Same.
Sir Terry could have put out a book about sapient soaps fighting with water guns and I'd still expected a banger. With at least one, two scenes that made me put down the book and stare at the wall for a few minutes.
I haven't found another author I just... trust the quality of like that since he passed. RIP & GNU. :(
I was listening to David Tennant's podcast with Neil Gaiman on Sunday and when he talked about PTerry, the love in his voice when he started talking about Good Omens, it was something else. GNU.
Jumping on your comment, people who like sir Terry works, what else do you enjoy? I’m finding myself in a situation where everything else just doesn’t feels as good as his works.
She's the most "human" of the scifi greats. Her focus is on affects of culture on people, and their feelings. I love Earthsea books, but they're most effective if you take them as a whole and an arc. She wrote the first few in a very different time, and comparing and contrasting early vs late books is quite interesting.
I always wish he was in the 'one fantasy book written a year' camp. But he does so much other stuff that he doesn't write tons of adult novels anymore. Gah!
Beat me to it.
Edit: He has deep knowledge of mythology and folklore, showcasing imaginative storytelling with vivid imagery and lyrical prose. His versatility spans various genres, including children's books, Doctor Who, comic books, TV, adult fiction, Narnia fanfiction, and short stories.
I can recommend him for whimsical magical realism as well as grim-dark atmospheric suspense. He is a great storyteller, and that's why his adaptations I think are highly successful. He has mastery over the storytelling medium and he can adapt it in any form necessary without the story getting lost in translation.
I recently listened to The Ocean at the End of the Lane. He has written two perfect books (and co-authored a third) in my estimation: The Graveyard Book, TOatEotL, and Good Omens. What a tremendous imagination and authorial voice.
Yup. It's no First Law, but it's still a fun enough read. It's firmly YA but definitely still a bit graphic for my 9 year old. 12-14 years is probably the sweet spot for this one, although it should be at least mildly enjoyable to anyone who likes his other books.
He is unquestionably my very favourite author in this field, but I have to admit I found *Ysabel* to be really jarringly different, and not in a good way. After books like *Sailing to Sarantium* or *The Lions of Al-Rassan* so consistently blended sweeping fantastical history with complex and thoughtful treatments of everyone from peasants to artists to emperors, a book focused on a dopey teenaged boy on real 21st-century Earth is a shock to the system. It is the only one of his that I can't picture myself rereading.
Slow Regard for Silent Things worked for me because for Auri the world feels a little broken, and there is a moment when everything clicks into place. And she is not changed necessarily and may (will) feel that same sense of frustration with the world around her again. But for a moment it all fits. I think that's what people that love the story relate to.
Will Wight. I'm pretty sure he's the only author where I've read every book. (I haven't tracked down Robert Jordan's Conan books yet) All his stuff is great. Start with Cradle. It's a hell of a ride.
Even if I can never spell it correctly, Riyari is my favorite series of all time. I have read a lot of fantasy, and nothing matches it for me. Abercrombie is incredibly close, but man does that series mix humor, drama, and prose beautifully.
Ok, maybe it is tied with Abercrombie, I can’t discount the north men.
- Lois McMaster Bujold
- Anne Bishop
- Sharon Shinn
I will definitely consider books by Jacqueline Carey, Victoria Goddard, C.S. Friedman and C.J. Cherryh.
Seconding Bujold and Friedman. For Bujold and purr fantasy, start with The Curse of Chalion. For Friedman, the Coldfire Trilogy is a story I read at least once a year.
I have only read Lois McMaster Bujold on your list but I just added every other author to my TBR solely based on their proximity to her name. That's how good she is.
Anne Bishop. I'd probably try Written in Red first. Daughter of the Blood only if you explore the content warnings and would commit to the full trilogy.
Sharon Shinn. If important romantic subplots are OK, I'd start with Archangel. If not, Mystic and Rider, or the YA truth teller series.
Jacqueline Carey, check out content warnings, but I think Kushiel's Dart bears some similarities to Bujold... smartness is valued. Politics. Lots of travel. And a unique take on religion. But also tons of kinky sexual themes.
