3. Phillip Pullman
4. Alan Moore
5. Robert Rankin (damn you, SFX, why couldn't it be a top 6, then I could fit Terry Pratchett on too... or Ray Bradbury... or Isaac Asimov... or Douglas Adamas...Gaaaaaah! Okay, top ten then?)
Posted by Littleblackfox (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 08:37 AM BST #
2) Garth Nix
3) Neil Gaiman
4) C.S. Lewis
5) Robin McKinley
Posted by Celia (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 09:05 AM BST #
2. Jonathan Carroll (because reading him is like being inside a dream full of interesting people you want to spend time with)
3. Christopher Priest (because his novels are beautiful, intricate things with plots that fit together like clockwork).
4. J.G. Ballard (because he is unique and maverick and because no-one else seems to have voted for him).
5. Neil Gaiman (because he first got me interested in comics and because Brief Lives is just a beautiful story).
Posted by Adrian (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 09:27 AM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett
Philip Pullman
Kurt Vonnegut
Posted by
Posted by Becky (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 09:30 AM BST
Website: http://www.moonfrog.com #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Iain M. Banks
4. Stephen Donaldson
5. Tolkein
Posted by iain (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:52 AM BST #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
4. Lynn Flewelling
5. Elizabeth Moon
Posted by JillB (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:54 AM BST #
2 Neil Gaiman
3 HG Wells
4 Philip Pullman
5 John Wyndham
Posted by Kate (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 11:14 AM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Robert A Heinlein
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Philip K Dick
All excel at holding a mirror up to our world by showing us the fantastic. Gibson gets the #1 slot for cutting closest to the real world while never quite intersecting with it.
Posted by Stephen (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:04 PM BST #
2 Philip K Dick
3 Iain M Banks
4 Neil Gaiman
5 Lewis Carroll
Posted by Steve Bosman (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 12:39 PM BST
Website: http://stevebosman.co.uk #
1. George RR Martin
2. Roger Zelazny
3. Robin Hobb
4. Guy Gavriel Kay
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Rai (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:05 PM BST #
2) Neil Gaiman.
3) Ken Mcleod.
4) Terry Pratchett.
5) Dan Simmons.
Posted by Paul Ballard (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:07 PM BST #
Robert Rankin
Neil Gaiman
Alan Moore
Kurt Vonnegut
Posted by Rita (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:17 PM BST #
Frank Herbert
Iain M. Banks
Douglas Adams
Michael Marshall Smith
Posted by Matthew Hughes (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:33 PM BST #
Michael Ende
Jules Verne
Doris Lessing
Edgar Allan Poe
Posted by Marcos Faria (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 01:52 PM BST
Website: http://almanaque.wordpress.com #
2. Heinlein
3. LeGuin
4. Cherryh
5. Kim Stanley Robinson
Posted by cjchilds (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:13 PM BST #
1. Stephen King - The Dark Tower is one of the most vibrant fantasy and/or SF series I have ever read and it's intertwined with the entire collection of his work.
2. China Mieville - Bas-Lag reminds me of the Dark Tower in ways, it's a world that is *subtly* wrong and through a myriad of tiny differences it grows into something grotesque and wonderful. Also, China Mieville is awesome! ;)
3. Wolfgang Hohlbein - Pretty much *the* German Fantasy author, but I love him most for his SF series Charity, which isn't at all epic and I love it more for all the gritty little pettiness.
4. Robert A. Heinlein - He has the distinction of being the first SF I read in the English language and it's true what they say: you never forget your first ;) I adore his unapologetic break with traditions and institutions while still holding fast to his own prejudice. Of the post-war American SF authors, he's my favorite.
5. Sergej Lukjanenko - The Nightwatch series is amazing urban fantasy set in Moscow and it really does feel like Moscow and not a thinly veiled version of America or Britain. I'm not sure I forgive him for killing my favorite character though ;)
Posted by Suaine (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 02:18 PM BST #
Glenda Larke
Russell Kirkpatrick*
Trudi Canvan
Kylie Chan
Posted by Jackie (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:04 PM BST #
2 Guy Gavriel Kay
3 Neil Gaiman
4 Tad Williams
5 Orson Scott Card
Posted by Jess (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:22 PM BST #
2. Elizabeth Moon (particularly The Deed of Paksenarrion)
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Ray Bradbury
Posted by Na (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 03:50 PM BST #
2. George R. R. Martin
3. Robert Jordan (even if he completely overeggs the interpersonal conflict pudding)
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by Marion (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:15 PM BST #
2.Jane Yolen
3.Clive Barker
4.Dianna Wynn Jones
Posted by Sandy (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:50 PM BST #
Ursula J. LeGuin
Sherri S. Tepper
Isaac Asimov
Neil Gaiman
Posted by dmk (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:50 PM BST #
2. Stanislaw Lem
3. Ray Bradbury
4. H.P. Lovecraft
5. Alan Moore
Posted by Devlin (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 04:53 PM BST #
1) Tad Williams
2) Peter F Hamilton
3) Terry Pratchett (though I stopped reading Discworld a few years ago)
4) Arthur C Clark
5) Weis & Hickman (Dragon Lance, Death Gate Cycle)
* If you are curious as to why I haven't voted for him, well I have only read two of his books (Good Omens & Neverwhere) but I read his blog all the time and met him once at a signing a good few years ago and I just really liked the bloke. Just never managed to get around to read his stuff.
