tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post1656714031296291301..comments2024-02-14T01:50:56.112-06:00Comments on The OF Blog: SFX Magazine has a readers' pick for "top 100" authorsLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-23735746217297693262008-06-22T20:39:00.000-05:002008-06-22T20:39:00.000-05:00That's totally valid.That's totally valid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-49847825282517831502008-06-21T16:25:00.000-05:002008-06-21T16:25:00.000-05:00I've read a few of his shorter stories and they di...I've read a few of his shorter stories and they didn't appeal to me. Plus I have a whole collection of them that his publisher sent to me a few months ago, so it's not just a pure ideological thing, but rather that it just serves to reinforce my reluctance to read further.<BR/><BR/>As for Link, I don't even know if she has a UK publisher, to be honest.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-10350896526103099052008-06-21T15:10:00.000-05:002008-06-21T15:10:00.000-05:00Kelly Link didn't even make the list? I'd say Ors...Kelly Link didn't even make the list? <BR/><BR/>I'd say Orson Scott Card is worth a read. I'm queer, and my politics are pretty much diametrically opposed to his (at least as far as I know) but he was one of my favorite writers when I was a kid. If you don't want to buy his books, do you have access to a library that carries them? I'd especially recommend <I>Hart's Hope</I>, a dark fantasy novel, and <I>A Planet Called Treason</I>. (I should say that those recommendations are based on liking them as a child/teenager--I haven't read either since then.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-44026557685585868502008-06-20T12:20:00.000-05:002008-06-20T12:20:00.000-05:00It's odd, but I've never managed to read more than...It's odd, but I've never managed to read more than a little bit of Pratchett without abandoning it. It's not that it's poorly-written, but more a case that I've never quite been in the "mood" for his style of writing.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-64970266133622960092008-06-20T12:00:00.000-05:002008-06-20T12:00:00.000-05:00Actually, Pratchett finally broke through the Amer...Actually, Pratchett finally broke through the American barrier in 2001 when the Amazing Maurice won the Carnegie Prize. Since then most of his books have hit the New York Times bestseller lists. Better late than never.<BR/><BR/>As for Pratchett's high standing: he is the biggest-selling living fantasy author in the world after Rowling (and King, but his place in genre is furiously debatable). Unlike Rowling, he also attracts near-universal critical acclaim. His books are fantasies but there is generally some serious or philosophical undertone to his books. Sometimes this backfires in a South Park, "I learned something today..." manner, but most of the time he makes his point without sacrificing his entertainment value.<BR/><BR/>A couple of mainstream critics dubbed him our era's answer to Dickens, and the label seems to have stuck.<BR/><BR/>And whilst I wouldn't say Pratchett is a better writer than Bradbury in a technical sense, he's a better storyteller, and is far superior to Lewis in both areas. Tolkien? They are very, very different, but I'd still rank Tolkien ahead for his overall impact on the genre (and because Tolkien inspired Pratchett to start writing).Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-84603018137622592612008-06-20T06:52:00.000-05:002008-06-20T06:52:00.000-05:00Simon Clark is a british horror writer. He wrote a...Simon Clark is a british horror writer. He wrote a sequel to Wyndham's Day of the Triffids called Night of the Triffids. I think a lot of the placings in this list can be ascribed to its british origin - humourists like Rankin and Pratchett just aren't 'got' in such a wholesale fashion elsewhere as they are in the uk. The commenters here who say they boycott ANY humourous fiction may, under psychological examination, have the answer for this. 'Oh my god, he's being humourous! Arrgh I'm smiling instead of wearing the usual constipated expression when I'm chin-stroking my way through another 'serious' book. Damn this filth!'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-18266894488791417712008-06-19T22:59:00.000-05:002008-06-19T22:59:00.000-05:00This list is kinda cool for finding some new names...This list is kinda cool for finding some new names, I guess, but the order makes about zero sense. Why is Terry Pratchett a better writer than Lewis, than Tolkien, than freaking BRADBURY...I don't get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-52076167625333158662008-06-19T22:45:00.000-05:002008-06-19T22:45:00.000-05:00Ha! :P More like I might need a $20 check, to hel...Ha! :P More like I might need a $20 check, to help pay for bills for the next two weeks!Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-17540615332768813662008-06-19T22:22:00.000-05:002008-06-19T22:22:00.000-05:0097. Charles StrossHis style and my literary prefer...<I>97. Charles Stross<BR/>His style and my literary preferences are like oil and water</I><BR/>Preferences are inarguable, your opinion is like your left nostril...yours and no one gets to tell you what to do with it. Can you find it in your readerly heart to attempt <B>Accelerando</B> or <B>The Family Trade</B>? These are my two personal faves, and I pimp themall the time (to my daughter's embarrassment).<BR/><BR/><I>90. Christopher Priest<BR/>Enjoyed reading The Prestige about 4 years ago. Need to read more of his work.</I><BR/>Strong encouragement to go forth and procure the Old Earth Books edition of <B>The Separation</B>, a literarily interesting interwoven tale of twin brothers (?) in similar-but-different timelines and their highly different (?) experiences of WWII, featuring interesting thoughts on Winston Churchill and war.<BR/>Only not boring, like I made it sound.<BR/><BR/><I>83. Theodore Sturgeon<BR/>One of the "Golden Age" old farts I've yet to read.</I><BR/>Short fiction, stick to the short fiction, he warned with the rattling gasps of a veteran of <B>More Than Human</B> readership.<BR/><BR/><I>69. Alfred Bester<BR/>Will get around to reading him in the near future.</I><BR/>Why ever? Oh! Like you said about #96 Goodkind, you were a masochist in a former life. >barely stifles yawn<<BR/><BR/><I>46. Alastair Reynolds<BR/>No real interest in reading him at the moment.</I><BR/><B>Pushing Ice</B> is worth the effort. The short fiction is ~meh~ and the novels in his future history don't blow my metaphorical dress up.<BR/><BR/><I>17. Robert Jordan<BR/>Uneven in pacing and characterization. Ultimately lost interest about 8 years ago.</I><BR/>Books began appearing about the time my daughter was learning to read. When she misbehaved, I would threaten to make her read one of these big, horrible books filled with stupid words and bad, stinky fake people. My sister called Child Protective Services on me for that.<BR/><BR/><I>3. Neil Gaiman<BR/>Reliably good, but outside of the Sandman comics, has trouble being consistently great for me.</I><BR/>Reliably good <I>ideas</I> and reliably awful endings, with wonderfully original characters who never change.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for this post, I had a barrell of fun. You've made an old fart very happy in his personal Golden Age. Good lad! Do you need a letter for your merit badge?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-72769528738171119362008-06-19T21:46:00.000-05:002008-06-19T21:46:00.000-05:003,000? A bit better, but still I wonder about the...3,000? A bit better, but still I wonder about the differences between the US and UK there. It wouldn't surprise me that "non-category fantasy" was purposefully excluded. Damn Borges haters! :PLarry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-55915049932317092442008-06-19T20:30:00.000-05:002008-06-19T20:30:00.000-05:00After looking more closely at the magazine the act...After looking more closely at the magazine the actual number of people who voted was much higher than I thought: more than three thousand, which gives the list rather more cachet (at least as an indicator of popular taste, or roughly six times more validity than the Hugos) than the recent Wotmania/Westeros/Malazanempire lists.<BR/><BR/>I am wondering if magic realism was pruned out of the list, as it seems unlikely that none of them would make it in.<BR/><BR/>As for the missing female authors:<BR/><BR/>Connie Willis - not published in the UK, as far as I know. Celia Friedman - only published for the first time in the UK last year, not really had much time to make any impact. Ellen Kushner - I've never heard of her, which makes me wonder if she is also not published in the UK. However, Mary Gentle, KJ Parker and Tanith Lee are perennial SFX favourites, and I am really surprised none of them made it on there, especially Gentle, since Ash has made the critical list they do every few years every time since it came out.Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-85889151604068872462008-06-19T17:09:00.000-05:002008-06-19T17:09:00.000-05:00Thanks! I'll look into that shortly!Thanks! I'll look into that shortly!Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-84424241823170193192008-06-19T12:06:00.000-05:002008-06-19T12:06:00.000-05:00The original reader-polled list was compiled by SF...The original reader-polled list was compiled by SFX's Special Projects Editor Dave Golder. You can check out the full details of the mag this is taken from, here: http://tinyurl.com/4yt8hhAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-14631706416106675312008-06-19T11:28:00.000-05:002008-06-19T11:28:00.000-05:00A Civil Campaign is Georgette Heyer in space, and ...