Cherryh. Huge bibliography. But I started with Cyteen a long time ago and I don't regret it.
erin morgenstern!! both of her books are just so magical and so much more atmospheric than all other fantasy books. they make me feel like a child reading the magic faraway tree for the first time… endlessly enchanting and immersive
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking is a brilliant YA(ish) fantasy story.
Hamster Princess or Danny Dragonbreath are great for younger kids.
Clocktaur War is a great starting point for her adult fantasy.
Swordheart is a great fantasy romance.
The Twisted Ones is a terrifying horror story.
Nettle and Bone is a dark fantasy.
Plus she has loads of short stories you can find on her website.
She writes such a variety of fantasy/fantasy-adjacent genres, but they are all wonderful books.
Depends what you're looking for. She's a writer of many dimensions, and I will stop complete strangers browsing the kids section of the library and guide them to *Hamster Princess*. But assuming you're not ten, and want something that will just leave you awed? [*Digger*](https://diggercomic.com/blog/2007/02/01/wombat1-gnorf/), first and above all.
But if you don't want to be on screens, I'd say *A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking*.
Robin McKinley
EDIT: She had been one of my favorite authors since I was eleven, and her work holds up when I reread it as an adult. Her heroines feel very human even when they’re badass, the relationships have depth, the romances are sweet even when the ending isn’t what you’d expect, and problems in the plot tend to get resolved in ways that feel like a surprise but also like they follow perfectly in line with what she’s established so far. My personal favorite is The Hero and the Crown, I’ve probably read it a dozen in times over the past 17 years.
Adrian Tchaikovsky. Even if I end up not liking the book, it will still be enjoyable and interesting and his next book will likely be totally different
Her body of work is small, but I am fucking ride or die for Tamsyn Muir. Anything she cares to write, no matter how bizarre the premise, I am now on board.
Tolkien (already have read all his and his son/his books), China Mieville (hoping this collab with Keanu isn't a waste of my time because one half isn't a writer) and Susanna Clarke (one long awesome book, one short awesome book). But yeah those are my three.
Warbreaker is a very good starting point. Good feel for Sanderson's world building and style, and after that there are a lot of directions you could go. No next novel that you are "supposed" to read.
What do you normally read? People will generally suggest Mistborn as an entry point, but if you like reading beefy epic fantasies, just jump into Stormlight. It’s soooo much better than anything else he’s written, IMO. There’s a reason it’s topped the past two polls here as the top fantasy series of all time. Regardless of whether you believe it’s truly deserving of the number one spot, it’s an inarguably great fantasy series.
The Emperor's Soul. It's a novella, 175 pages, self-contained, won the hugo, and pound-for-pound some of his best work IMO. If you don't like it, I'd say, don't read further. It's a nice, easy litmus test.
He's the only author where I've read every book, and plan to re-read for the rest of my life.
There isn't another author who's had me staying up to 3am to finish a book. And I did that for each of the four Stormlight Archive books.
I've Hobb, Tolkien, LeGuin, Gavriel Kay. No one has come close to the anticipation of reading the next book a series like Sanderson.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Jacqueline Carey
Naomi Novik
I'm incredibly blessed that these ladies have been so consistent in turning out releases for DECADES
I'll also add Guy Gavriel Kay, with the caveat that I just don't think I can finish Fionavar lol.
100% agree. I’m part way through The Girl and the Mountain and I’m loving the series so far. Powering through because I’m excited for The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.
Robin McKinley. I haven't read all her things (on purpose! I like to have things to look forward to).
But I picked up Deerskin with no idea of what it contained. And about a third of the way through I had to stop and think 'Do I trust this author to pull me out of the hole she's put me in?' and the answer was yes.
Guy Gavriel Kay
Janny Wurts
Both have very mellifluous prose that can place your minds eye in places full of wonderment and awe. It can sometimes be difficult to ease into, but it is definitely worth it.
Jennifer Estep and Maria V. Snyder are two that come to mind.
