Science Fiction fans, Who is your favorite author?

[Weird Harold]

I must confess that I don't have a single favorite science fiction author.

I have almost everything Anne McCaffrey wrote; the entire Honor Harrington series by David Weber; all of Elizabeth Moon's familias regant series, lots of military science fiction by David Drake, David Sherman/Dan Cragg, Rick Shelley, Poul Anderson, Robert Asprin, Robert A Heinlein and others; All but one of the Pip and Flinx/Humanx stories by Alan Dean Foster; everything in paperback by Julie E. Czerneda; and most of the Larry Niven/Jerry Pournell collaborations.

Those are the science Fiction authors that I'm currently watching for new releases from although I'm also very prone to trying out new authors as well.

 

[LadyDarkFire]

I adore McCaffrey, and I like Drake, I also like the Fantasy writers (mainly Tanya Huff, MZB, and Lackey, but others as well).

 

[Merelan]

If I had to choose... damn. I would pick...
No... but then there is...

and then...

damn. Ummmm
well....


Anne McCaffery, for entertainment. Would move to Pern in a heartbeat.

Early Piers Anthony, not wild aboiut his later works, done for commercial profit. He forgot his own words when he said write for yourself and to hell if it doesn't sell. even read his autobiography. What an asshole.

Robert Heinlein... maybe my favorite... for many reasons.
Of course the classics, Bradbury, Assimov Yes I spelled it that way on purpose! Niven, Pohl.
Plenty of others but.
I have to admit. I am not wild about David and Leigh Eddings. great plots and twists, but... the woman are all alike. Rude, bossy and putting the "dumb" men in their place. My hubby loves him. Hmm... thinking. Does that mean I should be ruder and put him in place more? Okay I know Eddings in fantasy, he crept in there. Had to vent.

 

[Nighthunter]

McCafery for sci-fi, but lately I have been more into Fantasy, Orson Scot Card's Maker Alvin series and Stephen Donaldson's "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" But I did like Hubbard's Mission Earth series, even though it was 10 books long

 

[Doulton]

I suppose it was only a matter of time until one of us made this thread after the end of the Beam me up Scotty one

I haven't read an awful lot by any one author, and I really don't have a favourite. But there is a really good book I read less than a year ago that I want to mention. It's called "Forever War" and it's by Joe Haldeman. I'm not sure how famous he or the book are, but it won some awards. It is based on a great idea that allows it to show heaps of changing and growing technology, whilst being quite plausible at the same time. I just wish I'd thought of it first so I could write a story based on the same idea
It's a very good example of a work of fiction that contains alot of real science in it. And it has more sex in it by far than in any other book I have read. It took me quite by surprise. No really, I'm not just saying this to get you to read it.

 

[Weird Harold]

I adore McCaffrey, and I like Drake, I also like the Fantasy writers (mainly Tanya Huff, MZB, and Lackey, but others as well).

I've never bothered to sort the database listing the 1400+ paperbacks on the shelves behind me by Genre, but they're pretty evenly split between fantasy and Science Fiction.

If you like Tanya Huff, MZB, and Mercedes Lackey, you'll probably like David Eddings and L. E. Modessit too.

I think the Belgariad/Mallorean series by David (and Leigh) Eddings is quite possible the best fantasy series ever written -- it is consistently goo through all twelve books in the _Riven Codex_ universe. (thirteen if you count _The Riven Codex_ which is not really part of the series.)

The _Magic of Recluse_ series by L. E. Modessit is one of the freshest approaches to magic in Fantasy I've seen in years. They aren't as consistently good as Eddings' work, but they're all good reads. The SpellSong cycle is actually a better series but music based magic has been done by others. The Chaos/Order based magic of the Recluse series is much more innovative.


However, that's all Fantasy, and I'm straying from the topic of my own thread -- This one is about Science Fiction, which despite the publishing industry and bookstores laziness is NOT synonymous with Fantasy.

 

[LadyDarkFire]

I've never bothered to sort the database listing the 1400+ paperbacks on the shelves behind me by Genre, but they're pretty evenly split between fantasy and Science Fiction.

If you like Tanya Huff, MZB, and Mercedes Lackey, you'll probably like David Eddings and L. E. Modessit too.

I think the Belgariad/Mallorean series by David (and Leigh) Eddings is quite possible the best fantasy series ever written -- it is consistently goo through all twelve books in the _Riven Codex_ universe. (thirteen if you count _The Riven Codex_ which is not really part of the series.)