Posted by Robert McGovern (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:14 PM BST
Website: http://tarasis.net #
2.Terry Pratchett
3.Tolkien
4.Ursula Le Guin
5.Stanisław Lem
Posted by Hal (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:18 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Iain M. Banks
5. Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by Michaela (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:19 PM BST #
2. Ray Bradbury
3. Harlan Ellison
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by Jon C. (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:24 PM BST #
2. Stanislaw Lem
3. Philip k dick
4. Susanna Clarke
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Jeff (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:31 PM BST #
2) Iain M Banks
3) Samuel R Delany
4) Robert Silverberg
5) Brian K Vaughan (comics count, right?!)
Posted by KJF (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:35 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Steven Erikson
4. Jim Butcher
5. Richard k. Morgan
Posted by Nick (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:36 PM BST #
Posted by KJF (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 05:36 PM BST #
1. Isaac Asimov
2. Robert Heinlein
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Ursula LeGuin
5. Roger Zelazny
Posted by Peg (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:04 PM BST #
2. Diana Wynne Jones
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Jasper Fforde
5. Lewis Carroll
Honorary mentions: Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and Eva Ibbotson.
Posted by Katharina (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:14 PM BST #
1 Ursula K Le Guin
2 Philip K Dick
3 William Gibson
4 Kim Stanley Robinson
5 Ray Bradbury
Fantasy
1 Steven Erikson
2 Robert Jordan
3 Max Brooks
4 Jasper Fforde
5 Hayao Miyazaki
Posted by Duncan (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:27 PM BST #
Posted by Heather S. (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:30 PM BST #
2. Tim Powers: His depictions of the magical undercurrent to day-to-day life resonate with me. "Last Call" is one of the best books ever written, and "Anubis Gates" is the penultimate time travel novel.
3. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.: An amazing writer who make readers both joyful and depressed at the same time.
4. Neil Gaiman: A master story crafter.
5. Mark Twain: Gets lots of credit, but not as one of the earliest fantisists - see "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" and "Letters from Earth," among others.
Posted by Paul E. (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:35 PM BST #
2. Gene Wolfe
3. Alan Moore
4. H.P. Lovecraft
5. J.G. Ballard
Posted by Woland (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 06:50 PM BST #
2. Alan Moore
3. Isaac Asimov/Kurt Vonnegut
4. Douglas Adams
5. Ray Bradbury/J.G. Ballard
Posted by Lady Shadoe (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:10 PM BST #
2. Marion Zimmer Bradley
3. Isaac Asimov
4. Anne McCaffrey
5. E. R. Eddison
Posted by Holly (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:14 PM BST #
2. Diana Wynne Jones
3. Katherine Kerr
4. David and Leigh Eddings
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by Ampersandrew (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:14 PM BST #
2.Jennifer Fallon
3.Anne Bishop
4.Trudi Canavan
5.Christopher Paolini.
Posted by Avanda (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:26 PM BST #
1 J.R.R. Tolkien
2 Robert A Heinlein
3 Anne McCaffrey
4 Terry Pratchett
5 JK Rowling
(and and and Orson Card, Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams, HG Wells, Robert Jordan, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Larry Niven, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Neil Gaiman, Tonke Dragt )
Posted by Mieke (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:27 PM BST #
2. Samuel R. Delany
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Diana Wynne Jones
5. Charles De Lint
And I long to vote for Ray Bradbury but he's just a little behind in my affection than the others, though Fahrenheit 451 is the best Sci-fi novel ever written.
Honorable mentions: Edger Allen Poe, Patricia Briggs, Anne Mccaffrey, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Aimee Bender, Naomi Novik
Posted by Keely H. (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:29 PM BST #
1. Neil Gaiman
2. Terry Pratchett
3. JRR Tolkien
4. Marion Zimmer Bradley
5. Douglas Adams
who have all influenced me lots. There are so many more: CS Lewis, Philip K Dick, William Gibson, HP Lovecraft, Harlan Ellison, Mark Brandis (who is German, but he was the first SF author I ever read, so I owe him)... apologies for everyone I've forgotten!
Posted by Vaivalome (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 07:51 PM BST #