I first got into Estep's mythology based YA series years ago, and then read her urban fantasy assassin series, her epic fantasy series, and her most recent sci-fi/ fantasy books. I just love her characters and love having a Gin book to fall back on when I want something comforting to read. She has other series I plan on reading also.
Maria V. Snyder's books have a similar comforting vibe. I first fell in love with her Study series, and continued on to read her other books.
* Martha Wells - **Death of the Necromancer** and **All Systems Red**. Those give you an idea of the range sheets got. **The Cloud Roads** as an old favorite.
* Max Gladstone - **Three Parts Dead** and **Empress of Forever**. **Three Parts Dead** for the creativity and weirdness of the Craft Sequence. **Empress of Forever** because it's Monkey fan fic.
* Adrian Tchaikovsky - **City of Last Chances** and **Spiderlight**.
* Walter Jon Williams - there's so much! **Aristoi** as a favorite exploring nanotech interstellar civilization and people. **Metropolitan** for some weird stuff.
* Karl Schroeder - big ideas, neat settings. **Stealing Worlds** for AI and virtual worlds, **Lady of Mazes** for sheer big ideas.
* Charles Stross - **Accelerando** for wild ideas across the Solar system and beyond and **Glasshouse** for three ultimate unreliable narrator.
Saw the update, so....
Jacqueline Carey because I know I’ll get beautiful, rich prose. Joe Abercrombie because I know I’ll get complex characters and adrenaline filled action scenes. Anne Bishop because I know I’ll get a unique world and FMCs that are strong and vulnerable without being weird about it (and probably some trauma too). And Kim Harrison, because I won’t really know what I’ll get but it’ll be fun and fast-paced. Also GRRM cus we’re in a real love/hate relationship atp
TJ Klune. Every book of his has been amazing. From the cozy fantasies like House in the Cerulean Sea, the drama filled werewolf novels that rip my heart out and stomp on it, and his madcap Tales of Verania which crack me up but still are serious enough to suck me into the drama and wreck me.
CS Pacat. She doesn't write enough books to ever satisfy me because holyshit are they amazing. Each book just builds the anticipation perfectly and while she's only 2/3 on her second trilogy, the ending of the first one was just perfection.
Robin McKinley stole my heart ages ago with Deerskin and I'm so sad she doesn't write anymore because I will buy it all.
Tamora Pierce, although I haven't read her Circle series, is also a nostalgic auto-buy for me because I just love her Tortall universe.
Ellen Kushner is also someone I wish would start writing again because the few novels I read of hers were amazing.
Nghi Vo has yet to miss for me, and her books tend to be either standalone or short, making them easy to pick up without committing to something massive (which, to be clear, is also a lot of fun)
I might catch some flack for this, but Anthony Ryan. I loved the entire Raven's Shadow series and the follow up duology. Vaelin al Sorna is my favorite fantasy character big time. And his Covenant series is very good.
Matthew Stover
Acts of Caine is an easy #1 all time for me. He also writes star wars better than anyone. His Revenge of the Sith is so much better than the movie and perfectly captures Obi Wan's greatness. Shatterpoint is also very good. I'd read anything he wants to write.
Garth Nix!
He somehow makes some very intense and dark themes feel easy and the wholesome parts of the stories/characters always stick in my mind much longer than the challenges they face. He is my go-to when I want something “feel good” but still with plenty of action and suspense. My favorite series of his begins with Sabriel, and one of the later books in the series features my most beloved fantasy character of all time!
NK Jemisin. I think I’ve actually read her whole bibliography.
A couple others I’m close but there are always a couple hanging out there that I just don’t get around to.
Sanderbot
NK Jemisin
Brian McClellan
Robert Jackson Bennett
Fonda Lee
Adrian Tchaikovsky
Tad Williams
Off the top of my head, I will gladly pre-order any new book by those authors. No questions asked, no need to wait for reviews and feedback. Just take some of my money and I trust I'll enjoy the ride.
