[Loaba]

Nick Bantock (Griffon & Sabine)

Clive Cussler (Dirk always saves Al,the world, and gets the girl)

Larry McMurtry

Harold Coyle

James Gurney (Dinotopia)

These are but a few....

Loaba

[astrianna]

Although the majority of my reading is either fantasy, science fiction, or science fantasy, the relationship is not exclusive.
Anything to do with food, I will read. MFK Fisher was a goddess, and cookbooks are my favorite form of light reading. I also read a lot of historical fiction (Pauline Gedge and Sandra Gulland are two favorites) and regular old non-prefixed fiction. Nick Bantock is wonderful, as well as Barbara Hodgson and Jack Dann.
I read non-fiction less often, but a few of my favorite authors are Diane Ackerman and Daniel Boorstin, and the aforementioned Fisher.
I rarely read mysteries, thrillers, or crime fiction and I never read horror (bad, bad nightmares as a child. never recovered. tragic.) but I'll try almost anything once.
Actually, fantasy/sci fi lover that I am, I have to admit that one of the books that has most intrigued me, and kept me thinking most after finishing it, was Ackerman's Natural History of Love. It was as engaging as almost any fantasy I've read, which is saying a lot. (Or maybe I'm just too sappy for words)

[This message has been edited by astrianna (edited January 30, 2002).]

[Carmichael]

I used to read Clancy's stuff, but I thought he started getting rather long winded, sorta like Ellis Peters.
I prefer the books he does with Steve P. (can't remember the guys last name.) They are a better read.
Clive Cussler is my favorite non-fantasy author. I'd give FitzFlaggs soul to have access to his car collection.
(I would use my soul for the trade, but I gave that up for chocolate-chip cookies when I was 5. . . What can I say, I'm easy. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif)
I also like anything Mike Stackpole and Alan Dean Foster do. When I need something weird, I turn to von Danikien and anything I can dig up on:
UFO's
the Bermuda Triangle
Loch Ness
the Abominable Snowman
the Yeti
Piri Reis' maps
Atlantis
ancient myths and so on and so on. . .
Anything I can find on pre-Christian history and Scottish histories.

Carmichael

[estranghero]

Carmichael,

Does FF know you've been playing around with his soul again? http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

Me, I normally read diverse non-fantasy fiction. Stuff on my to-read list are Stephen King's 'Hearts in Atlantis', 'Dreamwalkers', Thomas Harris' 'Hannibal', James Ellroy's 'LA Confidential' , Shirley Jackson's collected writings, etc. Basically, my dad's stuff plus what I pick up that looks interesting.

For non-fiction works, I get the documentaries like those connected to movies ('Band of Brothers', my dad's 'Blackhawk Down'), an autobiography of Katharine Graham from my mum, Stephen King's 'On Writing', etc. This is also dependent on what books I find on my parents shelves.

I confess I like looting bookshelves that aren't mine. That's why I loved those pix before of bookshelves full o' books. *drool*
http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by estranghero (edited January 30, 2002).]

[Cygnus]

I comletely agree with you Estranghero.. looting the bookshelves of my family and friends (with permission, of course) has led me to some great discoveries. Of course, I've bought enough books over the years, that I tend to make great discoveries within my own collection.

[Jedi]

I read a lot of history, some politics and also military strategy.

[chocky]

I like to read biographies and history. Currently, I'm reading a biography of Mao Zedong. Next I have a dual bio of Mao & Deng.
Then, I have a bio of Che Geuvara.
This is my communist faze. I usually go through fazes that last any where from two to a dozen books on the same theme or subject. I recently finished half a dozen books about the American civil war. Before that it was Greece and before that WWII.
I have several books on Japan that I have bought and have not got around to reading yet.

[Mag]

Fantasy pulls from so much in the way of background. (ie. Mythology, History, Ancient History, etc.) I'm a real Library buff and never know what I'll end up with. Everything from Nordic myths to unusual alphabets to fairy tales and world religions!
I read a lot of SF and often whatever my kids bring home. Poetry
and books on Aqurium fish!

[Heathen]

Rotate thru these authors ever now and again

James Patterson (Alex Cross series)
his books fly, hey, with 3pgs a chapter

John Sanford (PREY series)
I enjoy Lucas Davenport character

S.King & D.Koontz (but not recently -
liked the stuff from late 80's and 90's
better than in the past few years)

Michael Crichton