2 Douglas Adams
3 Alan Moore - as someone else has said on here, Watchmen is simply the most perfect comic ever written.
4 Michael Marshall Smith - doesn't get the recognition he deserves!
5 China Mieville
(and a small note to say I think Scott Lynch will easily be making the top five of these lists in the next couple of years)
Posted by senny (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 08:22 PM BST #
2. George R. R. Martin
3. China Mieville
4. Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by David Lev (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 08:29 PM BST #
Gaiman, Neil
Harrison, M. John
Heinlein, Robert
MacDonald, Ian
Mieville, China
Posted by ces (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 09:19 PM BST #
Lois McMaster Bujold
Guy Gavriel Kay
Neil Gaiman
Sharon Shinn
Posted by Vickie (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 09:55 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
J.R.R. Tolkien
C.S. Lewis
Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by Ashley R. (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 09:57 PM BST
Website: http://www.lotrspoofs.net #
Connie Willis
Vernor Vinge
Douglas Adams
Neil Gaiman
Posted by Lizzy M. (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:19 PM BST #
-Neil Gaiman
-Terry Pratchett
-Philip K. Dick
-Alan Moore
Posted by def (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:29 PM BST #
Posted by Aoede (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:46 PM BST #
2) Neil Gaiman
3) C.S. Lewis
4) Stephan King
5) J.K. Rowling (Why are people so apologetic...call me crazy but she can't be such a terrible writer given how transported people wer by her stories...but then, Im no literary gormand)
Posted by Molly (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:50 PM BST #
2.Douglas Adams
3.Patrick Tilley
4.JV Jones
5.Isaac Asimov
Posted by Ian McCracken (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 10:59 PM BST #
2. Anne Bishop
3. Jennifer Fallon
4. James Clemens
5. J.R.R. Tolkien
Posted by Julie (127.0.0.1) on April 14, 2008 at 11:09 PM BST #
2. Sherwood Smith
3. Tamora Pierce
4. JRR Tolkien
5. CS Lewis
Posted by faye (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 01:34 AM BST #
2. Kylie Chan
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Trudi Canavan
5. Stephenie Meyer
Posted by Elle (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:11 AM BST #
2. Fiona McIntosh
3. David Eddings
4. Sarah Douglas
5. Russle Kirkpatrick
Posted by Emma (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:44 AM BST #
2. Fiona McIntosh
3. David Eddings
4. Sarah Douglas
5. Russle Kirkpatrick
Posted by Clair (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:45 AM BST #
2 Pratchett, unbeatable, except by Tolkein - obviously - LOL
3 Mercedes lackey, Love her stuff
4 Anne Macaffrey
5 Freda Warrington, highly overlooked but wonderful books
Posted by Sue (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:58 AM BST #
2. Patricia Briggs
3. Anne Bishop
4. Trudi Canavan
5. Sara Douglass
runners up would be Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, and Morgen Howell.
Posted by Kristen (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 03:13 AM BST #
2. Anne Bishop
3. Kate Forsyth
4. Lynn Flewelling
5. Diana Wynne Jones
Why couldn't I have 6 votes D= I want Sara Douglas on there as well :(
Posted by Mary (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 03:20 AM BST #
1. Charles DeLint
2. Nina Kiriki Hoffman
3. Shannah Jay
4. Diana Wynne Jones
5. Alan Moore
Posted by Ascetic_hedony (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 04:02 AM BST #
2. Robert Rankin
3. Haruki Murakami
4. Connie Willis
5. Roald Dahl
Posted by moopot (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 04:29 AM BST #
2. Orson Scott Card
3. Frank Herbert
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Anne Rice
Posted by fishonthesand (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 04:32 AM BST #
2. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
3. Neil Gaiman
4. J.R.R Tolkien
5. Robert Heinlein
Posted by Blayne Taralicious Jensen (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 05:17 AM BST #
2. Trudi Canavan
3. Kylie Chan
4. Sara Douglass
5. Traci Harding
Posted by skaldi (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 06:13 AM BST #
2. Sheri S. Tepper
3. Gwyneth Jones
4. Kim Stanley Robinson
5. CJ Cherryh
Posted by Lola (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 08:48 AM BST
Website: http://myriadesque.blogspot.com #
2. Isaac Asimov
3. Robin Hobb
4. George R. R. Martin
5. Arthur C Clarke
Posted by Acacia (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 09:07 AM BST #
1. Elizabeth Haydon - She may not win it since no one has yet voted for her, but she's my favorite by far.
2. C.S. Lewis
3. Anne McCaffery
4. Stephen King
5. Clive Barker
Posted by Valecynos (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:13 AM BST #
JRR Tolkien
Fritz Leiber
HP Lovecraft
Philip K Dick
Robert Silverberg (for that brillant phase at the end of the 60's and beginning of the 70's)
Posted by Manticore (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:17 AM BST #
Jennifer Fallon
Isaac Asimov
Neil Gaimon
Anne NcCaffrey
Terry Pratchett
Posted by Lynne Green (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:56 AM BST #
1. Ian Irvine
2. Russell Kirkpatrick
3. Jennifer Fallon
4. Fiona McIntosh
5. Trudy Canavan
Posted by Kit (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:59 AM BST #
Isaac Asimov
Neil Gaiman
Jennifer Fallon
Kate Elliot
Posted by Joanna Kasper (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 11:09 AM BST #
2. JK Rowling.
3. Tamora Pierce.
4. Trudi Canavan.
5. Sara Douglass.
Posted by Kathleen (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 11:28 AM BST #
2. Alastair Reynolds
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Hal Duncan
5. Dan Simmons
Posted by Kalian (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 12:32 PM BST
Website: http://www.kalianmimsy.com #
2. C.J. Cherryh (The Chronicles Of Morgaine are probably her finest work and should be read by everyone into the genre!)
3. Arthur C. Clarke (Genius)
4. Clive Barker (Big carpets)
5. Neil Gaiman
Should've been a top ten...
Posted by Vanye (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 12:35 PM BST #
Posted by Kieuomo (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 12:49 PM BST #
2. Trudi Canavan
3. Terry Goodkind
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Terry Brooks
Is it just me or are there a lot of Terry's writing fantasy.... :P
Posted by Megan H (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 01:03 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. David Gemmell
4. Neil Gaiman
5. David Eddings
Posted by Noona (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 01:10 PM BST #
Mercedes Lackey
Neil Gaiman
Jim Butcher
Isaac Asimov
Posted by heather vance (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 01:52 PM BST #
1. Sara Douglass
2. Jennifer Fallon
3. Jacqueline Carrey
4. George RR Martin
5. Trudi Canavan
Posted by Melissa (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 01:53 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman -- I half feel guilty not putting him first ;) The Sandman remains the only book (well, technically it's a graphic novel) ever to make me cry, and in fact Neil seems incapable of writing anything I don't like. He's my favorite living author, by a long way.