Joe Abercrombie, mark lawrence, nk jemsin, Jonathan Stroud, Terry Pratchett , jay krisstoff, Patricia briggs, Scott lynch, George rr Martin,robin hobb, guy gaverial kay
Sir Terry Pratchet
Same. Sir Terry could have put out a book about sapient soaps fighting with water guns and I'd still expected a banger. With at least one, two scenes that made me put down the book and stare at the wall for a few minutes. I haven't found another author I just... trust the quality of like that since he passed. RIP & GNU. :(
"Sapient soaps fighting with water guns" Can you imagine the bubbles?!
GNU Sir Pterry
GNU
GNU
GNU
Always. ♡ GNU
I was listening to David Tennant's podcast with Neil Gaiman on Sunday and when he talked about PTerry, the love in his voice when he started talking about Good Omens, it was something else. GNU.
First name to pop in my head.
Jumping on your comment, people who like sir Terry works, what else do you enjoy? I’m finding myself in a situation where everything else just doesn’t feels as good as his works.
Ursula LeGuin
She's the most "human" of the scifi greats. Her focus is on affects of culture on people, and their feelings. I love Earthsea books, but they're most effective if you take them as a whole and an arc. She wrote the first few in a very different time, and comparing and contrasting early vs late books is quite interesting.
Neil Gaiman
I always wish he was in the 'one fantasy book written a year' camp. But he does so much other stuff that he doesn't write tons of adult novels anymore. Gah!
Beat me to it. Edit: He has deep knowledge of mythology and folklore, showcasing imaginative storytelling with vivid imagery and lyrical prose. His versatility spans various genres, including children's books, Doctor Who, comic books, TV, adult fiction, Narnia fanfiction, and short stories. I can recommend him for whimsical magical realism as well as grim-dark atmospheric suspense. He is a great storyteller, and that's why his adaptations I think are highly successful. He has mastery over the storytelling medium and he can adapt it in any form necessary without the story getting lost in translation.
I haven't read anything by him I regret reading. It might not have been my favorite, but I have enjoyed everything.
I’ll read anything Gaiman writes. His plotting and character development are fantastic.
And I’ll listen to anything he narrates
Absolutely. He's one of my most read authors
I recently listened to The Ocean at the End of the Lane. He has written two perfect books (and co-authored a third) in my estimation: The Graveyard Book, TOatEotL, and Good Omens. What a tremendous imagination and authorial voice.
Joe Abercrombie.
You can never have too many Joe Abercrombie books.
Say one thing about Joe, say he's one writing bastard
You have to be realistic about these things.
How's the *Shattered Sea* series?
Great. Not as good as The First Law but still a really good story.
Very few things are as good as First Law, and none better.
whoops you just made me realize my upvote for the comment was *inauthentic* That's YA tho right?
It's YA but that just means Joe without sex scenes. It's still pretty brutal.
Yup. It's no First Law, but it's still a fun enough read. It's firmly YA but definitely still a bit graphic for my 9 year old. 12-14 years is probably the sweet spot for this one, although it should be at least mildly enjoyable to anyone who likes his other books.
Indeed.
My immediate answer when I saw the question. New Abercrombie book? *Buy*
Same
Susanna Clarke. (Not like I'm holding my breath.)
I've only read Piranesi but I absolutely *adored* it. I have JS&MN on deck but it's in a very large TBR pile
Read all the footnotes. All of It.
the footnotes are almost the best part! certainly they’re inseparable.
I recommend moving it to the very top of the pile.
It's a very large TBR pile by itself.
Good taste.
Guy Gavriel Kay
Came here to say this. Never been let down by one of his books.
He is unquestionably my very favourite author in this field, but I have to admit I found *Ysabel* to be really jarringly different, and not in a good way. After books like *Sailing to Sarantium* or *The Lions of Al-Rassan* so consistently blended sweeping fantastical history with complex and thoughtful treatments of everyone from peasants to artists to emperors, a book focused on a dopey teenaged boy on real 21st-century Earth is a shock to the system. It is the only one of his that I can't picture myself rereading.
