Authors who never miss for you

[Andols]

For me Dan Simmons without a doubt.

I like everything he ever wrote.

[Wrath]

So far for me: Vinge & Scalzi but then I have teh habit of not readind too many books by the same authers. Not by intent but by chance.

[AuntiePam]

I've read and enjoyed at least five books by these authors --

George R. R. Martin
Pat Barker (WWI and British working class novels)
Owen Parry (Civil War mystery series)
Don Robertson (Civil War and present day novels)
Larry Watson (sorta southern gothic)
Ron Hansen (two great westerns and some gen fic)
Charles Dickinson (one kick-ass time travel story and some gen fic)
David L. Martin (with the exception of Facing Rushmore)
Stephen King
Joe Lansdale (especially the Hap and Leonard books)
Margaret Laurence (the Manawaka novels)
Steven Erikson
Dan Simmons (but I couldn't finish A Winter Haunting)
Larry McMurtry (although I thought the Berrybender series was a bit too silly)
Peter Straub (except for Mr. X -- still haven't gotten through that one)

[Monty Mike]

My experience of Philip K. Dick and Haruki Murakami has been pretty stainless so far.

[Severn]

Anna Quindlen

Camilla Gibb

Barbara Kingsolver

Jim Crace

Ben Okri



Fantasy Stuff:

Sarah Zettel

Robin Hobb

Patricia McKillip

Tanith Lee


that's all I can think of right now...

[Evil Agent]

J.R.R. Tolkien
George R. R. Martin
Robin Hobb
Steven Erikson

[randar23rhenn]

Orson Scott Card... I've never read a book by him that I didn't enjoy immensely.

Same for Ben Bova and Iain M. Banks

[cullen crusader]

for me :

Alex Kava ( i love the Maggie O'Dell character)
Stephenie Meyer
Kelley Armstrong
John Marsden
Isobelle Carmody
Alison Croggon
James Patterson (maximum ride books)
Michael Pryor


all the books that i have read from these athours are excellent

[Clarkesworld]

Tim Powers and James Blaylock are always good for me.

[Fallen-Petals]

I love reading books by:

Stephanie Meyer
Alison Croggon
Jk Rowling
Kenvin Crossley-Holland
Celia Rees

[xvart]

John Sandford. I love his Prey novels, and there has only been one that I would prefer never to read again.

xvart.

[Esmenet]

Joseph Conrad
Ernest Hemingway
Slyvia Plath
T.S. Eliot
R. Scott Bakker
Robin Hobb

There are others but I can't think right now.

[Bob Gray]

Stephen King
Dan Simmons
Peter Straub
Robert Jordan
Brian Keene
Ray Bradbury
H.P. Lovecraft

[CarlAlves]

Not many for me, but I would go with Graham Masterton and Robert McCammon.
Carl Alves

[kennychaffin]

In regard to the O.P. I think every author has bad stories or books so I don't believe anyone is a "Never Miss" some are close. Best I can say is that certain authors I will buy there books with very little to recommend them other than reputation.

Ted Chiang
Ray Bradbury
Nancy Kress
Ursula K. Leguin
T.C. Boyle
John Irving
Margaret Atwood
Bill Bryson
E. L. Doctorow
Mary Roach
Carl Zimmer
Cormac McCarthy

and many who are not longer producing new books as they are no longer with us.

And then there are those I've tried multiple times and will not buy unless they get extraordinary recommendations.

And there are many in the middle of this shifting spectrum of literature.