3. Isaac Asimov -- The Foundation is a sci-fi epic beyond compare. Add in the Robot stories, The Gods Themselves, and so many other novels and short stories, and you've got the stuff of legend.
4. Terry Pratchett -- When you've written 40+ books and they're all good, you must be doing something right. Pratchett is hilarious, and his ability to create great characters in unmatched. Not to mention the fact that his stories usually have hidden depths of meaning beneath the surface.
5. Douglas Adams -- This was a bloody tough choice. If I had two more votes, they would undoubtedly go to Orson Scott Card and J.K. Rowling. But as it is, Adams has to go on this list, if only because I read The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in much the same way that other people read the Bible ;)
Posted by Jacob T (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:00 PM BST #
Guy Gavriel Kay
JK Rowling
Robin McKinley
Madeline L'Engle
Posted by Kathleen Schaefer (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:11 PM BST #
2. Glenda Larke
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Isaac Asimov
5. Arthur C Clarke
Posted by Tsana (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:24 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Kenneth Graeme
4. Tove Jansson
5. J.B.S. Haldane
That last is for his children's book My Friend Mr Leakey
Posted by Sandy (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 02:31 PM BST #
1.Roger Zelazny
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Tannith Lee
4. Harry Harrison
5. Mercedes Lackey
Posted by Rachel (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 03:28 PM BST #
2. Jennifer Fallon
3. John Wyndham
4. Theodore Sturgeon
5. Russell Kirkpatrick
Posted by gaily (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 03:34 PM BST #
2. Iain M. Banks
3. Haruka Murakami
4. Alistair Reynolds
5. Neil Gaiman
Posted by Marte (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 03:57 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Dan Simmons
4. Steven King
5. Madeleine L'Engle
Posted by TM (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 04:40 PM BST #
2. Robin Hobb
3. David Eddings
4. JK Rowling
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by dogmatix (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 04:48 PM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Diana Wynne Jones
4. Tolkien
5. Susan Cooper
Posted by Martha (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 05:13 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Douglas Adams
4. Connie Willis
5. Melanie Rawn
Posted by Michelle Steiner (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 05:32 PM BST #
2.Robin McKinley
3.Patricia Wrede
4.Neil Gaiman
5.Diana Wynne Jones
Posted by A (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 05:51 PM BST #
2. J.K. Rowling
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Mike Mignolia
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Parker Lindstrom (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 07:08 PM BST
Website: http://otakumotion.com #
In no particular order
JRR Tolkien: He started the whole thing. His work made epic fantasy fiction mainstream.
James Tiptree Jr: She, yes SHE, takes science fiction and social issues and creates mind bending versions of concepts we take for granted, such as gender, monogamy and psychopathy
Tanith Lee: Is a fantastic storyteller, and can weave a world as well as a story inside it better than most people give her credit for.
Anne McCaffrey: As someone said above, it's NOT all about dragons. She has other work as well, and the Dragonriders of Pern series was much more than your usual fantasy/sci-fi series if you got through the whole thing. (The Masterharper of Pern being my favorite.)
Ray Bradbury: He writes the type of science fiction that many people take for granted, thinking it's just another story about social reform.
Posted by D (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 07:13 PM BST #
Charles de Lint
Neil Gaiman
JRR Tolkein
Ursula Le Guin
Diana Wynne Jones
with an extra plug for some of the podcasts I've been listening to:
Mur Lafferty
Tee Morris
Chris Lester
Philippa Ballantine
Posted by danielle (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 07:34 PM BST
Website: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mahlu002/oneday #
1. George R.R. Martin
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Robin McKinley
4. Anne McCaffery
5. Mercedes Lackey
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 15, 2008 at 07:50 PM BST #
1) Jennifer Fallon
2) Trudi Canavan
3) Russel Kirkpatrick
4) Jacqueline Carrey
5) Glenda Larke
Posted by daeonica (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 08:12 PM BST #
2. George R. R. Martin
3. Neal Stephenson
4. Stephen King
5. Jules Verne
The first three have really changed the way I view the world, all in their own way.
Posted by The Swedish vote (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:01 PM BST #
2. Ursula Le Guin - Whether writing class science fiction, like Left Hand of Darkness and The Lathe of Heaven, or wonderful fantasy like The Wizard of Earthsea Quartet, this is wonderful writing, chock full of intelligent, original ideas.
3. Diana Wynn Jones - Fantastically intelligent, witty and engaging.
4. Anne McCaffrey - Dragonsong was an incredibly important book to me when I was 12 - and as the other posters have said, it's not just dragons!!
5. Lewis Carroll - Alice Through the Looking Glass - probably, at six, the first fantasy fiction I ever read; it is still powerful and strange writing that stays with you.
Posted by jabberwocky (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:04 PM BST #
2. EE Doc Smith
3. Patrick Alexander
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Robin Hobb
Posted by Sally (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:18 PM BST #
2. Robert L Forward (Dragon's Egg)
3. Patrick Alexander (Too Late the Hero)
4. Larry Niven/Jerry Pornelle (Lucifer's Hammer)
5. EE Doc Smith (The Lensmen rule!)
Posted by Clinton (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:26 PM BST #
Jennifer Fallon
C.S. Lewis
Mary Doria Russell
Kage Baker
Posted by madhatter (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:34 PM BST #
2. J.R.R.Tolkien
3. C.J.Cherryh
4. Mercedes Lackey.
5. Elizabeth Kerner.
6. Elizabeth Moon.
7. C.S.Lewis.
8. R.A.Salvatore.
9. Weis and Hickman.
10. Sarah Douglass.
Posted by Mri Niun (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:52 PM BST #
2. Juliet Marillier - I really liked the Sevenwaters Trilogy. It's a great series that had me hooked from beginning to end.
