Author loved by all?

[Bridie]

What about Neil Gaiman?
Does anyone truly dislike Gaiman?

 

[Andols]

What about Neil Gaiman?
Does anyone truly dislike Gaiman?

Yup. I've come across a few people who didn't care much for American Gods and I didn't really enjoy Anansi boys all that much.

 

[joacqin]

Non-epic stuff is of course up for grabs as well. I didnt mention it as though even if I read and enjoy a lot of them they never really grab me as an epic 10000 pages multivolume. I see them more as light and quick entertainment. As for McKillip I actually read her work but it was in my mid teens where I found Edding (even though I at the same time had read and enjoyed Donaldson) to be the pinnacle of the written word and I can't say it caught my fancy and I have never really given it much thought since. Is it really any good?

Of course there will be detractors to every writer but is there any writer whom no one really dislike? I can admit that my criticism of Bakker gets all the stronger as so many people claim that he is the best thing since sliced bread while I find him mediocre albeit still entertaining and worthwhile. Is there a series or author any of you find yourself criticise harder just because others laud it so much even though you yourself kinda like it just not as much as the supporters?

I think that is fairly common, you kinda like something but others like it a lot more and you in response to them start disliking it more than you actually do if you understand my convuluted and confusing argumentation?

 

[Pellinore]

As for McKillip I actually read her work but it was in my mid teens where I found Edding (even though I at the same time had read and enjoyed Donaldson) to be the pinnacle of the written word and I can't say it caught my fancy and I have never really given it much thought since. Is it really any good?

I find McKillip to be excellent, and to assuage your suspicions, I also find Eddings' Pawn of Prophecy rather Juvenile in retrospect. I would suggest trying any of her fantasy works (though to start I would avoid the Cygnet books). Try the Riddlemaster trilogy, or Alphabet of Thorn perhaps.

On the topic of dislike, I would agree that all books have their detractors, though the reason for detraction varies. Perhaps some of these reasons are more valid than the other. It seems apparent that some books merit more respect etc. than others-- the evidence being the 'Classic' genre of literature.

That being said, there is probably some author which could be argued to be loved and respected by all in the fantasy genre assuming a 'proper' framework of criticism (please don't ask me to define one...).

That being said, we should probably all turn around and point at Tolkien- the greatest influence on modern fantasy, and clearly the most popular fantasy author of our time.

 

[Hobbit]

Is there a series or author any of you find yourself criticise harder just because others laud it so much even though you yourself kinda like it just not as much as the supporters?

Don't think I criticise harder, but I've always found liking Neil Gaiman's stuff less enthusiastically than many others. I really like the man, think he's a genre legend, but was distinctly underwhelmed by American Gods when others raved.

I mentioned more about this when I reviewed Fragile Things HERE. But I really liked Neverwhere when many others didn't.

Mark / Hobbit

 

[MadPiper]

Seeing as every single person in the world comes from a different walk in the path of life, I severely doubt there is a single author out there that can appease all the people and make them agree that he or she is the best of all.

Although if the author killed everyone on the planet but himself or their fans, then I guess its possible.

 

[joacqin]

That being said, we should probably all turn around and point at Tolkien- the greatest influence on modern fantasy, and clearly the most popular fantasy author of our time.

And also incredibly dull and the characterization skills of a cardboard manufacturer. Tolkien's greatness is as a trailblazer and as a worldbuilder, not as a story teller. He will always hold a spot of greatest respect but when we get down to it there are an incredibly amount of other authors I have enjoyed more.

 

[Kazz Wylde]

This is cool. I guess in some ways I want to read Bakker not only because of how cool Prince of Nothing is supposed to be, etc. But also because of the contraversy he creates. You dig?

 

[Alchemist]

McKillip seems the most likely choice, although no author can appeal to absolutely everyone (I was going to add Le Guin, but I've come across a few gripes).

 

[Werthead]

I for one think Hobb is a good writer, but she needs better editing. The first book of every series I've read of hers is great, but in the second and third volumes the page-count shoots up astronomically and the plot consists of the characters going around in circles until the time comes for the denoucement.

GRRM is probably the most respected author around, but he gets flak for thel length of time he takes to write his books. His harshest critics seem to be Goodkind or Jordan fans though, which is something I have never quite understood (people in glass houses, after all).

I haven't seen much dislike for Jack Vance. The dislike I've seen for Pratchett stems mostly from people who started the series with The Colour of Magic and hated it, even though it's a very different book written in a totally different style to the rest. Unlike Adams or Rankin, who are very British in their humour and it doesn't necessarily travel well, Pratchett is a lot more universal in his appeal (his recent, and long overdue, boom in sales in the USA is finally a sign of this). Even so, he has done very good books and very bad books in his time.

 

[Wulfa_Jones]

I think the "fore-fathers" of fansty such as the likes Jack Vance, Fritz Leiber and Robert E. Howard have a great deal of respect shown towards them, however I'm not that much of a fan of Jack Vance myself.

GRRM and Fiest don't seem to get much flak and mostly seem to appeal to all. Other authors divide readers - the likes of Eddings, Erikson and Pratchett - you either love them or hate them.

I've not heard much said against David Gemmell either.

I think the closest you'll get is an agreement that an author is "OK". I don't think anyone will ever agree of an author being amazing or really bad - just indifferent.

 

[Raule]

The more authors write, the more varied their output is likely to be. Even authors I love don't always hit a home run for me.