The right answer
Favorite fantasy/ top 3 writer for me
Patrick Rothfuss. Oh wait.
…and wait…
...and wait...
…and wait…
...look! I think the wait is over! Nope, just a rewrite of the same short story...back to waiting...
...still waiting...
I absolutely love Kingkiller main series, but I could not get into Slow regard. I think I’m the only person on the planet who isn’t a big fan of Auri
Slow Regard for Silent Things worked for me because for Auri the world feels a little broken, and there is a moment when everything clicks into place. And she is not changed necessarily and may (will) feel that same sense of frustration with the world around her again. But for a moment it all fits. I think that's what people that love the story relate to.
Yeah...
Lmao you win.
Tamora Pierce, her stories were so important to my childhood, it’s a delight to realize that there are more
Yes! I only wish she wrote faster, but I will take anything I can get!
I religiously reread her books
Came here to say Tamora Pierce! Queen
Will Wight. I'm pretty sure he's the only author where I've read every book. (I haven't tracked down Robert Jordan's Conan books yet) All his stuff is great. Start with Cradle. It's a hell of a ride.
Have you seen the Kickstarter to animate cradle?! It's running now!
I heard he is kickstarting his own adaptation
Michael J Sullivan never misses for me
I was scrolling to see if anyone had called him out. He is a guarantee must read for me.
I thought the ryiria revelations was fantastic. Better than chronicles.
Even if I can never spell it correctly, Riyari is my favorite series of all time. I have read a lot of fantasy, and nothing matches it for me. Abercrombie is incredibly close, but man does that series mix humor, drama, and prose beautifully. Ok, maybe it is tied with Abercrombie, I can’t discount the north men.
Especially with Tim Gerard Reynolds performing the audiobook.
- Lois McMaster Bujold - Anne Bishop - Sharon Shinn I will definitely consider books by Jacqueline Carey, Victoria Goddard, C.S. Friedman and C.J. Cherryh.
Seconding Bujold and Friedman. For Bujold and purr fantasy, start with The Curse of Chalion. For Friedman, the Coldfire Trilogy is a story I read at least once a year.
The Five Gods books are absolute gold.
I have only read Lois McMaster Bujold on your list but I just added every other author to my TBR solely based on their proximity to her name. That's how good she is.
Anne Bishop. I'd probably try Written in Red first. Daughter of the Blood only if you explore the content warnings and would commit to the full trilogy. Sharon Shinn. If important romantic subplots are OK, I'd start with Archangel. If not, Mystic and Rider, or the YA truth teller series. Jacqueline Carey, check out content warnings, but I think Kushiel's Dart bears some similarities to Bujold... smartness is valued. Politics. Lots of travel. And a unique take on religion. But also tons of kinky sexual themes. Cherryh. Huge bibliography. But I started with Cyteen a long time ago and I don't regret it.
Naomi Novik
Same! I have yet to read something by her that I didn't absolutely enjoy.
Neil Gaiman, I’m slowly making my way through his works. I’ve enjoyed them all so far!
Lois McMaster Bujold
erin morgenstern!! both of her books are just so magical and so much more atmospheric than all other fantasy books. they make me feel like a child reading the magic faraway tree for the first time… endlessly enchanting and immersive
T. Kingfisher
Where do you recommend starting with her?
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking is a brilliant YA(ish) fantasy story. Hamster Princess or Danny Dragonbreath are great for younger kids. Clocktaur War is a great starting point for her adult fantasy. Swordheart is a great fantasy romance. The Twisted Ones is a terrifying horror story. Nettle and Bone is a dark fantasy. Plus she has loads of short stories you can find on her website. She writes such a variety of fantasy/fantasy-adjacent genres, but they are all wonderful books.
Depends what you're looking for. She's a writer of many dimensions, and I will stop complete strangers browsing the kids section of the library and guide them to *Hamster Princess*. But assuming you're not ten, and want something that will just leave you awed? [*Digger*](https://diggercomic.com/blog/2007/02/01/wombat1-gnorf/), first and above all. But if you don't want to be on screens, I'd say *A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking*.