3. George R. R. Martin - If you're a fantasy reader, you like him. Plain and simple.
4. C.S. Lewis - Mostly a nostalgia factor pushing this author up so high. I just loved the books as a kid, and at some point should sit down to read them again.
5. Ray Bradbury - A little out of place considering the rest of my list, but I started reading his work in 7th grade and was completely impressed. It still impresses me, but I'm more into fantasy now.
Posted by Resi (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 10:56 PM BST #
2. George Martin
3. Elizabeth Haydon
4. Orson Scott Card
5. Tad Williams
Posted by Phlox (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 11:35 PM BST #
2. Elizabeth Haydon- The most underated fantasy author of all time. Derserves a place as one of the best.
3. Melanie Rawn- Dragon Prince anyone
4. George R.R. Martin- I have only read two of his books but have been impressed enough so far to put him here.
5. Brandon Sanderson- Changing the face of fantasy writing.
Some unlucky miss outs.
1. David Eddings
2. Russell Kirkpatrick- Path of Revenge was the most original fantasy novel I have ever read.
3. Raymond E. Feist
Posted by Craig Scott (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2008 at 11:51 PM BST #
2. R.A. Lafferty
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Lois McMaster Bujold
5. Joanna Russ
5 is too hard. I think I could do a top 20 without feeling I'd lied, but a top 5...
Posted by Steve Taylor (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 01:48 AM BST
Website: http://covertrek.com #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Jim Butcher
4. Simon R. Green
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Leigh-Anne (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 03:20 AM BST #
1. Robert A. Heinlein
2. Ursula LeGuin
3. Orson Scott Card
4. William Gibson
5. Isaac Asimov
Also in the running:
Stanislaw Lem, Philip K. Dick, Arthur C Clarke, J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Octavia Butler, Samuel Delaney, Neil Gaiman.
Posted by Alexandra (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 04:52 AM BST
Website: http://kindofnot.wordpress.com #
2. Jennifer Fallon
3. Julian May
4. Lois McMaster Bujold
5. J.R.R. Tolkien
Posted by Jason Etheridge (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 04:53 AM BST #
Terry Pratchett
Charles de Lint
Robin Hobb
Neil Gaiman
Posted by Onanymous (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 12:18 PM BST
Website: http://onanymous.blogspot.com/ #
2. Piers Anthony
3. Terry Goodkind
4. Elizabeth Haydon
5. Terry Brooks
Posted by Unicorns (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 04:01 PM BST #
2. Alan Moore
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Alastair Reynolds
5. Joe Abercrombie
Posted by Servalan (127.0.0.1) on April 16, 2008 at 04:45 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Diana Wynne-Jones
Gregory Maguire
Anne McCaffery
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 16, 2008 at 08:31 PM BST #
2) Peter F. Hamilton - The Nights Dawn Trilogy is an absolute blast, sci-fi and horror merged brilliantly.
3) Frank Herbert - Dune is a classic, nuff said.
4) H. G. Wells - The founder of the genre as we know it.
5) Douglas Adams - How could a list of great writers not include Adams.
I know have have left off some obvious choices but (and don't shoot me) Tolkien bores me rigid.
Posted by Wibbles (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 12:25 AM BST #
Isaac Asimov - The Gods Themselves is one of my favorite novels, of any genre.
Samuel Delany - Brilliant writer; his short fiction is probably his best, especially The Star Pit and Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones
Arthur C. Clarke - I don't think I have to qualify this.
Olaf Stapledon - His philosophical background brings science fiction to new heights.
Posted by John Vansteen (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 02:42 AM BST #
2. George R R Martin
3. Robin Hobb
4. David Gemmell
5. Philip Pullman
Posted by Nyssa (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 03:17 AM BST
Website: http://www.aboygoesonajourney.com #
2 Robin Hobb
3 Carol Berg
4 Jennifer Fallon
5 Anne Bishop
Posted by Katrine Berg (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 06:15 AM BST #
2. Fiona McIntosh
3. Trudi Canavan
4. Sara Douglass
5. Tracy Harding
Posted by Kathleen Donnelly (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 06:43 AM BST #
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 17, 2008 at 11:57 AM BST #
2 Peter F Hamilton
3 Elizabeth Moon
4 Ursula LeGuin
4 Anne McCaffrey
Posted by Charis (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 12:12 PM BST #
2. George R.R Martin
3. Tolkien
Posted by Aspargessuppe (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 12:42 PM BST #
Gaiman
Fallon
Martin
Hobb
Posted by Alan Evans (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 01:44 PM BST #
2. Robert Jordan
3. C.S. Lewis
4. Terry Brooks
5. Christopher Paolini
Posted by Pablo (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 02:23 PM BST #
2. Terry Brooks
3. Tokien
4. Brandon Sanderson
5. Christopher Paolini
Posted by moridin15 (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 02:24 PM BST #
2. Gabriel Garcia Marquez
3. Neil Gaiman
4. Neal Stephenson
5. Kim Stanley Robinson
Posted by Jonathan (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 02:39 PM BST #
2 Neil Gaiman
3 Douglas Adams
4 Robert Rankin
5 Jasper Fforde
Posted by M (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 02:56 PM BST
Website: http://www.thingywotsit.blogspot.com #
2) Terry Pratchett
3) Robert Heinlein
4) Robin Hobb
5) George R.R. Martin
Posted by DT (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM BST #
2)Steven Erikson
3)Isaac Asimov
4)Carl Sagan
5)China Mieville
Posted by MightyYT (127.0.0.1) on April 17, 2008 at 03:13 PM BST #
2] JV Jones
3] Sherri S Tepper
4} Robin Hobb
5] Ursula Le Guin
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 17, 2008 at 11:03 PM BST #
Posted by Robert (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 02:26 AM BST #
because his ideas always seem new and spark with imagination, while at the same time his stories are just plain good old storytellin', and if you've never read anything of his – go out and get some, NOW!