<I>A Civil Campaign</I> is Georgette Heyer in space, and yes, I enjoyed it. :)Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-47411448109803009332008-06-19T06:15:00.000-05:002008-06-19T06:15:00.000-05:00I burned through Bujold back when I would read any...I burned through Bujold back when I would read anything that had the crucial elements: A) Spaceships B) Explosions. But she wrote one novel at the end of her SF sequence called "A Civil Campaign" which contains neither, and was still somehow more compelling than any of the rest. I don't know whether I would still find that true, though.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00013863042122002850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-17905730291728877452008-06-18T20:01:00.000-05:002008-06-18T20:01:00.000-05:00Thanks for the responses/suggestions, everyone! I...Thanks for the responses/suggestions, everyone! I'll read over these more carefully tomorrow and see which ones I'll add to a tentative to-buy list.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-27593031695628805332008-06-18T18:29:00.000-05:002008-06-18T18:29:00.000-05:00What about Walter M. Miller?What about Walter M. Miller?Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15126093513818104194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-78493903289157794062008-06-18T16:51:00.000-05:002008-06-18T16:51:00.000-05:00You're difficult to please. ;)If you want to try M...You're difficult to please. ;)<BR/><BR/>If you want to try Marion Zimmer Bradley, go for her early Darkover novels (the best, imho, are <I>Heritage of Hastur</I> and <I>Sharra's Exile</I>), anything she wrote after <I>Mists of Avalon</I> sucks. McMaster Bujold's Fantasy seems to be less well received than her SciFi though I liked the Chalion books - won't get near that romancey dovey <I>Sharing Knife</I> trilogy, though. You may try one of the Miles Vorkosigan novels, <I>Brothers in Arms</I> or <I>Memory</I> fe., or <I>Borders of Infinity</I> (a collection of three novellas). Sara Douglass' best is the <I>Crucible</I> trilogy and that's not avaliable in the US - after all, she deserves a place on that list more than Goodkind. ;)<BR/><BR/>And I'm missing a few names on that list, like Paul Kearney (ok, if you don't like Gemmell you might not want to see him there, but I do *grin*).Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-28581734912654546872008-06-18T16:44:00.000-05:002008-06-18T16:44:00.000-05:00He only gave the world one truly classic book, and...He only gave the world one truly classic book, and his overall output was minimal, but it still pains me a bit that Richard Adams is never mentioned on these lists. I say "Watership Down" is of sufficient greatness in the annals of fantasy to move him ahead of at least four or five dozen writers on this list all by itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-86635482233504875732008-06-18T09:36:00.000-05:002008-06-18T09:36:00.000-05:00There are 21 female authors since Julian May is a ...There are 21 female authors since Julian May is a quite famous "she" Her Galactic Milieu story was a standout of the 80's and 90's <BR/><BR/> Of the list I tried all the authors except 2 or 3 and the only one I have not heard is Rankin but that's not surprising since I do not like humor literature of any kind including sff.<BR/><BR/> I liked at least something from maybe 70 or 80 on the authors here, but of the top 5 only GRRM ASOIAF is for me. <BR/><BR/> When I hear Tolkienesque literature I run as fast as I can :)<BR/><BR/> Regarding rankings, well that's just a subjective opinion of a bunch of people so I would not take them seriously, but as a survey of sff this list is not bad. That's what sff is in many ways and trying to contort and change to "significant" authors - whatever that means is pointless.<BR/><BR/> This is a list I would agree that any serious sff fan should be familiar with most authors even if he/she did not like themLiviuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04615405766065227026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-56394773101347732332008-06-18T07:59:00.000-05:002008-06-18T07:59:00.000-05:00I'm supposed to be working, so... my comments.99. ...I'm supposed to be working, so... my comments.<BR/><BR/>99. Gwyneth Jones<BR/>I read one book of hers (Life), a rather unfortunate combination of science (genetics) and romance/relationships. Something didn't click for me.