Your Fantasy Top Five?

[Mark of Cenla]

Who are your top five fantasy writers? Here are mine in the order that I first read them:

J.R.R. Tolkien
David Eddings
Terry Brooks
Terry Goodkind
George R.R. Martin

[Mark of Cenla]

OK... was five too many? Then list your favorite(s) anywhere from one to five. Top one? Top two? Top three? Top four?

[Melko Belcha]

In no order.

JRR Tolkien
Tad Williams
George RR Martin

[luinilwen]

tolkien and pratchett, i guess. haven't got around to goodkind yet, although my friend is encouraging me to read the books. another friend also encouraged me to read eddings, which i only read recently (belgariad and mallorean) but it didn't really satisfy me the way tolkien does. (gods that sounds wrong... :D)

i also really love some children's fantasy, like the co prydain, co narnia, and alice in wonderland and through the looking glass. i also have a soft spot for hp.

the first three dune books are also in my "best of" list, but i guess that doesn't count as fantasy :p

[brownjenkins]

these are the ones i reread the most (not all fantasy in the strict sense):

jrr tolkien
oscar wilde
lewis carroll
stephen king
edgar allen poe
hp lovecraft
shakespeare

[Katie of the Golden Wood]

J.R.R. Tolkien
Robert Jordan
Philip Pullman

Not a big fan of Terry Goodkind's books. I couldn't really get into them and I thought they were sort of overwritten.

Katie

[Count Comfect]

Terry Pratchett
JRR Tolkien
Neil Gaiman
Lord Dunsany
Philip Pullman

Of people considered Fantasy, not Sci-Fi.

[Radagast The Brown]

JRR Tolkien, David Eddings, Terry Pratchett. They're the best of all Fantasy writers. :)

[Lady Ravyn]

my toop five are:

jrr tolkien
sara douglass
elizabeth haydon
tamora pierce
and.....i can't think of anyone else right now; but those 4 are the authors i read the most

[Miranda]

My top five-

J.R.R. Tolkien (obviously!)
Philip Pullman.
Christopher Paolini
Adrian Cole
C.S. Lewis.

Mx

[Grey_Wolf]

J R R Tolkien (The Sil., LOTR)

Roger Lancelyn Green (King Arthur And His Knights of the Round Table)

Piers Anthony (Incarnations of Immortality)

Terry Brooks (Shannara Series)

Michael Moorcock (The Corum books)

[Vilya]

Tolkien
G.R.R. Martin
Terry Brooks
Stephen King
Anne McCaffrey
Margaret Weiss

[Millane]

Originally posted by Lady Ravyn
my toop five are:

jrr tolkien
sara douglass... :eek: she lives where i live:eek: she worked out at the Uni with my mum but im not sure if she does anymore, my friend tried to do work experiance with her but she wouldnt:(
hmmm my fav fantasy authors
Tolkien and George RR Martin have gotta head the list, Robert Jordan for WoT (even though i did sorta lose interest around the 6th book:rolleyes: ) i went to re-read one of my childhood favs The Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King so ill put him in there too, and Sara Douglass (coz she lives near me:D )

[Lady Ravyn]

Originally posted by Millane
:eek: she lives where i live:eek: she worked out at the Uni with my mum but im not sure if she does anymore, my friend tried to do work experiance with her but she wouldnt:(
hmmm my fav fantasy authors
Tolkien and George RR Martin have gotta head the list, Robert Jordan for WoT (even though i did sorta lose interest around the 6th book:rolleyes: ) i went to re-read one of my childhood favs The Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King so ill put him in there too, and Sara Douglass (coz she lives near me:D )

:eek: :D :eek: :D
that is SO cool! you should ask her why she hasn't published her other wayfarer redemption books in the us yet! (sinner, pilgrim, and crusader) i have to order them online in order to get them! :(

[Goldberry1]

in no real order... (and yes, i know it's only four)

tolkien
philip pullman
anne mccaffrey
and i have to put in a word for douglas adams

[hectorberlioz]

JRR Tolkien
C.S. Lewis
Lloyd Alexander
Stephen Lawhead
Brian Jacques

[Falagar]

1. R.R. Tolkien
2. R.R. Martin (coincidence? I think not. ;))
3. Philip Pullman
4. Jordan (only read the two first books)
5. Pratchett
(6. C.S. Lewis)

And that's as far as I have reached into the Fantasy-genre. Just started reading Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon, planning to buy the third WoT-book soon, hoping to get my hands on one of Robin Hobb's books and waiting eagerly for A Feast of Crows. Also considered Feist, is he any good?