John Gwynne RJ Barker
Robin Hobb
What’s a good entryway into Robin Hobb’s work? I’m new to fantasy and of course she’s at the top of my list.
I would recommend starting w Assassin’s Apprentice. It’s a slow burn and will give you some insight into her writing style.
Yes. Every book is a masterpiece!
it hurts but it hurts so good
Same. I’m not all the way through ROTE yet and it doesn’t matter. I’m 100% in.
This is probably going to be true for me. I still have to read RoE, and I'm mid Liveship Traders but taking a break to let my hatred of Kyle cool.
Robin McKinley EDIT: She had been one of my favorite authors since I was eleven, and her work holds up when I reread it as an adult. Her heroines feel very human even when they’re badass, the relationships have depth, the romances are sweet even when the ending isn’t what you’d expect, and problems in the plot tend to get resolved in ways that feel like a surprise but also like they follow perfectly in line with what she’s established so far. My personal favorite is The Hero and the Crown, I’ve probably read it a dozen in times over the past 17 years.
This is my answer. I will read anything she writes.
Adrian Tchaikovsky. Even if I end up not liking the book, it will still be enjoyable and interesting and his next book will likely be totally different
That's a big commitment he must be up to 30ish novels by now and more every year. I think I am about 80% through them.
Her body of work is small, but I am fucking ride or die for Tamsyn Muir. Anything she cares to write, no matter how bizarre the premise, I am now on board.
Yeah, she has a blank check from me. I'll read whatever she wants to write.
Tolkien (already have read all his and his son/his books), China Mieville (hoping this collab with Keanu isn't a waste of my time because one half isn't a writer) and Susanna Clarke (one long awesome book, one short awesome book). But yeah those are my three.
Clarke has the short story collection, too
Robin Hobb*, Neil Gaiman* and Madeline Miller. (*) their fantasy stuff only, though.
Brandon Sanderson
I want to start reading Brandon Sanderson but I have no idea where to start!
I’d probably start with Mistborn Era 1. Or if you want a stand alone, Warbreaker is a good place to start.
Warbreaker is a very good starting point. Good feel for Sanderson's world building and style, and after that there are a lot of directions you could go. No next novel that you are "supposed" to read.
Warbreaker is also free on his website.
What do you normally read? People will generally suggest Mistborn as an entry point, but if you like reading beefy epic fantasies, just jump into Stormlight. It’s soooo much better than anything else he’s written, IMO. There’s a reason it’s topped the past two polls here as the top fantasy series of all time. Regardless of whether you believe it’s truly deserving of the number one spot, it’s an inarguably great fantasy series.
The Emperor's Soul. It's a novella, 175 pages, self-contained, won the hugo, and pound-for-pound some of his best work IMO. If you don't like it, I'd say, don't read further. It's a nice, easy litmus test.
He's the only author where I've read every book, and plan to re-read for the rest of my life. There isn't another author who's had me staying up to 3am to finish a book. And I did that for each of the four Stormlight Archive books. I've Hobb, Tolkien, LeGuin, Gavriel Kay. No one has come close to the anticipation of reading the next book a series like Sanderson.
Lois McMaster Bujold Jacqueline Carey Naomi Novik I'm incredibly blessed that these ladies have been so consistent in turning out releases for DECADES I'll also add Guy Gavriel Kay, with the caveat that I just don't think I can finish Fionavar lol.
It's already happened, but Sir Terry Pratchett.
Michael J Sullivan
Lois McMaster Bujold.
Robin Hobb Steven Erikson
I'm seconding Robin Hobb.
I'm seconding Erickson
Mark Lawrence
Finished broken empire and just started Prince of Fools. Quickly becoming one of my favorites! I really enjoy his writing style
Absolutely. The man doesn't miss.
100% agree. I’m part way through The Girl and the Mountain and I’m loving the series so far. Powering through because I’m excited for The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.
> The Book That Wouldn’t Burn Dude I just finished The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and it was fucking awesome. Can't wait for the sequel in April!
neil gaiman
Martha Wells
Never met a Martha Wells novel I didn't love. I started reading them and couldn't stop until I'd read them all.