2. tie: Haruki Murakami/Audrey Niffenegger
couldn't decide!!! both authors write wonderful, touching books that have a sff storyline but read like straight fiction, with non-linear plots and well fleshed out complex characters. both also have their own, very distinctive style, and are very addictive, though sometimes painful reads.
3. Terry Pratchett
not so hot on his early work (can't stand Rincewind, sorry), but luuuuv anything with Sam Vimes and the Watch in it. The sanest people in literature (YES, it's lit!), in the insanest environments, and, contradictively, vice versa. oh, and because he uses the word susurrus.
4. Louis McMaster Bujold
because she got me reading scifi, and because I can't sleep while I'm reading one of her books, and because I just kinda like her writing, you know?
5. Tamora Pierce
out of pure sentimental value, because the first of the Lioness quartett totally saved one terrible skiing holiday when I was eleven, with a broken foot stuck in a hotel room without a telly, and just one book for entertainement. I read it five times back to back, and can still think of it fondly.
the list goes on and on... this was difficult. ask me tomorrow and I'll probably give you a different answer. sorry for being so chatty as well as any mistakes, my mothertongue's german... but don't hold it against me. :D
Posted by gigi (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 02:41 AM BST #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Steven Erikson
4. Frank Herbert
5. China Meiville
Posted by fionwe (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 06:41 AM BST #
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 18, 2008 at 07:23 AM BST #
2. Roger Zelazny
3. Robert Heinlein
4. Isaac Asimov
5. Robert Silverberg
Posted by Udi (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 07:57 AM BST #
2. Jeniffer Fallon
3. Tamora Pierce
4. Marion Zimmer Bradley
5. Anne McCaffrey
Posted by Anette (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 09:30 AM BST #
2. Robert Jordan
3. Terry Pratchett
4. Douglas Adams
5. Jules Verne
Posted by Henrik (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 02:35 PM BST #
2. Robert Jordan
3. Bernard Cornwell
4. JK Rowling
5. JRR Tolkein
p.s.
OMG! ppl actually voted for Paolini? 12 year olds come to site like this...that's almost as shocking as the clinical idiots who voted for Elizabeth Hayden
Posted by shiva (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 03:25 PM BST #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Peter S. Beagle
4. Lloyd Alexander
5. C.S. Lewis
Posted by Drew (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 07:18 PM BST #
1. Jennifer Fallon (Tide Lords)
2. Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged)
3. Asimov (Foundation)
4. HG Wells (War of the Worlds)
5. Jules Verne (For everything he wrote)
Honourable mention for the chap who wrote The Amtrak Wars (can't think fo his name)
Posted by Pete Frienden (127.0.0.1) on April 18, 2008 at 10:58 PM BST #
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Isaac Asimov
4. C.S. Lewis
5. Jules Verne
Posted by Jenn B. (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 04:33 AM BST #
2. David Gemmell
3. Douglas Adams
4. Alan Grant/John Wagner
5. Terry Brroks (fond childhood memories)
Posted by timelord13 (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 07:29 AM BST #
2. Robin Hobb (Farseer, Tawny Man, Soldier Son)
3. Jennifer Fallon (Second Sons)
4. Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicle)
5. Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
Posted by Harimau (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 08:04 AM BST #
2. C.S.Lewis
3. Peter Hobbs
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on April 19, 2008 at 09:11 AM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Douglas Adams
5. Orson Scott Card
Posted by Ola (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 09:20 AM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Neil Gaiman
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by Ch (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 09:25 AM BST #
2. Anne Bishop
3. Jennifer Fallon
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Terry Pratchett
Posted by Ursula Horsfall (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 01:28 PM BST #
1. Neil Gaiman
2. Charlie Stross
3. Kage Baker
4. John Scalzi
5. Naomi Novik
With honourable mentions to Richard Morgan, Lois McMaster Bujold, and Michael Chabon.
Posted by deathbird (127.0.0.1) on April 19, 2008 at 07:18 PM BST #
2: George R R Martin
3: Neil Gaiman
4: Douglas Adams
5: Robert Silverberg
Posted by greywolf (127.0.0.1) on April 20, 2008 at 06:16 AM BST #
1. Glen Cook (Black Company/Dread Empire)
2. Janny Wurts (Mistwraith, Kelewan with R.E Feist))
3. G.R.R. Martin (Song of Ice & Fire)
4. Terry Pratchett (esp. Science of Discworld with Ian Stewart&Jack Cohen, Good Omens with Neil Gaiman)
5. Theodore Sturgeon (More than Human & Sturgeons Law& to have at least ONE mainly SF Author in my vote ...)
plus Lynn Flewelling, Patricia Briggs,Mercedes Lackey, C.J. Cherry, David Weber, Juliet E. McKenna, Marion Zimmer-Bradley, Diane Paxson, Dave Duncan, Anne McCaffrey, ...