The _Magic of Recluse_ series by L. E. Modessit is one of the freshest approaches to magic in Fantasy I've seen in years. They aren't as consistently good as Eddings' work, but they're all good reads. The SpellSong cycle is actually a better series but music based magic has been done by others. The Chaos/Order based magic of the Recluse series is much more innovative.


However, that's all Fantasy, and I'm straying from the topic of my own thread -- This one is about Science Fiction, which despite the publishing industry and bookstores laziness is NOT synonymous with Fantasy.

A. Thank you for the recommendations, I always love finding new things to read.
B. You have heard of Huff? most people haven't and I have been trying to get Fuzzy (Nighthunter who has posted on this thread) to read her.

 

[Nighthunter]

Your right, I have some of the Recluse series, and they are great, I think the system of magic in them is most intriguing.Thanks for reminding me of them, I think I shall have to read them again.

 

[Weird Harold]

But there is a really good book I read less than a year ago that I want to mention. It's called "Forever War" and it's by Joe Haldeman. I'm not sure how famous he or the book are, but it won some awards.
...
It's a very good example of a work of fiction that contains alot of real science in it. And it has more sex in it by far than in any other book I have read. It took me quite by surprise. No really, I'm not just saying this to get you to read it.

The only thing I've read by Joe Haldeman is _Mindbridge_ -- he's not terribly prolific. I'll have to check out _Forever War_ because it sounds like the sort of thing I like.

Sex in Science Fiction has come a long way since Robert A. Heinlein wrote _Glory Road_ in the 50's. I thought that was a wonderfully "dirty" book when I was a kid, but it is so very tame when compared to his later works like _Number of the Beast_ and _To Sail Beyond The Sunset_. _Glory Road_ was actually banned in some places becaue he had the audacity to set a scene on a nude beach and describe a naked woman.

In some ways, I'm glad that there are women in Science Fiction now that aren't just there to be saved from the BEMs by the hero. In other ways, I miss the "innocence" of older Science Fiction that didn't feel a need to boost readership by inserting gratuitous sex scenes. Luckilly, there seems to be less of that gratuitious sex than there was in the 80's and "real characters" with "real lives" are becoming the norm for sex in Science Fiction.

 

[Nighthunter]

hmmm mayhaps it is time to run to the bookstores again, some intresting authors to read mentioned

 

[LadyDarkFire]

hmmm mayhaps it is time to run to the bookstores again, some intresting authors to read mentioned

NOW he listens. Sheesh

 

[Weird Harold]

B. You have heard of Huff? most people haven't and I have been trying to get Fuzzy (Nighthunter who has posted on this thread) to read her.

I not only have heard of her, but I have a first printing paperback edition of _Child Of the Grove_ and _The Last Wizard_ (Copyright 1988)

The series that starts with _Sing the Four Quarters_ is an interesting twist on musical magic that is well worth reading -- I'm watching for more in that series to come out in paperback.

 

[miles]

Al Gore - Earth in the Balance

 

[Nighthunter]

NOW he listens. Sheesh

HAHAHA was thinking of checking many of them out, especialy the ones I havent read before.

 

[LadyDarkFire]

I not only have heard of her, but I have a first printing paperback edition of _Child Of the Grove_ and _The Last Wizard_ (Copyright 1988)

The series that starts with _Sing the Four Quarters_ is an interesting twist on musical magic that is well worth reading -- I'm watching for more in that series to come out in paperback.

My absolute favorite is her Keeper series. "Summon The Keeper" is the first one and "The Second Summoning" is her second book in it. She also wrote a great vampire series, the Blood books, about Victory Nelson, the private investigator who gets herself tangled up with a bastard son of Henry the 8th, who happens to be a vampire

 

[Merelan]

Hahahahahaha

Al Gore - Earth in the Balance....

Hahahahaha


Okay, okay. Whew. I feel better now.

Don't go to the bookstore, go to the local library!!! Free!!! Well, not really. You pay for it in your taxes but damn. It is amazing how many poeple I know that have never been there.

 

[Weird Harold]

Don't go to the bookstore, go to the local library!!! Free!!!

I do use the library a good deal, but I go to the bookstore because I like to re-read the first parts of a series when a new volume comes out. Here in Clark county, that means going to as many as eight different branches to collect all the pieces of a nine book series.

I find most of the new authors I read via the new book shelves at the library -- if their really good, I buy the paperback as soon as it comes out and wait for the next volume to hit the Library.

