(This page last updated: 10 May, 2013)
| Douglas Adams | Author of the brilliant science-fiction parody series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and several strange-but-funny books about "holistic detective" Dirk Gently. |
| Lloyd Alexander | His Chronicles of Prydain were some of the first fantasy novels I ever read. If you're looking for a Celtic-flavored, non-preachy alternative to CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, try this gentleman--you'll like him. (Oh, and for those of you who've seen the animated Disney film of The Book of Three, trust me, the book is FAR superior to the movie.) |
| Don Callander | If it's high philosophy you're after, you won't find it here, but if all you're after is a bit of fun to fill a slow afternoon, his 'Mancer series and Dragon books fit the bill nicely. |
| Guy Gavriel Kay | This man is like an addiction. I have never had an author disturb me, infuriate me, and captivate me so much, all in the space of one book. Highly recommended. |
| Mercedes Lackey | Misty Lackey is my hero. Seriously. It's one of my goals in life to be able to write as well as she does, because everything about her books--the worlds, the characters, the plots, the romances--is almost invariably top-notch. There are a few things of hers that I haven't read because the themes seemed a bit too dark for pleasure-reading, but everything that I have read has been fabulous. If you're a fan of character-driven fantasy, go check her out--you won't regret it! |
| Anne McCaffrey | You knew this lady had to be on the list somewhere, right? I wanted to be a dragonrider when I was about 13--and I still want a fire-lizard for a pet! |
| Tamora Pierce | A friend turned me on to her Alanna books, and I've never looked back. They may be classed as "young adult" fiction, but they're still well worth reading. |
| Terry Pratchett | Absolutely one of the funniest authors I have ever read. His Discworld novels take potshots at every fantasy cliche in existence, not to mention all sorts of aspects of pop culture. I've gotten a bit behind on the most recent titles he's put out, but everything I've read, I've enjoyed to the hilt. |
| Melanie Rawn | I happened upon this lady's books quite by accident when I was in high school--I saw one on a book store shelf one day and picked it up to see if that really was a Michael Whelan painting on the cover. (It was.) I personally prefer the Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies to the Ruins of Ambrai one, but regardless, she's an excellent author. |
| J. K. Rowling | Three words: Harry Potter rocks! |
| Patricia Wrede | I love her Enchanted Forest Chronicles just to death. Geeky magicians, allergic dragons, independent-minded princesses who put up signs to try and dissuade legions of would-be rescuers, wizards who melt in soapy water and lemon juice--these books are just a hoot. We have all four in a Sci-Fi Book Club omnibus edition, and I go back and reread them every so often just for the fun of it. |
