Fantasy writers that write other genres (Sci-Fi)

[Ras Gonzo]

I am curious if there are any Fantasy writers who also dabble in other genres, specifically Sci-Fi?

The only one that comes to mind is Steven R. Donaldson who wrote the very good "The Real Story: The Gap into Conflict".

As I am re-reading ASOIAF again, I was thinking what this series would be like in a different setting, would it still work? Could GRRM write a Sci-Fi series as epic as ASOIAF?

Would you read a Robin Hobb Sci-Fi book, or be turned off by the idea?

Would a Steven Erikson Sci-Fi book be as confusing (or as layered) as his Malazan books?

[KatG]

There are lots. What sort of stuff do you like?

[Dwagginz]

Stephen King!

Ahem, on a more serious note... Drew Karpyshyn has written at least one fantasy novel (although it was a Forgotten Realms one) along with his excellent Mass Effect books and the odd Star Wars novel. I can't think of many others though.

[Rob B]

Glen Cook (beat you to it Kat!) writes all across the swath of the Speculative Fiction landscape - Gritty Military Fantasy - The Black Company, Fantasy/Mystery hybrid - Garrett P.I., Space Opera - Starfishers, Epic Fantasy - The Dread Empire.

Tad Williams writes Epic Stories, both in fantasy (the majority of what he's written like Shadowmarch and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn) along with Science Fiction - Otherland.

Elizabeth Moon writes Militaristic Epic Fantasy - The Deed of Paksenarrion and Oath of Fealty and Space Operatic Military SF - Vatta's War and Herris Serrano.

Dan Abnett bounces between the far-future setting of Warhammer 40K and the fantasy setting Warhammer.

George R.R. Martin Epic Fantasy - A Song of Ice and Fire; Science Fiction - Dying of the Light; Gothic Horror - Fevre Dream and Superhero Fiction - Wild Cards.

C.S. Friedman The Coldfilre Trilogy though set in a far future really is a Dark Fantasy saga, straight out Fantasy - The Magister Trilogy and straight out sf like This Alien Shore and In Conquest Born.

Orson Scott Card Alvin Maker is his fantasy saga while Ender and Homecoming are his large SF sagas.

David Weber - Honor Harrington is is Military Fantasy/Space Opera, War God is a fantasy saga and his currently running Safehold is a nice blending of the two - far future with a fantasy feel that is somewhat reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica.

I think that's a fair start, but just that - a start.

[Ras Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Dwagginz

Stephen King!

Ahem, on a more serious note... Drew Karpyshyn has written at least one fantasy novel (although it was a Forgotten Realms one) along with his excellent Mass Effect books and the odd Star Wars novel. I can't think of many others though.

I grew up with Stephen King books, so I have a soft spot for his books. The Dark Tower series is in my top 5

[Ras Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Rob B

Glen Cook (beat you to it Kat!) writes all across the swath of the Speculative Fiction landscape - Gritty Military Fantasy - The Black Company, Fantasy/Mystery hybrid - Garrett P.I., Space Opera - Starfishers, Epic Fantasy - The Dread Empire.

Tad Williams writes Epic Stories, both in fantasy (the majority of what he's written like Shadowmarch and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn) along with Science Fiction - Otherland.

Elizabeth Moon writes Militaristic Epic Fantasy - The Deed of Paksenarrion and Oath of Fealty and Space Operatic Military SF - Vatta's War and Herris Serrano.

Dan Abnett bounces between the far-future setting of Warhammer 40K and the fantasy setting Warhammer.

George R.R. Martin Epic Fantasy - A Song of Ice and Fire; Science Fiction - Dying of the Light; Gothic Horror - Fevre Dream and Superhero Fiction - Wild Cards.

C.S. Friedman The Coldfilre Trilogy though set in a far future really is a Dark Fantasy saga, straight out Fantasy - The Magister Trilogy and straight out sf like This Alien Shore and In Conquest Born.

Orson Scott Card Alvin Maker is his fantasy saga while Ender and Homecoming are his large SF sagas.

