[neologik]

Alright. I've had my fill of reading about Jordan and Eddings and Brooks et al. So I guess I'll start my own topic!

Tell me, at the slippery edges of genre, in that blurred gray space, who is your favorite writer? Call it slipstream, call it whatever you wish... but name me some favorites!

Based on consistency alone, I would have to cite Graham Joyce as my favorite blurred-area writer. Throughout his impossible-to-pigeonhole oeuvre, Graham has maintained high standards. Each of his novels is distinct, unique, and utterly brilliant. Here we find the dark territory that isn't quite horror, isn't quite fantasy... Like Tanith Lee, Graham manages to make the magical mundane and the mundane magical.

If you haven't read Graham Joyce, you NEED to. His is a unique voice. And unlike Jonathan Carroll (another master-blender) he's never boring.

[Cadfael]

I may have it wrong here, but are you asking for a writer in a genre that is not strictly Fantasy or SF... but is close?

If that is the case, Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael books... but that is not what you mean... is it?

Okay, I have it... I have just read a book called Reflections by Neil Cladingboel. I really enjoyed this book, he reminds me of Clive Barker, both in his writing style and content. He is a fledgling talent and I am half way through his second book, and his style in this book is tighter and more concise. I can't really classify him, the book is neither SF or Fantasy, but it IS a bloody good read.

[Erebus]

Hey, good praise for Reflections!

Did you receive your copy of the book two paperback already? (Just curious)

Thanks, Dennizm!

[neologik]

<<I may have it wrong here, but are you asking for a writer in a genre that is not strictly Fantasy or SF... but is close?>>

Sort of. Basically, things that aren't easily identifiable as Epic Fantasy, or Hard SF, or Splatterpunk... the stuff that sort of slips around in all kinds of genres without apologies.

>>Okay, I have it... I have just read a book called Reflections by Neil Cladingboel. I really enjoyed this book, he reminds me of Clive Barker, both in his writing style and content. He is a fledgling talent and I am half way through his second book, and his style in this book is tighter and more concise. I can't really classify him, the book is neither SF or Fantasy, but it IS a bloody good read.<<

Excellent, excellent choice!

[Cadfael]

Already? What do you mean already!!! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif.

I ordered it from Amazon (US) 3 weeks ago!! Of course I got it... all bloody ready http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif.

Seemed like a bloody age to me!!! It arrived 2 days ago. 2 weeks is about the norm for Amazon in the US... 2 days for the UK site.

[Erebus]

Oh gee...

I think they only just got it listed about three weeks ago. I thought you were going to get it direct from the publisher! Anyway, I hope you like the book, and the cover art work! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Erebus]

Now, to actually contribute to the actual topic...

I was wondering whether some of Dennis Wheatly's book perhaps fell into this edge-bordering category? I haven't read many of his, and some of those I did were perhaps more horror in style than anything else, but since you asked, neologik, I thought I'd bring it up.

I know he wrote in many styles, so much so that I remember my Uncle always used to say he didn't believe they were all his books! Gee, what a skeptic, hey? http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by erebus (edited July 22, 2001).]

[e-Morgana]

Would you class Dean Koontz in this classification of yours? He's sometimes horror, sometimes SF/fantasy-ish. If so, then he's my all time favourite author.

[neologik]

<<Would you class Dean Koontz in this classification of yours?>>

'Fraid not. I'd classify Dean Koontz as a marginal writer of commercial suspense. Sort of the way I wouldn't classify Michael Crichton as an sf writer. They're both far outside the bounds of genre fiction.

And, not to put too fine a point on it, I consider both to be "hacks". Which, I must point out, is my own *personal* opinion. You, of course, have the duty to form your own opinion! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif What is one man's junk is another man's treasure!

[Ntschotschi]

Do you refer to authors that have "phantastic" elements but do not use genre formulas?
For me the best of that kind would be Franz Kafka followed by E.T.A. Hoffmann.
But they are kind of "classic" authors.
Bulgakoffs "Master and Margerita" comes to mind too.
But I don't know many "new" authors of that kind, so it's good to get some recommendations.