Why only top five, gorram????
Posted by Yanessa (127.0.0.1) on April 20, 2008 at 07:45 AM BST #
2. Jennifer Fallon
3. JV Jones
4. Marion Zimmer Bradley
5. Mercedes Lackey
Posted by Kerry Strange (127.0.0.1) on April 20, 2008 at 08:26 AM BST #
JRR. Tolkien- Cliche no? But then guys...seriously...
Neil Gaiman- Recently discovered him with Good Omens and then watched Stardust and Mirrormask, next on to Neverwhere and American Gods. Also a really nice guy. I wrote this especially for him.
Terry Pratchett- Its more of a love hate relationship with this man. Some books are so irritatingly bat shit i cant speak for several days. But hes so warm and safe, and funny as hell that you cant help but love it.
Ian M Banks- Creepy, sexy and violent. YEA!
Posted by doctawho42 (127.0.0.1) on April 20, 2008 at 08:34 AM BST #
2) Philip Dick
3) Ray Bradbury
4) Douglas Adams
5) Doris Lessing (not exactly unknown, since she just won nobel prize for literature, but less known for her fantastic books.. anyone has read "mara and dann"?)
Posted by Paolo (127.0.0.1) on April 20, 2008 at 01:23 PM BST #
JRR Tolkien - the first master
Stephen Donaldson - how to write conflicted characters
Robert Silverberg - fantastic world creation
Michael Moorcock
Posted by Chris (127.0.0.1) on April 20, 2008 at 10:02 PM BST #
2. Anonymous (For Beowulf, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gawain and the Green Knight and many others. I know it's more than one person, but they can't be distinguished and any one of the works would be enough for qualification)
3. Robert Heinlein (his juveniles, Have Spacesuit, Will Travel etc. introduced me to SF)
4. Olaf Stapledon (for unrivalled timespans)
5. Robert Silverberg (not great literature, but always entertaining).
Posted by ptahhotep (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 12:51 AM BST #
2. Steve Moffat
3. Jim Butcher
4. JK RowlingSharon Shinn
Posted by Rebecca (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 02:05 AM BST #
2 - David Gemmell
3 - Edgar Rice Burroughs
4 - Ursula K. Le Guin
5 - George RR Martin
Posted by H von D (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 02:59 AM BST
Website: http://www.hvond.wordpress.com #
Warren Ellis - I love his horrifyingly blunt depictions of human nature.
Terry Pratchett - Also needs no explanation.
Patricia McKillip - I love how poetic and dream-like her stories are.
John Bellairs - The Face in The Frost has been my favorite book for as long as I can remember - I read it so many times that my book fell apart and I had to buy a new copy. It is that good.
Posted by Me (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 04:41 AM BST #
2. William Gibson - I don't think I need to say anything, really. Read Neuromancer at 16 and never looked back!
3. Terry Pratchett - Bizarrely, my Dad got me into Pratchett. He used to buy me his books as birthday presents then read them himself *lol*
4. Neil Gaiman - American Gods and Nevewhere. Do you need any mroe reasons?
5. Philip K Dick - Along with William Gibson, he was one of the first sci-fi writers I got into, and one of my long-term favourites!
Posted by Sharon (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 01:24 PM BST #
2) Robert Westall
3) Philip K Dick
4) Robert Rankin
5) Jasper Fforde
Posted by Proxy (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 02:25 PM BST #
2 - Arthur C Clarke
3 - Robin Hobb
4 - Jack McDevitt
5 - George R R Martin
Posted by Grant (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 05:37 PM BST #
2. Robert E. Howard-- the Beethoven of Heroic Fantasy, founder of Sword and Sorcery
3. H. P. Lovecraft- the weirdest dude produced by the 20th century!
Posted by Steve Allsup (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 09:09 PM BST #
2. J V Jones - The Sword of Shadows series is some of the best weaving of awesome that ever has been. Raif at Duffs, Raif killing the wolf, Raif facing Death in the cell. Gold.
3. Neil Gaiman - As has been said, American Gods and Neverwhere. Fantastic.
4. David Gemmell - Favourite because I can still read his books in a couple of sittings and really enjoy them. Druss, Waylander; great characters, great stories.
5. J R R Tolkien - First Fantasy (is Asterix "fantasy"?) I ever read. That, plus it's awesomeness, means it's here.
Posted by Stu Andrews (127.0.0.1) on April 21, 2008 at 10:36 PM BST
Website: http://stuandrews.com #
2. Stephen Lawhead
3. Jack McDevitt
4. Michael Scott Rohan
5. Orson Scott Card
Posted by Michael (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 02:06 AM BST #
1. Michael Moorcock
2. Clive Barker
3. Neil Gaiman
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
5. H.G. Wells
I would have prefered separate lists for SF and Fantasy - though I doubt even that would have made it any easier.
Posted by GR Wilson (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 02:20 AM BST #
2. Geoff Ryman
3. Arthur Herzog
4. Orson Scott Card
5. Candace Jane Dorsey
Posted by laurellisidhe (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 07:02 AM BST #
1. Joe Haldeman - The Forever War is one of my favourite books and it was the book that turned me into a fan of written science fiction.
2. Philip K. Dick
3. Michael Moorcock - should be regarded as a national treasure.
4. Samuel R. Delany
5. Arthur C. Clarke
Just missing out
Stephen King
Alan Moore
Larry Niven
Stephen Baxter
Robert Silverberg
Posted by Darryl MacGregor (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 10:38 AM BST #
Brian Aldiss
J.G. Ballard
Iain. M Banks
Olaf Stapledon
Ian Watson
Posted by Spacephantom (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 03:47 PM BST #
2. J R R Tolkien (The Daddy of Fantasy)
3. H G Wells (er the Daddy of Sci Fi)
4. David Whitaker (Daleks/Crusaders, made me love Dr Who - great books in their own right).
5. Bram Stoker (wonderful)
Posted by Dave Kidd (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 04:26 PM BST #
2) Jennifer Fallon
3) CS Lewis
4) Neil Gaiman
5) Christopher Moore (kinda fantasy - more humor)
Posted by Lisa Pennie (127.0.0.1) on April 22, 2008 at 08:19 PM BST #
2. Jennifer Fallon
3. Trudi Canarvan
4. Robin Hobb
5. Fiona Macintosh
Posted by Scarlet Bowater (127.0.0.1) on April 23, 2008 at 08:29 AM BST #
2) China Mievelle - The Scar is just perfection and the others are damn fine.
3) Stephen King - definitely for his early stuff and especically for Dark Tower 1 - 4 ( 5 - 7 should be burned though)
4) Ray Bradbury - again, astonishingly few votes for such excellence
5) Alastair Reynolds - everything is brilliant, except of course, the last chapter of every book he's written!
Posted by David Watkins (127.0.0.1) on April 23, 2008 at 11:04 AM BST #
1. J R R Tolkien - say what you like about him (btw? China Mieville: you are really not a good enough author yourself to call Tolkien a 'wen'); if not for Tolkien, most of us, writers and readers alike, wouldn't be here.
2. Mervyn Peake - a fantastical and twisted imagination. I spent a lot of time in my teenage years trying to find another writer like him, only to discover there wasn't one.
3. Ursula K LeGuin - 'A Wizard of Earthsea' is how boy wizards SHOULD be.
4. Edith Nesbit - 'The Phoenix and the Carpet' was one of my earliest introductions to fantasy. Her mingling of the fabulous and the mundane has never been matched.
5. C S Lewis - religiosity aside, the Narnia books are thundering good adventure stories.
I must apologise to Patricia A McKillip, whose work is some of the most beautiful and lyrical in all fantasy, and to Andre Norton and Diana Wynne Jones and, oh, so many others. But these are the people whose names stood out in my mind.
Posted by Anna Lawrence (127.0.0.1) on April 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM BST #
2. Douglas Adams
3. David Gemmill
4. China Mieville
5. William Gibson
Posted by Neil (127.0.0.1) on April 24, 2008 at 06:37 AM BST #
2. Alastair Reynolds
3. Ray Bradbury
4. George R.R. Martin
5. Alan Moore (hey, Watchmen and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are sf/fantasy, too...)
Posted by Ethan (127.0.0.1) on April 24, 2008 at 10:17 AM BST #
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Diana Wynne Jones
4. Jasper Fforde
5. Roald Dahl
Posted by Cheryl (127.0.0.1) on April 24, 2008 at 03:15 PM BST #
2 Neil Gaiman
3 JRR Tolkien
4 Ursula LeGuin
5 Arthur C Clarke
Posted by Dawn (127.0.0.1) on April 24, 2008 at 09:17 PM BST
Website: http://www.faeriecourtfarm.com #
2. Robin Hobb
3. Mercedes Lackey
4. Anne McCaffrey
5. Marion Zimmer Bradley
Posted by Sue (127.0.0.1) on April 26, 2008 at 01:04 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Glen Cook
4. George RR Martin
5. Steven Erikson
Posted by Mike (127.0.0.1) on April 29, 2008 at 04:54 PM BST #
Elizabeth Haydon
JK Rowling
Terry Pratchett
Jennifer Fallon
The above is in no particular order though Tolkien ia my absolute favourite!!
Posted by Pam (127.0.0.1) on May 03, 2008 at 08:09 PM BST #
2. Terry Pratchett
3. Orson Scott Card
4. Andrzej Sapkowski
5. Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Posted by Klaudyna (127.0.0.1) on May 06, 2008 at 04:15 PM BST #
Neil Gaiman
Octavia E Butler
Ursula K Le Guin
Kelly Link
Posted by Gena (127.0.0.1) on May 19, 2008 at 05:41 PM BST #
Isaac Asimov
Robert Rankin
JG Ballard
Jack London
Posted by Nutts (127.0.0.1) on June 10, 2008 at 02:13 PM BST #
2.Elizabeth Haydon
3.Marion Zimmer Bradley-love the Mists of Avalon
4.Tolkien
5.J.K. Rowling
Posted by elysia (127.0.0.1) on June 19, 2008 at 06:04 AM BST #
2. Robert Jordan
3. J.R.R. Tolkein
4. Terry Pratchet
5. Douglas Adams
Posted by DragoelfA (127.0.0.1) on July 01, 2008 at 08:21 AM BST #
Posted by Isabella (127.0.0.1) on October 10, 2009 at 11:59 AM BST #