[JohnH]

Are there any authors out there that you would love to see take a stab at 'fantasy'?

One that comes to mind is Peter Straub. I know that he baiscally did with The Talisman, but I would love to see something of his own within the genre.

I would have loved to see what Dorothy Dunnett could have done as well.

Sharon Kay Penman, I think would do a great job in the genre.

Collen McCullough, after her Rome series, would be incredible.

Of course there are those who write within the genre that I would love to see mix it up a little. Clive Barker doing an 'epic' fantasy series would be incredible.

And David wingrove's next effort should go the root of 'magic' over technology this time. Perhaps he can manage to write another marvelous eight book series without ruining it all in the eighth book.

[Arc]

Penman would indeed write brilliant fantasy, but I'd rather she brought out more English history instead!

Barker's stuff would be interesting, though he seems happier taking the real world and twisting it violenty, more than inventing new ones. Everville has put me off Barker for the time being though... I found it a bit plodding compared to The Great and Secret Show, despite the truly whacky new territory it delved into. Still, I must say any fantasy outing from Barker would doubtless be original, and that couldn't ever be a bad thing.

[JohnH]

Galilee may be worth picking up. I thought Everville was a bit of a letdown as well.

Did you know that Penman is bringing out the long-awaited sequel to _When Christ and All His Saints Slept_? Is due out in february and will be entitled _Time and Chance_. And I for one am looking forward to this book immensely.

[Mithfânion]

Knew that about Penman's Time and Chance. Hardcover first ha?


What makes you think she's make a good Fantasy author?

One I'd like to see do a traditional Fantasy is Neil Gaiman. Not like Stardust, but epic!

[ookey]

Maybe another question for discussion could be, who does do fantasy that has the skills to do another "genre" well?

Goodkind might be a decent romance writer.

I think Robin Hobb would do well writing general fiction, with her spectacular characterization.

Any other suggestions?

[saintjon]

I bet James Clavell could write a kick-ass epic fantasy, if he wasn't dead.

[Alucard]

I love Harlan Coben and Robert B. Parker's books. They have a very dry wit with their writing which I would love to see translated into a fantasy story. Not nearly enough humor in the genre, IMO.

[Arc]

Didn't know about the new book, yay.

Penman would do excellent fantasy imo because her characters are so good, and because she is also excellent at dialogue, plot, battle scenes, romance. Really all the elements that make a good fantasy - in fact Eddings is one author who has pointed out that much of the fantasy genre is really sourced from medieval romantic epics (though he's probably biased bc he chose to do a soppy Medieval theme in Belgariad, lol).

[Warewolf]

My first response would be Stephen King. His Gunslinger series isn't standard fantasy. However, I have yet to read Eyes of the Dragon, so he may have already done this.

My second suggestion would be Tom Clancy. He's great with a large cast and multiple countries. He also writes great battles and his research is outstanding. I think he could do a good job and it would be truly epic.

[estranghero]

Ah-hah! I knew this thread was here somewhere...

I thought of this thread because someone posted Jack Vance's Lyonesse stories. And that kinda reminded me that (to my mind) Vance was primarily sci-fi, right? So was Samuel Delany (though he did do 'Neveryone' also). Don't let all of you correct me all at once. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

So I guess most of the sci-fi writers could do fantasy. For example, Peter Hamilton (of Middle Kingdom series), Iain Banks (Culture, not counting 'Feersum Enjin' since-- though I haven't read it-- it sounds like a mixture of fantasy/ sci-fi), David Brin (Uplift War), etc.

Who else? Ah, I love it when urban fantasy writers (and other fantasy-genre writers) write epic and high fantasy. For example, I loved it when Charles de Lint did a high fantasy book that was on par with Patricia McKillip's works. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif