Favorite Author/Novel

[Dexxaan]

By far my favorite: Michael Moorcock - Elric of Melnibone (6 book - Series)

Then Rob Salvatore - Crystal Shard-Streams of Silver and Halflings Gem

[Catlyn]

No one favorite author. I have read most of the one listed so far in this thread.

A couple did stand out as not being listed yet

Whyte - The Skystone Series - Alternate story of the beginnings of King Aurther. Good read, big books, lots of characters. Many portions make you almost go "Hmm, that could have happened"

Rosenberg - Guardians of the Flame - Come on, we are all geeks here, who didn't dream of this happening to them at one point in time or another.

Elliot - Price of dogs or whatever it is called - started out okay, but dragged too much imho.

I am trying to remember, but I literally have hundreds of books at home and stuck at work trying to finish out the day. Those popped into mind.

[ChaelaAnne]

Heinlein - any book, any time.
Jordan - Wheel of Time (PS all his notes and such were assembled before his death, and Harriet's working with a handpicked author to put it all together for A Memory of Light. Keep your fingers crossed.)
Pratchett - the Discworld series. Fun reading every time.

But my current fave author is:
Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files and Codex Alera, both series. I liked them so much I badgered my way into becoming a beta reader for the guy. Urban fantasy (used to dislike the genre until I met Harry Dresden; now I re-read TDF for my dose of wit and snark) and high fantasy, respectively. I HIGHLY recommend both series.

Arg, the guy at my local movie store got me hooked on the TV show for Dresden Files, so now I have to read the books eventually. One of these days.

[Daegyl]

I'd suggest every fan of Sci-Fi OR Fantasy ready Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover. Assuming you can find it. It's out of print and apparently very rare. Well, well worth the read, however.

You are so right, Tanka. You ever pick up the sequel, Blade of Tyshalle? It actually goes into the origins of Cain. He also has another set of books, Iron Dawn and Jericho Moon which are awesome as well. I discovered Stover completely at random. I picked Heroes Die up on a whim. I just felt like trying out someone other than the typical fantasy giants, and was rewarded with one of the most kicka** reads I can think of. I can only describe Stover as The Neal Stephensen of Fantasy. And if you don't know who Neal Stephensen is (I can't imagine how), then add him to your list of must-read authors. Snow Crash is THE cyber-punk novel of all time. The friggin' antagonist has a thermonuclear bomb strapped to his Harley set to detonate if he dies. Ya.. go ahead and beat that for bada**.

If you're sick of the happy-go-lucky, high adventure garbage try those two guys out. Other authors I thoroughly enjoy are: George R.R. Martin creates the best intricate cloak and dagger story out there with his Fire and Ice series. David Gemmell creates (created.. he died unfortunately) the most memorable anti-hero characters around (Druss, Waylander, Jaim, Rage, Bane... hell, there's too many of them).

I'm not arguing against the talent of any other authors that people have mentioned. I've read many of them as well (Salvatore, Tolkien, Brooks, Jordan, Howard). Not bringing up a competition here.. just saying, if you haven't read Stover, Gemmell, Martin, or Stephensen then you're really missing out on some seriously kickin', adult, sci/fi-fantasy stories.

[EDIT] Oh ya.. I just noticed Catlyn mention Whyte's Skystone series. If you want a reason to believe that King Arthur and Excalibur truly existed, then read this series. Not T.H. White's The Once and Future King... as memorable as it might be, it doesn't hold a candle to JACK Whyte's recounting of the origin of King Arthur. Weird coincedence that their names are similar, I know. But their style is completely different. Whyte's story takes you back to the Roman rule of Britain, and follows the ancestors of Arthur in a very believable tale as to how his kingdom came to be, how Excalibur was forged, and even the mystical power of Merlin. Very very very... VERY good series that is often ignored because Arthurian stories are typically so bleh.. [/EDIT]

[Tanka]

You are so right, Tanka. You ever pick up the sequel, Blade of Tyshalle? It actually goes into the origins of Cain. He also has another set of books, Iron Dawn and Jericho Moon which are awesome as well. I discovered Stover completely at random. I picked Heroes Die up on a whim. I just felt like trying out someone other than the typical fantasy giants, and was rewarded with one of the most kicka** reads I can think of.

Yeah, I actually managed to find Blade as a trade paperback on half.com for $6. Most other places were listing at a minimum of $25 for a paperback.

Iron Dawn came into where I work (Half Price Books), but the coworker who introduced me to Stover nabbed it up before I managed to get my hands on it.

[yoyorobbo]

Hey I noticed the Lisa Smedman "Lady Penitent" series there on your shelf....man I loved the first book "Sacrifice of the Widow", and have the 2nd "Storm of the Dead" on the nightstand...along with about 3 or 4 others...ugh! How'd you like those two?

Also finishing up "The Cleric Quintet" (Salvatore)...on the last book, and in the middle of "Thud!" (Pratchett), and for some strange reason started up one of the new Doctor Who BBC novels "Forever Autumn"...err something....hehe....man I need to finish one and be done with it, eh? Oh and I'm dying to start this new Richard Lee Byers series - the first book is "Unclean"....lovethe creepy necromancer stuff...hehe.

At any rate, I dig any and all of the following:

- Salvatore - any and all (Homeland was my fave though)
- Weiss/Hickman - Dragonlance series (Dragons of and Twins series the best, IMO...the filler tales are good too....Dwarven Depths and Skies?)
- Gygax - Gord series....ahhh the memories
- Pratchett - recently got re-aquainted with these gems by a DDO bud (yoyoyoyo!)..."Going Postal" flat out rocks!
- Howard - great reads, Conan, Kane, Kull, etc..Solomon Kane's my fave here - great compilation out now.

Tons more, but those come to mind now.

[Azure83]

I change favorites depending on my mood and whether they maintain the quality of their writing. I used to really enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton and her witty, independent character Anita Blake. Then, Anita got involved with all these different men(not that men are a bad thing).It became sort of a soft core porn read over time, and all the original charm was lost.
Right now, my favorite author is Simon R. Green. Especially those which feature the "Nightside."

[brshelton]

Being reading alot of Bernard Cromwell lately. I really like his writing.

William Dietrich's - Scourge of God, Hadrian's Wall were both excellent.

I would have to say Stephen Lawhead is still one of my favorites.

Love Stephen Pressfield as well Gates of Fire, Killing Rommel , Afghan Campaign, Tides of War, Last of the Amazons etc

thatd be Cornwell and his books are great. I'm more into his Middle Ages ones like an Archer's Tale, Heretic, etc.

[brshelton]

By far my favorite: Michael Moorcock - Elric of Melnibone (6 book - Series)

Then Rob Salvatore - Crystal Shard-Streams of Silver and Halflings Gem

how cliche RA Salvatore :P

[kaelis]

I read alot... i mean alot. :P
favourite series/authors:
1. Terry Goodkinds Sword of truth (recently concluded in an 11 book series)-- a little brutal towards the end but still amazing
2. Steven Erikson's Malazan tale book's of the fallen, on book 6 or 7 now, first few very good, rest not so attention grabbing, very cynical and not for those who don't love a good horror in their fanasty.
3. Robert Jordan Wheel of time, wonderful for the first 5, afterwards it slides a bit but still many other books do not even compare.
4.George R R Martin, and A Song of Ice and Fire, loved them all each better than the last, only problem is, he is not into the new trend of spitting out a book a year or every few months, each one is a master piece and he takes time to be sure it is so.
5. R.A Salvatore still a classic ^^
My ultimate book listing of all time, to date.

[The10man]

R.A. Salvator - Can I say Drizzt - Man you got to at least read Streams of Silver - This was the first one to be released of the now 13 or so books in this series, some are better than others and he has some other series that are just as good

Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman - The Dragon Lance Series is awesome

George R.R. Martin - Ya Game of Thrones Rocks

Ed Greenwood - If you are a Forgotten Realms Fan you will love his imagination

Michael Moorcock - Elric of Melnibone' - One of the Greatest High Fantasy Series of All Time

J.R.R. Tolkien - Enough Said but I am sure you have read this

The new drizzt book is awesome just read the hardback in like two days. Also check out weis's solo works waiting for her and tracy's new book, her solo book, and drizzt book releasing may, june, and july this year none too soon for me. The only one on this list I haven't read is the elric series but I will now.

[Farrier]

Being older than dirt, I can and will say that I have read most of the books listed here and if not every book, certainly many by every author listed.

I read over the thread rather quickly because I came online to play and didn't want to get sidetracked too far... I was surprised that Tad Williams was not even mentioned.

His original Green Angel Tower Trilogy to the present ShadowMarch Trilogy (3rd book in progress) with the Otherland (Goggle-boy) series in between. His works are every bit as good as any others mentioned here (with the possible exception of Tolkien out of respect). Definitely worth the reading.

And if you ever really want to read Victorian-style fantasy I would recommend William Blake (yes, he also invented the reclining chair) The Well at World's End and other books and William Hope Hodgson's The Nightland. Both of these authors predate Tolkien and, though they use flowery English prose in style, are interesting reads that have contributed heavily to the fantasy genre.

Sometime when I am not so focused on getting to the game, maybe I'll come on an list all of the books I have read in SF and Fantasy. Let me just say that my "library" would dwarf the one pictured above... meaning - you are not alone


Farrier

[~Jules921]

Its impossible. Well ok let me try

1. Mercedes Lackey - Everything by her is fabulous - especially the Velgarth series those I can read and re-read and have done so.
2. Elizabeth Moon - Very nice Sci Fi writer with a definate military bent and it shows in her style. Her Vatta series is great
3. Suzanne Brockmann - Yes I have included a romance writer - her guys are sooo hot.
4. Anne McCaffrey - Pern series is my favorite from her.
5. CJ Cherryh - not everything by her - but some very memorable books

Honorable mentions: Tom Clancey (books actually written by him like the Jack Ryan books - not his serial trash)
John Grishom - just when he get formula like he changes it up and his writing gets fresh again.
Terry Brooks - didn't care for the word series or the tinderbox either, but Shanara I love
Anne Rice - vampire series
Robert Harris - only read 2 of his but as far as historical fiction some of the best imho
Colleen McCullough her series on Cesear was also very good - again historical fiction
Jude Deveraux - another romance writer - also very good
C.E. Murphy - fairly new but enjoying her lead character in the Walker series

Jules

[Illuminati]

I can remember the first book I read. It was in the 80's and was the Dragon Lance series. I can't believe its been 25 years!

Anyway, I have read most of the stuff listed here but if you wan't a good change the 'New Jedi Order' series (started by R.A. Salvatore, with Troy Denning and others later) for Star Wars is a good series.