[Note: For context, my mom works in a library in North Georgia. ]
Chris,
Can you send me the names of some good Science Fictions Authors, other than the popular ones such as Robert Jordan? Susie’s looking for authors to add to the collections at the library.
Thanks,
Mom
Actually there was a series of books they published when we first moved to London that was brilliant:
My roomate and I would buy three or four of these when we’d run out of material while we were living there and then share them. Any of the authors of those books would be worthy, the ones I remember being particularly good were Sam Delany, Greg Bear, Brian Aldiss, JG Ballard, Theodore Sturgeon, and James Blish. In the fantasy section Hope Mirrlees and George RR. Martin. Fantasy books I liked not included in that series anything by Neil Gaiman. Ellen Datlow and Terri Wyndling have a series of collections they’ve edited together that have major SF&F writers re-telling fairy tales which is very well done (I have Black Heart, Ivory Bones). I’d point out Terry Prachett if I didn’t think he fell into the obvious ones (like Robert Jordan). If you can swing Graphic Novels into the mix as well Alan Moore would fit into this category and is completely brilliant (Watchmen, League of Extrodinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta …).
Also they’re about to release a new move based off Richard Mathesons: I am Legend. and Rodger Zelany’s Lord of Light is in my pile of books to give to Mark actually since I think he’d love it.
I could probably be a librarian for a SF&F library section in and of itself :)
Who did I miss?
UPDATE: Susie replied directly to me:
I have to say I'm happy to have a large list of authors I haven't even heard of (and a few I have) in the comments below. A few that my former roomate in london brought up that I haven't seen mentioned below China Mieville, C.S. Friedman, William Gibson, and Kim Stanley Robertson.Thank you so much for the great list of authors for me to wade through. I know nothing about Sci-Fi/Fantasy other than the well-knowns like Jordan, Tolkien etc. Any time you read a great book that you recommend please feel free to let us know. We’ve officially given you the position (sadly, unpaying) of Sci-Fi/Fantasy Advisor for UCPL.
Re:Battlefield Earth
Kake on 2007-07-13T20:19:04
Yeah, I read it at about the same age and loved it. Tried it again maybe five years later, and, well, *cringe*.Re:Battlefield Earth
runrig on 2007-07-13T22:50:21
Johnny Goodboy Tyler. Pretty much says it all. I couldn't even get over the name when I read it as a kid. But yeah, I did like the story.Re:Battlefield Earth
runrig on 2007-07-13T22:51:41
And of course they dropped the "Goodboy" for the movie:-) Re:Battlefield Earth
Alias on 2007-07-14T15:40:03
You actually saw the movie? heh:)
Re:Some ideas
autarch on 2007-07-13T20:44:11
To name some more excellent authors who happen to be female and/or not-white...
* Jacqueline Carey
* Steph Swainston
* Elizabeth Hand
* Nina Kiriki Hoffman
* Sarah Monette
* Walter Mosley (he wrote a couple SF things in addition to the Easy Rawlins mystery novels, which are also excellent)
* Connie Willis
The number of non-white SFF authors seems to be really, really small, and Mosley was the only one I could think besides Butler & Delany, who were already mentioned. I believe Stephen Barnes is a black man, but I've never read his stuff, and Nalo Hopkinson is also black (I have one of her books but haven't read it yet). Linda Nagata is probably Japanese, with a name like that, or at least married to a Japanese man;) Her novels are pretty good.
Author's authors
autarch on 2007-07-13T20:46:31
The first author I have to mention is Gene Wolfe. The reasons why I have to mention him should be obvious to anyone who's familiar with his work.
I'd also recommend John Crowley, especially Little, Big.
These two are authors who both tend to show up on other author's lists of favorites, and are often cited as examples of "literary" merit in the SFF genres.
Re:Some ideas
perigrin on 2007-07-14T16:42:29
The Roomate also suggested Connie Willis, she'd heard good things about her via her flist on Live Journal. I'll certainly have to add her to the list of people I want to read.Re:Some ideas
Kake on 2007-07-14T19:25:15
I quite like Connie Willis too. I was umming and ahhing about suggesting her, since I do feel her books are a bit samey, but this may be an unfair conclusion — I need to reread a bit.
It's youth sci-fi, but Douglas Hill wrote a great series called The Last Legionary which I really enjoyed around age 12 or so. I saw recently he was unfortunately in an accident, hit by a bus, and killed. At that time I learned he was a very prolific author and had several other sci-fi series. I'm not sure if they were all targeted at youth or not, but I'll bet they're good.
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller with the Liaden books (korval.com)
Debra Doyle and Steve MacDonaold with the Magewar series
The first two Magician books by Raymond Fiest
The Morgaine books by C.J. Cherryh.
I would also consider one of the monthly magazines. Either print (Asimov's or Fantasy & Science Fiction) or online (Jim Baen's universe).