[Jabberwock]

No order here folks,

Tad Williams
Guy Gavriel Kay
Mervyn Peake
Dunsany
Neil Gaiman
(LeGuin, Tolkien, Alexander, and Beagle would follow too)

[hectorberlioz]

Jabberwock and Fal, I strongly recommend you look for books by Stephen R. Lawhead:)

[BelegS]

In set order,

1. George R.R. Martin.
2. Tolkien.
3. Tad Williams
4. Susan Copper
5. Ursula Le Guin/Robert Jordan

[Elvengirl]

Only five? sorry not possible

J.R.R. Tolkien
Terry Brooks
Dennis L. McKiernan
Lloyd Alexander
Lewis Carroll
David Eddings
Brain Jacques

to name a few ;) :)

[Falagar]

You should read Martin. :) ;) Oh, and Robin Hobb just pushed Pullman and the rest one step down.

[Elvengirl]

*makes note*
OK thanks :) I'm always looking for more good authors. :)

I see you are now a wretched creature? :eek:

[BeardofPants]

1) Tolkien
2) Tad Williams
3) GRR Martin
4) David Eddings
5) Ursula LeGuin

Thats my top five list. There are others like Garth Nix, and Pullman who both wrote such extraordinarily different fantasy, but are both marked with weak endings. :(

[Elvengirl]

Adding another to my list-

L. Ron Hubbard

[Hawklan]

Top 5 in any order

Prof Tolkien
david wingrove
david eddings
roger taylor ( not the drummer ):mad:
stephen donaldson

oh no cant help myself....
susan cooper
alan garner

ahhh....its taken possession of my fingers

julian may
raymond e feist

must gain control....of fingers....

[BeardofPants]

Urgh, I really tried with Stephan Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, but god, that main character - I just wanted to jump on him, and not in a good way! :mad:

[Hawklan]

yeah..as heroes go hes a bit of a s##t...its ok for a few books but in the end you almost want him to fall to bits.

[ArwenEvenstar]

my top five (which will end up being 6 or 7) in any order :
~Tolkien
~GRR Martin
~Tamora Pierce
~Douglas Adams
~Terry Pratchett
~Terry Goodkind

I have a question about the Sword of Truth, is the series done becasue if it is I'm really disappointed with the ending of Naked Empire! Well, not disappointed but it would be nice to see that guy that I can't remember his name defeated.

[Elanor the Fair]

My top 5 ....

Well, Tolkien of course, but there are some other authors I particularly like..

Sara Douglass - the Axis trilogy is fantastic and the Wayfarer trilogy, which was released in Australia several years ago, is a superb sequel

Robert Holdstock - this English author writes fantasy novels unlike any other I have read - fascinating and compelling reading. Mythago Wood and its sequel Llavondyss are fabulous

Susan Cooper - The Dark Is Rising series is great - I have read this several times and although it is aimed at the adolescent audience, this holds the interest of a wide variety of readers - just get past the first book and you'll love the rest

Kate Forsyth - The Witches of Eileanan series is good

Terry Brooks - The Shannara series

David Eddings

oops... That's more than 5. I could keep going too....:)

[Hawklan]

Good call on the Susan Cooper - one of those series( especially The dark is rising and the Grey king ) that can appeal to all ages - the struggle of good and evil, maybe the good and evil that is within us all.

[ArwenEvenstar]

I thought of another really good writer, Mary Stewart. Has anyone read her Arthurian books? They are stellar!

[Lollypopgurl]

Originally posted by ArwenEvenstar
I thought of another really good writer, Mary Stewart. Has anyone read her Arthurian books? They are stellar!

Ooh, I'm into Arthur right now. What are they called? From whose POV are they?

A lot of the same names circulating around here. Here's my list (no order):

Tolkien :cool:
Robert Jordan
Douglas Adams
Orson Scott Card
Frank Herbert

And I like Tamora Pierce too. Also agree with Elizabeth Haydon and Phillip Pullman, and of course, C.S. Lewis. Marion Zimmer Bradley is near the top too.
:D

[BeardofPants]

Oooh, another Dune fan! :D (though not a newbie)

[Elanor the Fair]

Lollypopgurl,
Since you are interested in Arthurian legends, I thought you might like to know that the "The Dark Is Rising" series of 5 books written by Susan Cooper that I referred to earlier is based on Arthurian legend. Give it a go!!
Regards, Elanor the Fair :)

[kiddstodd]

in no order

J.R.R. Tolkien
D.J. MacHale
Garth Nix
Chistopher Paloni [sp]
C.S. Lewis

[ringbearer]

Tolkien
Zelazny
Fritz Leiber(fahfrd & Grey Mouser)
CS Lewis
Poe

[Finrod Felagund]

1. Tolkien
2. Terry Brooks
3. Guy Gavriel Kay
4. C.S. Lewis
5. George MacDonald

[Rosie Gamgee]

Um...

Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R.R. Tolkien
John Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien

That's about as far as it goes.

[Arat-Falathion]

JRR Tolkien
RA Salvatore (ok, so I'm starting to get a tiny bit tired of Drizzt, but Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle are keeping me with his books right now!)
Robin Hobb (Farseer Assassin's Apprentice was indeed amazing! Can't wait to start the rest of the books in the series!)

Hmm... seeing that Salvatore hasn't even been mentioned before this post... perhaps I should start reading books more often :P I've been stuck with Salvatore's series for ages!

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Um...

Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R.R. Tolkien
John Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien

That's about as far as it goes.
Same as me

[Halbarad of the Dunedain]

Um...

Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R.R. Tolkien
John Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien

That's about as far as it goes.


What about Mr. Tolkien? Proffesor Tolkien!? Tolkien the Great!?

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

Um...

Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R.R. Tolkien
John Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien

That's about as far as it goes.
Yup, me too.

What about Mr. Tolkien? Proffesor Tolkien!? Tolkien the Great!?
Them too! :D
All right, all right, there's more:

Philip Pullman
Robert Louis Stevenson
Oh! And Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien! :D

[elendili]

mine (in no particular order) are...
Terry Brooks
Robert Jordan
Tolkein
Robin Hobb
Sara Douglass

ps u lot are scarily obsessed with tolkein, there are other fantasy writers!!

[Falagar]

Yeah, like George R.R. Martin (2), Steven Erikson (3), Robin Hobb (4) and Neil Gaiman (5). Though Tolkien's still on the top.

Tad Williams starts out nicely but M,S&T becomes more and more boring, and though I liked the two first books, and managed to drag myself through the first part of the third, it was all brought to a firm stop 2-3 chapters into the last part.

Feist's Empire-triology is good, and Magician Master and Apprentice quite likable (due to all the action, I suspect), from there only Pug manages to make Silverthorn and ADaS survivable (there is a siege-scene in ADaS which is pretty good as well).

For some light, funny reads there exists Terry Pratchett, and for one of the best prologues of all time we have mr. Robert Jordan (who sadly fell from the mountain he started climbing and is now somewhere below water.).

[BeardofPants]

Fal? Did you read Tad Williams Otherland series? It's better, and doesn't suffer from the same boring fate as M,S&T.

[BeardofPants]

Oh... and for those interested in RA Salvatore, he posts quite regularly on this (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/index.php?) site. :)

[EarthBound]

In order:

JRR Tolkien
Niel Hancock
Dennis L. McKierman
Tad Williams
CS Lewis

Must reads, almost anything writen by them (especially Niel).

I once listened to the LOTR on tape while on extended vacation and I started talking like the characters in the book, the hotel & restraunt staff thought I was from Wales or somewhere "other" than the Pacific NW. :rolleyes:

[Rosie Gamgee]

ps u lot are scarily obsessed with tolkein, there are other fantasy writers!!

Oh yesss, preciousss!!!! We are very obsessed with Tolkien, precious, yess, we are. We loves Tolkien, precious, Tolkien the Great! Musst have Tolkien! No ssssubsstitutesss, precious, no! None isss greater than our preciousss Tolkien, preciouss!!
(yup, scary indeed)

[mewhmag]

best fantasy written after Tolkien: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams.

i really like to encourage all of you who think that it gets boring or slow or whatever, please read on! the story may seem just one of those LotR varations that you can find everywhere ("the new Tolkien" etc.), but that is just the surface. Williams really makes something new out of it by using the common clichés of fantasy (not Tolkiens!) and giving them a very subtle and intriguing ...twist. don´t know how to describe it best without spoiling it. all i can say is that he wrote it in the late 80´s/ealry 90´s, and therefore before the whole sellout (i don´t need to give you the names...), and i consider M,S&T to be one of the very, very rare modern classics of the genre.

please, read on! the ending is really a bit confusing (i am re-reading and almost there again), but that only encourages to get the meaning of things that happened hundreds or thousand pages earlier.... Williams may not share Tolkien´s views, but he really has created something that goes deep in many ways.

cheers,
mewhmag

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

ps u lot are scarily obsessed with tolkein, there are other fantasy writers!!
This a good obsession though. :p Yes, there are other fantasy writers (such as C.S. Lewis who I forgot to put on the list), but that's not the point! :D
Oh yesss, preciousss!!!! We are very obsessed with Tolkien, precious, yess, we are. We loves Tolkien, precious, Tolkien the Great! Musst have Tolkien! No ssssubsstitutesss, precious, no! None isss greater than our preciousss Tolkien, preciouss!!
(yup, scary indeed)
What she said. :D

[Forkbeard]

Same as me

OK, I'm gonna throw a monkey wrench in here, I would consider none of the Inklings works "fantasy" including and especially LoTR!

