Authors

A list of some of the authors out there that I feel deserve attention. Some very well known, others perhaps not so. Not exhaustive of course.

Lois McMaster Bujold - Science fiction author, the lady is a genius. Her ability to write stories that work on multiple levels, her wit, her quirky characters, her complex and yet so realistic plots. And her ability to write lines like

"But in the dark of subtler temptations, those which hurt without heroism for consolation, he foresaw, the Emperor would no longer by the symbol of Barrayar in his heart.

" Peace to you, small lady, he thought to Raina You've won a twisted poor modern knight, to wear your favour on his sleeve. But it's a twisted poor world we were both born into, that rejects us without mercy and ejects us without consultation. At least I won't just tilt at windmills for you. I'll send in sappers to mine the twirling suckers, and blast them into the sky…

He knew who he served now. And why he could not quit. And why he must not fail."

Based in her own world, most of her stories revolve around her main character Miles Vorsokignan and the planet he was born on, Barrayar. Lost due to the closing of its wormhole, it has recently been reintroduced into the technological world and is suffering the pangs of growing up with the galactic technology and changes it brings about. She takes so many logical conclusions of things that would happen and extrapolates it that the world, the universe she creates is so real, it's breathtaking. And heart rending.

Hugo and Nebula award winner... twice for one of those I believe. What more can I say but BUY her books.

Neil Gaiman - Another award winning writer in the horror/humour/mature side of fiction. His Sandman series is so complete, so good it's difficult to describe. He takes the mythologies of our world and reshapes them, giving them new life, new meaning. He takes Death and makes her... cute. And lovely. And fun. And he takes a persona, a being and turns it into the hero of the series. His depth, his subtlety is incredible. He writes fairy tales as well, but these aren't meant for children. His works are best read by adults - not because they're too lurid or graphic, though sometimes they are - but because it's just so mature, you need to be old to understand it.

Robert Jordan - Not much introduction needed here. Writer of the Wheel of Time series, that huge collection of books that has hit 10 now and seems not to be near the end yet. Complex, arresting, his heroes are fun and human, his villans are human (or at least, understandable) and evil. High fantasy in a way, but realistic and down to earth in others. Very good, epic stuff. Only complaint is that he writes so SLOW.

George R. R. Martin - Another fantasy writer. Epic work in his Song of Ice and Fire but in contrast to the Wheel of Time, his is more realistic. Still with magic and armies of good and evil, yet he writes from a more political, realistic standpoint. If you took out the magical aspects of his work - which as yet do not play that great a part - you get the feeling that this could very well have happened in our world. Betrayals, clash of loyalties, the death and dishonor and how sometimes, not even the good guys always win. Gripping stuff.

Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionnavar Tapestry. What a book, what a writer. High mythology, high fantasy. He shoots for the stars with his writing, trying to evoke emotions and depths and succeeds. Taking old stories and old legends and reshaping them, bringing new life to old concepts. His writing and his style all his own - any of his work is well worth the read.

Charles de Lint - The master of Urban Fantasy. Offering us a glimpse of what life could be, might be if you just turned the wrong corner or maybe looked a bit too hard.

William Shakespeare - The Bard. No introduction needed, no essays required on why he is so great.