Who's your favorite author?

[Guest nl5xsk1]

I'm sure that it's been done before, but figure ones like this always get good conversations (and also help when one is looking to find a new author to get into.)

 

My favorite: Charles Bukowski - I just really like his style, for both his short stories and his poems. I can re-read his stuff repeatedly and not get bored of it.

 

Least favorite: Henry Rollins - Just seems to full of himself when you try to read his books.

[Guest starvenger]

I don't have a favourite author, but I like Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey and Elmore Leonard.

[Guest Grand Slam]

There is only one author that I buy automatically when he puts out new stuff.

 

Raymond E. Feist

 

His Riftwar Saga and the following books are easily the best fantasy fiction outside Tolkien.

 

Other authors I love (and all are, unfortunately, dead)

 

J.R.R. Tolkien

Roger Zelazny

Isaac Asimov

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Favorite is Bentley Little, as far as horror goes he outdoes King and Koontz by a mile...and following him is John Saul, James Patterson, and Richard Laymon.

 

I don't really have a least favorite author...if I don't like someone's book I just don't read a 2nd

[Guest CanadianChris]

Favourite: Jeffrey Archer. Despite his personal troubles, he's a top-notch storyteller.

 

Least: Margaret Atwood. Words cannot describe what utter garbage her books are.

[Guest starvenger]

Least: Margaret Atwood. Words cannot describe what utter garbage her books are.

That's not entirely true. If you can find a better cure for insomnia, please let me know...

[Guest raptor]

Favorite: Kurt Vonnegut. I'd never read a book that I didn't understand until I started reading Vonnegut. Now, I've read llike six where I couldn't give you a plot summary in less than an essay. When something makes you stop and think when you're finished (like an Ingmar Bergman film), you know you've experienced something special.

[thuganomics]

Best Author: probably a toss-up between George Martin and Jane Yolen, both are superb fantasists.

 

Worst Author: John Grisham. The guy is the highest paid hack alive.

[Guest starvenger]

Worst Author: John Grisham. The guy is the highest paid hack alive.

I thought that was Jackie Collins...

[Guest Angel_Grace_Blue]

I second the Vonnegut mention, as well as Ken Follet, among others with names that currently escape me at this moment.

 

I don't really know about least favorite. I might have disliked a certain book by an author, and that has kept me from reading his/her other works, but I don't think that qualifies as least favorite.

[Guest ViciousFish]

My favorite author has to be R.A. Salvatore. The greatest fantsy author there is. I'd have to say my least favorite is King. I've never liked one of his books or the movies. They're all so boring

[Rendclaw]

As of right now, my favorite author is Terry Goodkind, though I have a slew of others that could and do take his place from time to time, such as Michael Stackpole every time I read the X-Wing series.

[Guest tank_abbott]

Daniel Cohen and just about any author who writes a book which turns into a movie i like (not vice versa usually)

[Guest starvenger]

My favorite author has to be R.A. Salvatore. The greatest fantsy author there is. I'd have to say my least favorite is King. I've never liked one of his books or the movies. They're all so boring

I tried reading Salvatore's first Demonwars Trilogy but it just didn't do it for me. I think that it in part has to do with the lead characters - big, burly guy who's a perfect warrior, and a beautiful woman who's a great sorceress. It seems too generic. I liked the fat monk, but once he left the book I couldn't get into it.

[Guest Grand Slam]

I forgot to answer the "writer I hate" question, and it is easy!

 

Kevin J. Anderson

 

The worst books I have ever read, the Jedi Academy Trilogy were penned by this hack. And then Brian Herbert chooses him to co-author the Dune prequels and the long-awaited final book in the Dune series based on his ded's notes? Is he insane?

 

hrmph... "blobsticle race" indeed...

[Guest starvenger]

I forgot to answer the "writer I hate" question, and it is easy!

 

Kevin J. Anderson

 

The worst books I have ever read, the Jedi Academy Trilogy were penned by this hack. And then Brian Herbert chooses him to co-author the Dune prequels and the long-awaited final book in the Dune series based on his ded's notes? Is he insane?

 

hrmph... "blobsticle race" indeed...

I wouldn't say he's the greatest, either. However, his comics work and "Junior Jedi Knights" series weren't all that bad, so I guess he's simply better suited to shorter stories.

 

I thought of a candidate for worst writer: William Shatner. If you've read some of his rather mundane TekWar series you'll know what I mean.

[Guest ViciousFish]

My favorite author has to be R.A. Salvatore.  The greatest fantsy author there is.  I'd have to say my least favorite is King.  I've never liked one of his books or the movies.  They're all so boring

I tried reading Salvatore's first Demonwars Trilogy but it just didn't do it for me. I think that it in part has to do with the lead characters - big, burly guy who's a perfect warrior, and a beautiful woman who's a great sorceress. It seems too generic. I liked the fat monk, but once he left the book I couldn't get into it.

I'll agree with that...those books really blew. I've based my opinion entirely upon the Cleric Quintet and the Drizzt Do'Urden books.

[Rendclaw]

After Drizzt and Cadderly, anything else Salvatore does is second-rate, though I do have to admit that I liked Gary Leger.

 

Although I am still pissed at him because he killed off Chewbacca. That was the single reason why I stopped reading the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

[Guest starvenger]

I'll agree with that...those books really blew. I've based my opinion entirely upon the Cleric Quintet and the Drizzt Do'Urden books.

Those are Forgotten Realms novels, right?

 

Although I am still pissed at him because he killed off Chewbacca. That was the single reason why I stopped reading the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

Salvatore was just the messenger. It was the EU people - with Lucasfilm's blessing - who killed him off. Does it suck? Yes, it does, but I accept the reasoning - the death of a well-loved character helps to show that anything could happen in the EU.

 

Fun fact: the original plan was for Luke to die...

[thuganomics]

As of right now, my favorite author is Terry Goodkind, though I have a slew of others that could and do take his place from time to time, such as Michael Stackpole every time I read the X-Wing series.

Stackpole is an awesome writer. His Battletech works and his fantasy stuff are also great. "I, Jedi" is a masterpiece and Corran Horn is easily the best expanded universe character.

[Guest godthedog]

nice to see some vonnegut love, who's been my personal favorite since 9th grade. once i saw that picture of a wide open beaver on page 26 of 'breakfast of champions', there was no looking back.

 

but the writer i admire most is james joyce. that man was THE literary genius of the 20th century, & probably one of the smartest guys who ever lived. i spent my last 2 years of high school reading nothing but joyce--cause when you read joyce, you don't have the time or the effort to read anything else.

[Guest Boomer Sprinklespax]

Chuck Palahniuk. A lot of people call him a shitty Vonnegut, but I just dig his books a whole, whole lot. He's definitely a Vonnegut clone though.

[thuganomics]

Vonnegut is a good writer, but having met him, he really is a grumpy, anti-social, stone aged jacka$$. He'd probably be mad that we're discussing him on an EVIL!!! internet forum, as he has a strong dislike for technology. Still a good author though.