[Pytt]

haven't read that much fantasy, so i must stivk whit thesee.
JRR Tolkien
Douglas Adams
Robert Jordan
C.S Lewis( haven't read anyhing but the Narnia-books)

[Falagar]

OK, I'm gonna throw a monkey wrench in here, I would consider none of the Inklings works "fantasy" including and especially LoTR!
How do you then define Fantasy?

[Rosie Gamgee]

Something that isn't real- fiction.


LotR is NOT fiction. *repeats the phrase to herself over and over and over...*

[Lenya]

1 Silmarillion
2 Lord of the Rings
3 Wheel of Time
4 DeathGate cycle

[Lenya]

Sorry, I forgot #5 Hitch Hicker's Guide to the Galaxy (book 1 :) )

[Falagar]

Isn't HHGTtG more sci-fi? Either way, it's certainly great. :)

[Forkbeard]

How do you then define Fantasy?

Good question. I'd say any work in which the fantastic is preeminent. But that doesn't always work either--my wife is reading a "literature" book at the moment in which the main character's husband time travels--not at will, but happenstance. Now if that isn't fantastic in the sense that it doesn't happen in real life I don't know what is. But its classed as literature.

On the other hand, Guy Gavriel Kay is often classed as a fantasy writer or Steven Lawhead's retelling of Arthur (or Mists of Avalon) whose connection to the genre is loose at best.

For me, Tolkien's LoTR is a modern novel that takes place in the real world. As Tolkien himself says what is "made up" is the historical period in which the events take place, not the world itself which is our world.

The Hobbit is a children's story that occurs in the same world and made up historical time as LoTR.

So for me, not fantastic and not fantasy, but literature.

Similarly Lewis' Narnia isn't fantasy either: it is rather an allegorical tale/beast tale; one could include both of those in fantasy I suppose as long as they also included bestiary's, Reynard the Fox, Spenser's Faerie Queen, Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and so on.

So my top 5 fantasy writers would be:
Stephen R. Donaldson
Ursual Le Guin (Left Hand of Darkness was fabulous!)
Guy Gavriel Kay
Gordon Dickson
Philip K. Dick (well, is he Sci Fi, fantasy? I would say more fantasy because the "science" doesn't play a significant role)

I'm sure there'll be disagreements!

[BeardofPants]

What are you talking about? In Martian Time-slip they're talking about colonising and living on mars. It's pretty hard not to see PK Dick as anything but sci-fi. Sure it's not hard sci-fi, but it's definitely sci-fi.

[Forkbeard]

What are you talking about? In Martian Time-slip they're talking about colonising and living on mars. It's pretty hard not to see PK Dick as anything but sci-fi. Sure it's not hard sci-fi, but it's definitely sci-fi.

_Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep_ is more a question of what makes us human than it is an examination of the role of technologically developed beings in society...i. e. what "science" there is isn't really important to the story, the same question could have been asked of race (and has been), gender, etc.

_The Broken Bubble_ is more realist than either fantasy or science fiction.

_Deus Irae_?

Of course, one recognizes that the lines blur. Is Star Wars sci fi because it has space ships, or fantasy because it has "magic"? Is Dick a sci-fi writer because often his stories are set in a "futuristic" context, or is he a short story writer in the classic sense because he often asks the important and essential questions that many writers have asked, or is he fantasy because his books have "fantastic" elements, not all of which are science or technologically based? Left Hand of Darkness is another case in point-it takes place on a foreign planet-is it fantsy then or sci fi?

[Falagar]

Defitions of sci-fi by some of the prominent authors:
"Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the possible consequences, and the possible solutions."
-Isac Asimov

"Science Fiction is speculative fiction in which the author takes as his first postulate the real world as we know it, including all established facts and natural laws. The result can be extremely fantastic in content, but it is not fantasy; it is legitimate--and often very tightly reasoned--speculation about the possibilities of the real world. This category excludes rocket ships that make U-turns, serpent men of Neptune that lust after human maidens, and stories by authors who flunked their Boy Scout merit badge tests in descriptive astronomy."
-Heinlein

For me, Tolkien's LoTR is a modern novel that takes place in the real world. As Tolkien himself says what is "made up" is the historical period in which the events take place, not the world itself which is our world.