As for finding that single author whose works are universally loved (if only by a vast majority) I think it would be kind of creepy if we found him or her. I like the diversity of taste and opinion. It makes me feel human.

 

[joacqin]

Feist is one of those authors you can read for some light entertainment. He is, how should I put it, what people who don't read fantasy expect fantasy to be. Fun enough for the time but nothing awe inspiring but as you say, he is "ok". I do think I enjoyed the "Empire" series which he wrote with Janny Wurtz a whole lot more than the stuff he wrote on his own but it is all many years in the past.

 

[Rob B]

Howard has his fair share of critics.

Aside from Hobbit, and the other occaisional nutters, Gaiman is pretty widely praised. OTOH, he may get a pass in some instances because he is such a legend and standard-bearer for the genre and people like us.

I loved Hobb's writing myself up until the 2nd book of The Soldier's Son trilogy - Forest Mage. After reading that book, The Soldier's Son trilogy might be the first trilogy/series I started off really liking that I will end up actively not finishing. Again, I've seen a fair share of criticism aimed at her writing.

 

[Sfinx]

Although still recovering from the fact there's people out there who do not enjoy Leiber (especially after discovering recently Wodehouse is not universally acclaimed as the funniest writer that ever lived I'll give it one more go (being among the apparent minority that fails to grasp what's so great about Martin or Feist - and indeed thinks LeGuin can be great but also complete rubbish (Hainish cyle..) - just like Pratchett (some of his writing is absolutely hilarious, other stuff (Bromeliad comes to mind) well...less so. Ahum.)

Ah yes, the nominee. Don't panic: he's none other than...Douglas Adams! Well, funny SF, not strictly fantasy, but still. He's my best bet as to being universally loved - and I refuse to acknowlegde Werthead's claim his British humor wouldn't travel well. I mean, even the Germans loved him! 'Per Anhalter durch die Galaxis' and ofcourse 'Das Leben, das Universum und der ganze Rest' have irrefutably made them a happier people.

Well, standing by for another shock to my system...

 

[joacqin]

Hear hear! I second Adams! I have encountered people who haven't been very fond of his work but they have exclusively been people who do not grasp anything that isnt based on a true story or possibly about some gruesome murder that could have happened. Among people who really appreciate fantasy and SF I do not think I have encountered anyone who dislike Adams, sure I will now though.

 

[Randy M.]

Although still recovering from the fact there's people out there who do not enjoy Leiber (especially after discovering recently Wodehouse is not universally acclaimed as the funniest writer that ever lived

I'M SORRY. I didn't realize my short-coming would short-circuiting other readers. (How many tiiiiiiimmmmmmessssssss must I apologize????)

If it helps any, I do harbor a small, feeble spark of humor which I have fed now and again by reading James Thurber's My Life and Hard Times.

I'll give it one more go (being among the apparent minority that fails to grasp what's so great about Martin or Feist - and indeed thinks LeGuin can be great but also complete rubbish (Hainish cyle..) - just like Pratchett (some of his writing is absolutely hilarious, other stuff (Bromeliad comes to mind) well...less so. Ahum.)

Ah yes, the nominee. Don't panic: he's none other than...Douglas Adams! Well, funny SF, not strictly fantasy, but still. He's my best bet as to being universally loved - and I refuse to acknowlegde Werthead's claim his British humor wouldn't travel well. I mean, even the Germans loved him! 'Per Anhalter durch die Galaxis' and ofcourse 'Das Leben, das Universum und der ganze Rest' have irrefutably made them a happier people.

Well, standing by for another shock to my system...

Uh ... the first Hitchhiker made me chuckle.

Once or twice.

I do like Leiber, though.

Well, his sf and horror. I haven't gotten to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser yet. (Does it help any that what I heard of the Goon Show as a teen I thought was hilarious, and I like a lot of what I've seen of Monty Python?)


Randy M.

 

[Sfinx]

Said chuckle (let alone two) will more than suffice to jot you down as an Adams supporter

And your reference to Python clearly marks you as a connaisseur of all-things-that-are-funny - hence all quibbles on the level of funniness of aforementioned Wodehouse have now become moot and no further apologies are required. Furthermore, to take thread-jacking and digression to the next level, and since the original question has now been answered to the satisfaction of all, I'll throw in a new topic: "what's your favourite Python quote?". Entering:

"King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well I didn't vote for you.
King Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
[Angelic music plays... ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!"

Share!

 

[mjolnir]

I'll agree with pretty much everyone else: Everybody's got their own tastes. No single author can be universally adored, or even universally proclaimed okay. Its just not possible, [and, yes, would be kind of weird and no fun.] Martin's got critics. Jordan's got critics, [who're often a mite more enthusiastic than I think he deserves.] Kay comes in for a fair bit of criticism 'round these parts for his first trilogy, The Fyonavar Tapestry, and I'm sure there're some fantasy readers out there who don't like his more recent stand-alones, sad and lacking purpose and direction though those few may be. Mckillip's got critics. Gaiman's got critics. Adams's got critics, people who don't understand how awesomely brilliant the Guide and Marvin the paranoid androyd and the Dish of the Day are. Nothing works for everyone, which is part of what makes us individuals I suppose.

Favourite Python quote:
Off the top of my head, I'd actually go with the same as Sfinx's. However, I shall contribute the scene from The Meaning of Life, [not my favourite of theirs overall], in which the doctor instructs the nurse to "fetch the machine that goes PING!" Oh, and the song near the beginning of the same film. There's a lot of great Python.
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