<BR/><BR/>97. Charles Stross<BR/>Read one short story and it was great, but haven't tried anything else.<BR/><BR/><BR/>89. Jonathan Carroll<BR/>Read one book (Land of Laughs) and was a bit underwhelmed after I heard so much praise. Might pick another of his books up sometimes...<BR/><BR/>88. Scott Lynch<BR/>I loved both books and I actually enjoyed Red Seas Under Red Skies more. Pirates, arrr!<BR/><BR/>86. M. John Harrison<BR/>I know I should read Viriconium, but somehow I never did...<BR/><BR/>84. Kim Stanley Robinson<BR/>Haven't read the Mars series (bad Jen, bad) and I haven't been impressed by the random other book or 2 I did read.<BR/><BR/>83. Theodore Sturgeon<BR/>Just finished The Dreaming Diamonds, pretty cool story.<BR/><BR/>78. George Orwell<BR/>I read 1984 because that's when I was born and I loved it. I read Animal Farm because it was handy to borrow and I was bored to death.<BR/><BR/>77. Samuel R. Delaney<BR/>I must read more of him. Or at least re-read Einsten's Intersection, as I am convinced I missed so many things in it.<BR/><BR/>76. Charles de Lint<BR/>One of my recent big favorites. I read 2 Newford books last month and I want more!<BR/><BR/>71. Stanislaw Lem<BR/>I liked Solaris, I tried to read the Cyberiad and I hated it so bad I gave up after a couple dozen pages.<BR/><BR/>64. Richard Matheson<BR/>I Am Legend was ok, but nothing to make me go 'whoa'. I have a short-story collection at home I have to read soon.<BR/><BR/>63. Dan Simmons<BR/>Struggled with Hyperion and Fall of. No desire to read anything else by him, but I might since I have a friend who's praising The Terror up and down.<BR/><BR/>61. Terry Brooks<BR/>Heard too much bad things to consider reading his work.<BR/><BR/>56. CJ Cherryh<BR/>My brother seems to like her, I have no desire to try.<BR/><BR/>55. Harlan Ellison<BR/>I like new wave.<BR/><BR/>54. Jasper Fforde<BR/>Might read, I have a good friend who's crazy about him and I'm curious.<BR/><BR/>53. Octavia Butler<BR/>Only read one story so far, but it was very good, so I'm looking for more.<BR/><BR/>49. H.P. Lovecraft<BR/>Great stories, great atmosphere and creepiness, great Old Gods trying to eat us, but it get tiring very fast.<BR/><BR/>47. Jules Verne<BR/>Hm. I probably liked his books as a child, but I wouldn't re-read them now. And anyway, I liked the adventure more than the SF.<BR/><BR/>41. Kurt Vonnegut<BR/>I must be missing something, I read Slaughterhouse and didn't like it, so I am planning to read some more and maybe change my opinion.<BR/><BR/>36. Orson Scott Card<BR/>Really enjoyed the (first) Ender series (not the Shadows saga) and several of his short stories.<BR/><BR/>34. Gene Wolfe<BR/>Only read one short story. Book of the New Sun is intimidatingly large.<BR/><BR/>33. China MiƩville<BR/>Too something for me. I finished PSS 2 or 3 years ago and felt no desire to read anything else by him so far.<BR/><BR/>31. Lois McMaster Bujold<BR/>The Curse of Chalion was better than I expected, but nothing to write hope about.<BR/><BR/>30. Roger Zelazny<BR/>My one true literary love. I've read most of what he's written and I hope that one day I'll be able to say I've read everything.<BR/><BR/>27. William Gibson<BR/>Bleh. Turned me off cyberpunk for good.<BR/><BR/>25. CS Lewis<BR/>I only read one volume of Narnia when I was a kid, and now I can't stand the idea that the books were meant to be preachy. Don't shove religion down my throat, kthxbye.<BR/><BR/>23. John Wyndham<BR/>Day of the Triffids is very cool old post-apocalyptic sci fi.<BR/><BR/>22. Philip Pullman<BR/>Really liked His Dark Materials. And the fact that they're anti-religion.<BR/><BR/>20. Stephen King<BR/>One of my favorites. The Dark Tower is amazing.<BR/><BR/>18. Arthur C. Clarke<BR/>Haven't read much, but what I did read was pretty cool.<BR/><BR/>17. Robert Jordan<BR/>Gave up halfaway Eye of the World. Might start again someday.<BR/><BR/>16. JK Rowling<BR/>Haven't read. No, really.<BR/><BR/>15. Robert Heinlein<BR/>Didn't click with me. But I haven't read many books either.<BR/><BR/>14. Frank Herbert<BR/>Read Dune and Pandora and 2 or 3 others. Liked them a lot.<BR/><BR/>13. Peter F. Hamilton<BR/>Copyedited Pandora's Star. Hated every minute of it. Space opera is not my thing.<BR/><BR/>11. Ursula K. LeGuin<BR/>I always felt she took good ideas and ruined them. I must read some of her work in English, maybe I just ran into crappy translations.<BR/><BR/>9. HG Wells<BR/>Too old-style for me, sorry. Tried to read War of the Worlds and got bored.<BR/><BR/>8. Philip K. Dick<BR/>Confusing. But I surprisingly liked Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.<BR/><BR/>6. Isaac Asimov<BR/>Don't like his style either. Foundation bored me after the first book.