David Weber - Honor Harrington is is Military Fantasy/Space Opera, War God is a fantasy saga and his currently running Safehold is a nice blending of the two - far future with a fantasy feel that is somewhat reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica.

I think that's a fair start, but just that - a start.

Woah! Thanks for the list Rob, now I can add more books on my to read pile

[Ras Gonzo]

Originally Posted by KatG

There are lots. What sort of stuff do you like?

I can read almost anything (except mushy romance novels). As long as the story is good, then it's all good for me.

[owlcroft]

Originally Posted by Ras Gonzo

I am curious if there are any Fantasy writers who also dabble in other genres, specifically Sci-Fi?

Why ask about "other" if all you're concerned with is sf? Jack Vance not only wrote crime fiction, he won at least one Edgar for it (equivalent of a Hugo).

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

Adams, Douglas
Attanasio, A. A.
Auster, Paul
Banks, Iain
Barrett, neal, Jr.
Bisson, Terry
Blaylock, James
Bradbury, Ray
Brunner, John
Card, Orson Scott
Carroll, Jonathan
Cherryh, C. J.
Cook, Glen
Crowley, John
Davidson, Avram
Duncan, Dave
Dunsany, Lord
Gentle, Mary
Grant, Richard
Green, Simon R.
Harrison, M. John
Le Guin, Ursula K.
Lee, Tanith
Leiber, Fritz
Lewis, C. S.
Mieville, China
Mills, Magnus
Moorcock, Michael
Pratchett, Terry
Ruff, Matt
Shinn, Sharon
Stableford, Brian
Tepper, Sheri S.
Vance, Jack
Williams, Tad
Wolfe, Gene
Zelazny, Roger


Those are, of course, just the more obvious and better known.

[algernoninc]

Lois McMaster Bujold has written Hugo and Nebula award SF stories [space opera in the Miles Vorkossigan universe] and top quality straight fantasy in Chalion books or Sharing Knife books.

Larry Niven is mostly known for SF but he has fantasy books like the Burning City / Burning Tower duology.

[TheEvilKing]

As I am re-reading ASOIAF again, I was thinking what this series would be like in a different setting, would it still work? Could GRRM write a Sci-Fi series as epic as ASOIAF?

GRRM was indeed an acclaimed sci-fi writer before ASOIAF came along. I've only read his short stories in the anthology Dreamsongs, but he does have several sci-fi novels.

[Zeratul]

The examples are endless. Most fantasy writers have tried science fiction at some point.

Patricia McKillip wries mostly fantasy (IIRC she hasn't written a book in another genre in the last 20 years), but has also written Fool's Run, which is a really good and original science fiction novel.

Ursula Le Guin is a classic example. She has written Earthsea series and many top quality science fiction works (Left Hand of darkness, The Dispossessed, etc).

[tdnewton]

Originally Posted by Rob B

C.S. Friedman The Coldfilre Trilogy though set in a far future really is a Dark Fantasy saga, straight out Fantasy

I have to disagree with this a little, Rob. Or rather, provide a point of clarification. Being that there is a spaceship in part of the story (prologue, book 2) and that SF provides the basis for the [fantastic] setting, I'd say it's 98% Fantasy rather than "straight out." Man, I love those books, though.

[algernoninc]

L E Modesitt Jr is a prolific author with series going either the SF or the Fantasy way. My favorite is the Recluce saga, although I read only 4 or 5 books.

Owlcroft already mentioned C J Cherryh, but I felt she deserves one more mention. There's a lot to choose from. I read Chronicles of Morgaine whych is a mix of both gernres, and I will try to make time for Fortress books and for the Rusalka series that is one of the few exploring the slavonic myths.

[KatG]

(beat you to it Kat!)

Au contraire, you fell right into my clever plan to get you and owlcroft to start listing people so that I did not have to do anything at all. Ha ha! But this is just the tip of the iceberg, so maybe I'll try to throw in some names later.

[hawkwind]

If you like SF and Fantasy mixed together try The Sunset Warrior Cycle and The Pearl trilogy by Eric Van Lustbader. He does a pretty good job melding the two together. Both pretty good reads. The Sunset Warrior I enjoyed a bit more than the Pearl trilogy.