Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Who are the best science fiction/fantasy authors?
5/22/ | Myself

Posted on 05/23/2008 10:02:34 AM PDT by GSWarrior

There must be a lot of SF fans here. Who are you favorite authors or books? What are you currently reading?

I enjoy SF books that focus on character development over hard scifi themes. Robert Silverberg, IMO, is about the best there is. I also enjoy Gardner Duzois' short stories--some gut-wrenching stuff. Jack Vance's are also very entertaining. Orson Scott Card is pretty good too.

I am currently reading Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan...it's kind of slow and hard to follow. Not likely to read his other novels.

I have enjoyed some, but not all, of Niven and Pournelle's works.


TOPICS: Books/Literature
KEYWORDS: fantasy; fantasysf; literature; scifi; sf
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 221-239 next last
To: GSWarrior
The three greatest fantasy authors of all time, without question, are:

Al Gore
L. Ron Hubbard
Joseph Smith

21 posted on 05/23/2008 10:13:13 AM PDT by NewJerseyJoe (Rat mantra: "Facts are meaningless! You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

Stephen Donaldson’s 3 Thomas Covenant series (First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Final Chronicles)—3 books in each set. Lots of sci-fi/fantasy along the lines of Tolkien, but with a modern twist...he also wrote futuristic sci-fi space operas, which I really didn’t care much for, but some people seem to like it.

Anne McAffrey’s PERN/Dragon Riders series (many many books) which her son has now taken over writing. Again, sci-fi, some space opera stuff, fantasy stuff. Very good series too!

Of course, pretty much everything by Ray Bradbury.


22 posted on 05/23/2008 10:13:33 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --Soccer Mom and proud Rush Conservative with no dog in the presidential race now *sigh*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

The recently departed Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World series and others).


23 posted on 05/23/2008 10:14:20 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (McCain could never convince me to vote for him. Only Hillary or Obama can!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
I recommend this book...if you can find it.
24 posted on 05/23/2008 10:14:36 AM PDT by GSWarrior
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ssaftler
Asimov had some pretty good characters, such as those in the “Foundation” and “I, Robot” series of books. Too bad the man was a raving, Kool-Aid drinking leftist... atheist!!!
25 posted on 05/23/2008 10:14:40 AM PDT by night reader (NRA Life Member since 1962)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: americanophile

I agree with many of the names listed so far. I would add Gene Wolfe. His Book of the New Sun series is among my favorites.


26 posted on 05/23/2008 10:16:10 AM PDT by shempy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

The Forever War by Joe W Haldeman is a fantastic book

The Amber Series by Zelazny is great too.


27 posted on 05/23/2008 10:16:18 AM PDT by rivercat (The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. - William Shakespeare)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

David Weber, for his strongly themed stories of the struggle of good against evil. He’s not afraid to describe evil in terms of collectivism and tyranny. And he does a damn good job of it.

Plus, nobody does space battles as well as he does, IMHO.

For sheer wonder, try Sean Williams and Shane Dix’ Geodesica series. Greg Bear, with his Eon/Eternity series is also one of my favorites.

Most anything by Charles Stross makes for great reading.


28 posted on 05/23/2008 10:17:47 AM PDT by Noumenon (The only thing that prevents liberals from loading us all into cattle cars is the power to do it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

I’m partial to Heinlein. Job is one of the best SF works ever IMO.


29 posted on 05/23/2008 10:17:52 AM PDT by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
George R.R. Martin's series that starts with “A Game of Thrones”.

Edgar Rice Burroughs “A Princess of Mars”, “The Gods of Mars” and “The Warlord of Mars” (ERB is more famous for Tarzan, but John Carter of Mars is one of the best SciFi series ever, very anti-Communist, anti-racist, very “this is what it means to be a MAN.”).

Also Scott Lynch's “The Lies of Locke Lamorah”, an amazing first book by a promising new author. Check it out!

30 posted on 05/23/2008 10:18:08 AM PDT by allmendream (Life begins at the moment of contraception. ;))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
If you like military science fiction, try the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. The first one is On Basilisk Station, available FREE! at www.baen.com. There are many other books in the Baen Free Library, and sample chapters from the current line are available too.
31 posted on 05/23/2008 10:18:55 AM PDT by nina0113 (If fences don't work, why does the White House have one?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tanniker Smith

Asimov is a great storyteller but I find his penchant for social engineering to be more than a little off-putting.


32 posted on 05/23/2008 10:19:37 AM PDT by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
Neal Stephenson.

I cannot recommend him highly enough.

CyberPunk and historical fiction/fantasy.

A solid conservative!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Stephenson

33 posted on 05/23/2008 10:20:50 AM PDT by Unassuaged (I have shocking data relevant to the conversation!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

Oops - can’t leave out Iain M Banks.

Against a Dark Background
The Player of Games
Consider Phlebas
Look to Windward
Use of Weapons

Home runs, all of them. Just re-read Consider Phlebas - every bit as goos as the first time around.


34 posted on 05/23/2008 10:21:19 AM PDT by Noumenon (The only thing that prevents liberals from loading us all into cattle cars is the power to do it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nina0113
"Honor Harrington series"
I got through 9 of them before I gave up (took a break) - really good but I needed something a little lighter...
35 posted on 05/23/2008 10:21:31 AM PDT by The Louiswu (Just say NO... to Hillary and O'Bama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

I haven’t read any of his SF titles, but Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories are quite good.


36 posted on 05/23/2008 10:21:49 AM PDT by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
James P. Hogan
Inherit the Stars and Gentle Giants of Ganymede - a very good read with a happy ending. Reminded me of Clarke or old Heinlein.
37 posted on 05/23/2008 10:22:47 AM PDT by The Louiswu (Just say NO... to Hillary and O'Bama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hosepipe
C.S. Lewis.. “Screwtape Letters” is the ultimate Sci-Fi..

a friend and i were just discussing Screwtape Letters yesterday... she is reading it for the first time... C.S. Lewis was certainly ingenious... so creative and clever in this writing...

38 posted on 05/23/2008 10:23:18 AM PDT by latina4dubya
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: PapaBear3625

I hated “The moon Is a Harsh Mistress”.. However, “Glory Road” in great. And, if I were to be limited to ONE SF Book on a desert island, “Starship Troopers” would have to make the short list.


39 posted on 05/23/2008 10:23:24 AM PDT by chesley (Where's the omelet? -- Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

I loved Lucifer’s Hammer, Footfall, and The Mote In God’s Eye but I hated the Gripping Hand...only read the first 100 pages and had to set it aside.


40 posted on 05/23/2008 10:23:51 AM PDT by GSWarrior
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 221-239 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson