[iviland]

I'm not very familiar with the different authors in this genre. Who are regarded as the best authors, say top five?

Thanks

[sywen]

Hello iviland,
I am relatively new to reading Science Fiction/Fantasy myself! I have enjoyed George R.R. Martins' Song of Ice and Fire series, James Clemens' the Banned and the Bannished, and am currently reading Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth. You might check out some of the other posts here in the discussion forum for more on the standards of the genre. I have really enjoyed the ones I have mentioned. Of course, I am still looking for more to read!

[sywen]

Hello iviland,
I am relatively new to reading Science Fiction/Fantasy myself! I have enjoyed George R.R. Martins' Song of Ice and Fire series, James Clemens' the Banned and the Bannished, and am currently reading Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth. You might check out some of the other posts here in the discussion forum for more on the standards of the genre. I have really enjoyed the ones I have mentioned. Of course, I am still looking for more to read!

[sywen]

Oops! Sorry about the duplicate. Darn computers!

[Eventine]

Ahh.. that all depends on who you ask. For example, if you check the back posts on this forum you will see a whole string of Robert Jordan vs Terry Goodkind posts. I have read and enjoyed Goodkind, but understand his shortcomings. Terry Brooks is another author I enjoy, but is often critiqued for the formulaic nature of his books. I enjoy it nonetheless. Stephen Donaldson is a great author, and doesn't have too many detractors (is this because not many have read him???). My favourite author, and one who doesn't seem to have many people complaining, is Janny Wurts. Definitely check out her Curse of the Mistwraith series - she puts a lot of great detail into her books, and has built an amazing world.
I suppose if you mention Wurts you must also mention Fiest, who I also enjoyed. So in my opinion, the top 5 in no particular order are:
Wurts
Donaldson
Brooks
LeGuin (Earthsea rules!)
Fiest.

Having never read Jordan or Martin however, I'm pretty sure I'm cutting myself off from some of the more "popular" fantasy out there.

[Giarc]

Well, I'm one of the Goodkind fans, and Jordan critics, but both are major authors in the genre and both worth reading IMO.
My top 5 list....

JRR Tolkien
Guy Gavriel Kay
George Martin
Terry Goodkind
Robert Jordan

But I think there are so many worthy authors that a top 5 list is too restricting. Apologies to Tad Williams, Terry Brooks, Eddings, McCaffrey(?), Wurts, Lawhead etc etc ad nauseum http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Barbarossa]

Most were named already, here are my reccomendations:

1) Tolkien, Lord of the rings,
out of competiton.

2) George R.R. Martin

3)Robin Hobb

4) Guy Gavriel Kay

Personally i don't like Brooks, Jordan's wheel of time starts good, but slows down a lot and seems to be endless.

a few remarks to my reccomendation: Everyone should have read Tolkien. if you don't like him, well your loss, but you should at least try.

George R.R. Martin's "song of ice and fire" is the best fantasy series in recent years in my opinion, but it's far from finished.

Guy Gavriel Kay has the advantage that most of his books are stand alones.

Robinn Hobb is great too, her Farsser trilogy is finished, her lifeship traders more or less too (3rd bood out in the UK, due to be out in the US)

[Rob B]

The four authors above are probably about the best right now, but a couple of others;
Stephen R. Donaldson
Steven Brust

Elizabeth Haydon

[Cellandros]

All of the authors listes so far are excellent (to varying degrees) and I'd recommend any of them.

To put my 2 cents in:

Stephen Donaldson - The master.
Robin Hobb - Best 'newer' talent to come along in a decade at least.

[Lani]

Listed five IMO really nice to read
Tolkien -it is classic!
U.Le Guin - something really deep, if you like to think it is for you.
Roger Zelazny - why everybody forgot about him? I think he is the best!
Jordan & Goodkind are pretty much the same typical fantasy, but worth reading especially for beginners
David Eddings - IMO is really good as well.
Others given above are good, just not my top five.

[This message has been edited by Lani (edited August 05, 2000).]