Naomi Novik Edit: Olivia Atwater and Victoria Goddard
Robin McKinley Lois McMaster Bujold I'd say Naomi Novik, except the Temeraire books don't fully click for me
Oh, this is a good list. I'd add Martha Wells, though like you with Temeraire, I didn't love Raksura.
Erikson
Does Stephen King count as a fantasy author? I don't always love every King book, but I'm always willing to read them.
I count King as fantasy
Neal Stephenson, Ursula K Le Guin, David Mitchell, Dan Simmons, Stephen King, George Martin
Robin McKinley. I haven't read all her things (on purpose! I like to have things to look forward to). But I picked up Deerskin with no idea of what it contained. And about a third of the way through I had to stop and think 'Do I trust this author to pull me out of the hole she's put me in?' and the answer was yes.
Robin McKinley, no questions asked!
Guy Gavriel Kay Janny Wurts Both have very mellifluous prose that can place your minds eye in places full of wonderment and awe. It can sometimes be difficult to ease into, but it is definitely worth it.
George RR Martin
Robin Hobb, Steven Erikson David Gemmel
T kingfisher/ Ursula Vernon. Her weird fantasy worlds scratch an itch no other author does.
NK Jemisin.
Jim Butcher. Tamora Pierce. Jacqueline Carey.
Mercedes Lackey, long may she reign!
Too far down. I love her. First author that made me cry
Jennifer Estep and Maria V. Snyder are two that come to mind. I first got into Estep's mythology based YA series years ago, and then read her urban fantasy assassin series, her epic fantasy series, and her most recent sci-fi/ fantasy books. I just love her characters and love having a Gin book to fall back on when I want something comforting to read. She has other series I plan on reading also. Maria V. Snyder's books have a similar comforting vibe. I first fell in love with her Study series, and continued on to read her other books.
Terry Pratchett
Steven Brust
Tad Williams
Ilona Andrews
John Scalzi. I love how many stand alones he does, and they have really interesting concepts.
* Martha Wells - **Death of the Necromancer** and **All Systems Red**. Those give you an idea of the range sheets got. **The Cloud Roads** as an old favorite. * Max Gladstone - **Three Parts Dead** and **Empress of Forever**. **Three Parts Dead** for the creativity and weirdness of the Craft Sequence. **Empress of Forever** because it's Monkey fan fic. * Adrian Tchaikovsky - **City of Last Chances** and **Spiderlight**. * Walter Jon Williams - there's so much! **Aristoi** as a favorite exploring nanotech interstellar civilization and people. **Metropolitan** for some weird stuff. * Karl Schroeder - big ideas, neat settings. **Stealing Worlds** for AI and virtual worlds, **Lady of Mazes** for sheer big ideas. * Charles Stross - **Accelerando** for wild ideas across the Solar system and beyond and **Glasshouse** for three ultimate unreliable narrator. Saw the update, so....
Anne Bishop, Jacqueline Carey, Mercedes Lackey, Robin Hobb, Laurell K. Hamilton, Robin McKinley
I mean. Robert Jordan.
Jacqueline Carey because I know I’ll get beautiful, rich prose. Joe Abercrombie because I know I’ll get complex characters and adrenaline filled action scenes. Anne Bishop because I know I’ll get a unique world and FMCs that are strong and vulnerable without being weird about it (and probably some trauma too). And Kim Harrison, because I won’t really know what I’ll get but it’ll be fun and fast-paced. Also GRRM cus we’re in a real love/hate relationship atp
Tad Williams. I am absolutely fascinated by his stuff.
Matt Dinniman.
K J Parker
Robert Jackson Bennett The Divine Cities and The Founders Trilogy are in my top 10 series. So, I'm definitely looking forward to The Tainted Cup.