The local library is especially good because I can place a hold as soon as they order a book, and be the first to read it when it's delivered -- and they send me an e-mail notice so I don't even have to check the mail.

 

[Merelan]

Again I thank my Creator for living where I am. Our system brings the books to whatever library brach you want, in one day. I too buy books, but only after I know they are "friends". You know, rereadables. Or unless they are really cheap.

 

[Weird Harold]

Again I thank my Creator for living where I am. Our system brings the books to whatever library brach you want, in one day.

An inter-branch transfer takes two or three days here, and I'm often not patient enough to wait even one day -- especially if the newest volume is a seven day loan.

At least I can connect to the library catalogue system from home and know where I need to go for the books I want.

 

[YoungGun69]

Piers Anthony is my favourite.

 

[Closet Desire]

How...

...do you choose?

Anthony--yeah. Pournelle--sometimes. Asimov--always but no new releases there.

Used to like Bova until my wife pointed out that the women in his stories are bimbos, but I have fond memories.

I can't remember half the stuff I read. When I was in the navy I was in RX dept aboard a carrier and there must have been at least 200 of us in the main berthing space. Before deployment everybody bought a dozen books, dumped them into one of the dirty laundry bins, and then just pulled books from the bottom. When you finished one you put it back in at the top. Cool system. I think it was 99.9% sci-fi and fantasy. Says something about us I suppose.

 

[KillerMuffin]

There are tons of good sci-fi out there. I liked Robert Asprin's "Phule's Company" it was hysterically funny. And yes, it WAS science fiction. Link: http://www.legendsmagazine.net/104/phule.htm

The Stainless Steel Rat and Honor Harrington are a couple of others that I've read and enjoyed, somewhat. But my total favorite science fiction author is CJ Cherryh. That woman can write a science fiction tale that leaves me sitting on the edge of my seat. She tackled the whole cloning thing and created a universe where clones exist that parallels how I think humanity would treat clones, when we get them. But my favorite of hers is the Chanur series. The Pride of Chanur, Chanur's Venture, Revenge of the Kif, and Chanur's Homecoming. There is only one human character throughout the series, until the very end when the human faction shows up. She created highly believable aliens, a highly believe section of space, and highly believable situations with a style of writing that kicks ass. Anyway here's a good link to a review: http://www.wjduquette.com/authors/cjcherryh.html

 

[Dillinger]

I don't think I can post one favorite. My introduction to science fiction was as a pre-teen - and my favorite authors at that time were Asimov and Heinlein. Asimov's The Foundation Series remains one of the best ever written. And Heinlein - I could go on and on about Heinlein, I've read every book he's written - several more than once.

As a rebelious teenager and into my 20's - Harlon Ellison topped my list. And again - I believe I've read every book he's written.

Arthur C. Clarke. Piers Anthony. Frank Herbert. Ray Bradbury.

Phillip Jose Farmer - Riverworld!!! Read it... NOW! *lol* What a remarkable premise - everyone who ever lived - all the way back to the first caveman right up to the near future - everyone, including Farmer himself resurrected on the shores of a river that is the length of many worlds... resurrected for some mysterious reason. Think of all the possibilities - the people who could meet - Jesus/Hitler... Ghengis Khan/Mother Theresa... on and on. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) plays a fairly large role in the books - as do many others (yes, including Jesus).

Philip K. Dick - mindblowing!

THEODORE STURGEON! What an incredible writer/humanist in any field!

The one writer that has had the most influence on my life - Robert Anton Wilson - though not usually regarded as a Science Fiction writer - more a philosopher - his trilogy "Shrodinger's Cat" is most definately science fiction and "The Illuminatus Trilogy" is speculative fiction bordering on science fiction.

Are we counting Fantasy as well? Marion Zimmer Bradley, especially Mists of Avalon. Andre Norton. Ursula LeGuin (Earthsea Trilogy and The Lathe of Heaven!!!).

 

[sexy-girl]

i like frank herbert (dune series wish he finished them) david brin (earth and sundiver are cool) issac asimov (foundation series) douglas adams (hitch hikers guide) ... hmm cant think of more ... lisa doesnt like sci fi ... trying to convince her to read one of those i mentioned

 

[Laurel]

Keith Laumer, especially Earthblood. Phillip Jose Farmer. Ray Bradbury. Clifford D. Simak. Other assorted old stuff.