<BR/><BR/>5. George RR Martin<BR/>ASOAIF starts off much too slow and the descriptions never end, but the characterization is very good. The two short stories I've read were awesome.<BR/><BR/>4. Douglas Adams<BR/>Funny, but gets boring after a while.<BR/><BR/>3. Neil Gaiman<BR/>I like his short fiction better than his novels, but overall he's one of my favs.<BR/><BR/>2. JRR Tolkien<BR/>I read LOTR twice and I've developed a hatred of elves. Which is not his fault, but the fault of the copycats... oh well. Two reads were enough, anyway, don't think I'll ever go back to the books. The Hobbit was too childish and The Silmarillion was extremely boring (quit halfway through).<BR/><BR/>1. Terry Pratchett<BR/>I don't think he's exactly no. 1 material, but I love his books. I am very sad there's only 3 or 4 Discworld books I haven't read, and only 1 is for adults...<BR/><BR/>Ok, this is an endless comment so I won't say anymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-87652792234090004362008-06-18T07:39:00.000-05:002008-06-18T07:39:00.000-05:00I've read maybe 20 of the people on this list. of ...I've read maybe 20 of the people on this list. of the ones I've read where you had not, here's what i would say:<BR/><BR/>definitely give sherri s tepper a try. i haven't read her since high school, but i recall her writing as good (which could mean anything, i had little sense of style in those days) but her ideas are really the strong point. from what i have seen of your ideology, you would probably enjoy her take on things.<BR/><BR/>go to a library and check out ender's game. that way you don't have to financially support orson scott card. forget he wrote ANYTHING else, however. he is a big one for going back and undercutting what he did before, both in terms of quality and the ideas, so that is really the only one i acknowledge. and it goes in my top 10 book list.<BR/><BR/>and estrangere - i agree completely, there were some glaring oversights in the female authors who did not make this list.Elenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09285405662294874917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-58225597745048901192008-06-18T05:02:00.000-05:002008-06-18T05:02:00.000-05:00Bujold's the one you need to give another chance, ...Bujold's the one you need to give another chance, she's really a great writer, but she's a subtle one (and Curse of Chalion isn't her best work). I'd advice trying to read Shards of Honour first.<BR/><BR/>And I don't understand what Connie Willis, Celia Friedman, Mary Gentle, Ellen Kushner, KJ Parker, Tanith Lee are not doing on this list :( Especially when some crapistic writers are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-91757858959950274142008-06-18T04:20:00.000-05:002008-06-18T04:20:00.000-05:00Simon Clark writes those Celtic fantasy pastiches ...Simon Clark writes those Celtic fantasy pastiches of James Bond, doesn't he?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-54657674124763717872008-06-18T04:14:00.000-05:002008-06-18T04:14:00.000-05:00I agree with Martin that you should try Gwyneth Jo...I agree with Martin that you should try Gwyneth Jones (though I like her stuff more than he does) and Alastair Reynolds. Also, I note that Michael Marshall Smith has a new book out as M.M. Smith (I think it is) which is a return to speculative territory. Also:<BR/><BR/><I>93. Olaf Stapledon</I><BR/><BR/>Definitive scientific romance (well, other than Wells). You need to at least try <I>Star Maker</I>, and probably <I>Last and First Men</I> as well. Alongside his influence on sf, I heard Kim Stanley Robinson report that he'd seen Virginia Woolf/Stapledon correspondence in which Woolf said that the "deep time" visions that Stapledon wrote had been an influence on her writing.<BR/><BR/><I>83. Theodore Sturgeon</I><BR/><BR/>More Than Human is good. I gather the real good stuff is short stories, but there doesn't seem to be a good one-volume collection; there's either thirteen volumes of complete stories, or one tiny volume with (I am told) a fairly eccentric selection.<BR/><BR/><I>79. Simon Clark</I><BR/><BR/>No idea.<BR/><BR/><I>59. Stephen Baxter</I><BR/><BR/>I would argue he's as important as Jones, but I'm a fan. Best works are <I>Voyage</I> (NASA-goes-to-Mars alternate history), <I>The Time Ships</I> (sequel to <I>The Time Machine</I>), <I>Evolution</I> (the history of the evolution of humans, from 65 million years ago to several million years in the future), and <I>Flood</I> (the new one, no prizes for guessing the subject). But that misses out the entire Xeelee sequence; best place to start with that is probably the <I>Vacuum Diagrams</I> collection. That said, if you're lukewarm on Clarke, Stapledon and Baxter may well not be for you ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com