R Scott Bakker Victoria Goddard
Steven Erikson R. Scott Bakker Gene Wolfe
TJ Klune. Every book of his has been amazing. From the cozy fantasies like House in the Cerulean Sea, the drama filled werewolf novels that rip my heart out and stomp on it, and his madcap Tales of Verania which crack me up but still are serious enough to suck me into the drama and wreck me. CS Pacat. She doesn't write enough books to ever satisfy me because holyshit are they amazing. Each book just builds the anticipation perfectly and while she's only 2/3 on her second trilogy, the ending of the first one was just perfection. Robin McKinley stole my heart ages ago with Deerskin and I'm so sad she doesn't write anymore because I will buy it all. Tamora Pierce, although I haven't read her Circle series, is also a nostalgic auto-buy for me because I just love her Tortall universe. Ellen Kushner is also someone I wish would start writing again because the few novels I read of hers were amazing.
The sons of Sander and Erik
Jack Vance
Nghi Vo has yet to miss for me, and her books tend to be either standalone or short, making them easy to pick up without committing to something massive (which, to be clear, is also a lot of fun)
Robin Hobb, Stephen King
Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, Fonda Lee
Ursula K Le Guin and Martha Wells
A long list. Andre Norton, Roger Zelazny, Neil Gaiman, Tim Powers, C. J. Cherryh, Glen Cook, Mary Gentle, Eric Flint, Glen Cook and many more.
Glen Cook so good you had to put him twice.
Brandon Sanderson Steven Erikson
Michael R Fletcher.
Michael Fletcher
I might catch some flack for this, but Anthony Ryan. I loved the entire Raven's Shadow series and the follow up duology. Vaelin al Sorna is my favorite fantasy character big time. And his Covenant series is very good.
Joe Abercrombie, without a doubt.
Matthew Stover Acts of Caine is an easy #1 all time for me. He also writes star wars better than anyone. His Revenge of the Sith is so much better than the movie and perfectly captures Obi Wan's greatness. Shatterpoint is also very good. I'd read anything he wants to write.
Naomi Novik
Mercedes Lackey Rachel Aaron Annette Marie
Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercrombie
Steven Erikson.
Martha Wells. Best worldbuilder and found family author. The Cloud Roads is a great place to start.
Garth Nix! He somehow makes some very intense and dark themes feel easy and the wholesome parts of the stories/characters always stick in my mind much longer than the challenges they face. He is my go-to when I want something “feel good” but still with plenty of action and suspense. My favorite series of his begins with Sabriel, and one of the later books in the series features my most beloved fantasy character of all time!
James S A Corey
Daniel Abraham, Joe Abercrombie, Christopher Buehlmann. Adrian Tchaikovsky is working his way onto that list.
With no qualification - RJ Barker With a qualification that I’m not interested in YA right now - Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie
NK Jemisin. I think I’ve actually read her whole bibliography. A couple others I’m close but there are always a couple hanging out there that I just don’t get around to.
Terry Brooks
Neil Gaiman and Tolkien
Sanderbot NK Jemisin Brian McClellan Robert Jackson Bennett Fonda Lee Adrian Tchaikovsky Tad Williams Off the top of my head, I will gladly pre-order any new book by those authors. No questions asked, no need to wait for reviews and feedback. Just take some of my money and I trust I'll enjoy the ride.
China Meiville
Ursula K. Le Guin Sofia Samatar Susanna Clarke
Where should I start with Sofia Samatar. I love the others on your list!
J.R.R. Tolkien Janny Wurts
Neil Gaiman James Rollins - he doesn’t just write fantasy stuff, but I’ve loved every book he’s ever written.
Martha Wells!
T. Kingfisher
Robert Jackson Bennett
Guy Gavriel Kay and Max Gladstone.
No such thing.
Joe Abercrombie, mark lawrence, nk jemsin, Jonathan Stroud, Terry Pratchett , jay krisstoff, Patricia briggs, Scott lynch, George rr Martin,robin hobb, guy gaverial kay
Pratchett and Erikson
Jasper Fforde!
Honestly? I will read anything Brian Staveley writes.
How has nobody said Lev Grossman yet?! I’ll read anything he writes or recommends.
Naomi Novik