The Hobbit is a children's story that occurs in the same world and made up historical time as LoTR.

So for me, not fantastic and not fantasy, but literature.
Still, the world is made up - it's so far from our own that you can't really say it's our world. Even if Tolkien himself claimed that it's supposed to be a fictional historical time of our own earth, this is not really apparant to the reader. And anyway, fantasy can take place in our own world. There are of course many definitions of fantasy, but most of them include fiction taking place in this world (Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Clive Barker's Abarat, they're all considered fantasy).

Of course, whether fantasy, sci-fi, horror or romance: it's all literature. :)

[BeardofPants]

Does that make PK Dick fantasy though? Most of his works tend to examine the inner psyche (valis, ubik, Martian Time-slip, Man in the High Castle, and yes, Electric Sheep)... but this is not something that is prevalent in fantasy literature. Btw, I happen to think that science fiction as a genre is just an extension of the fantasy genre, however, there is a clear demarcation generally between the two. And in the case of PK Dick's works, they are clearly set in futuristic worlds. There's not too much about the style that sets them out as fantasy literature.

[Forkbeard]

Still, the world is made up - it's so far from our own that you can't really say it's our world. Even if Tolkien himself claimed that it's supposed to be a fictional historical time of our own earth, this is not really apparant to the reader. And anyway, fantasy can take place in our own world. There are of course many definitions of fantasy, but most of them include fiction taking place in this world (Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Clive Barker's Abarat, they're all considered fantasy).

Of course, whether fantasy, sci-fi, horror or romance: it's all literature. :)

The quotes could for example fit a lot of things that aren't considered sci-fi, and of couse Heinlein excluded a whole level of things that are typically so considered. And Asimov excluded some of his own sci-fi works!!

Perhaps I should have used Literture? Or called Tolkien the original modern epic form?

[Forkbeard]

Does that make PK Dick fantasy though? Most of his works tend to examine the inner psyche (valis, ubik, Martian Time-slip, Man in the High Castle, and yes, Electric Sheep)... but this is not something that is prevalent in fantasy literature. Btw, I happen to think that science fiction as a genre is just an extension of the fantasy genre, however, there is a clear demarcation generally between the two. And in the case of PK Dick's works, they are clearly set in futuristic worlds. There's not too much about the style that sets them out as fantasy literature.
But is the futuristic setting what is necessary to define it as SF rather than fantasy? If so, then Terry Brooks' Shanara series is SF. So what is it specificly that defines them as SF rather than fantasy for you?

[BeardofPants]

Well, for me fantasy is about the fantastical, the allusions to fables, magic, myth, quests, and so forth. Science fiction tends to be more 'factual'; the genre usually explores the impact of science upon society. It doesn't necessarily have to be set in a futuristic world for it to be science fiction, and like-wise for fantasy - it doesn't have to be set in by-gone eras. The separation between the two is usually defined by a shift in the approach to writer takes to the material. Fantasy being more fantastical, and science fiction being psuedo-factual, or factual. The aspect of PK Dick's writing that has me being inclined to think that he should be qualified as a science fiction writer is that he often writes about mental illness, and how the individual(s) react to society, and how society reacts to them. His stories tend to be quite intro-spective, and driven by the human condition. They're usually set in futuristic dystopic worlds. Whilst it has to be said that PK Dick doesn't conform to the hard sci-fi genre (like Greg Egan) or space operas, etc, he certainly has his share of "techno-babble" going on in his novel(la)s. To reiterate, the human condition is something to be studied, under the guise of science. Time travel is an aspect of science (depending on how it is employed). So on, and so forth. Now, if you were to ask me what genre Frank Herbert's Dune series were to fall under, I'd be a bit more hard-pressed to argue it for a strictly science-fiction stance. Something like that would fit more comfortably in a science-fantasy type genre.

[Nurvingiel]

In no particular order... (once you reach the level of brilliance these five author's have acheived, ranking is impossible).

J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen R. Lawhead, Jack Whyte, Robin McKinely, J.K. Rowling

I've been thinking about this thread on and off for a while, and that's definitely my answer. Of course, I do have some honourable mentions to hand out...

[Wayfarer]

Heh. I'd say that Frank Herbert isn't even Science-fantasy. His whole universe is quite fantastical, and it is resplendant with the myth, the quest, the fable, and despite his presentation there is clearly more magic than science at work.

Hmm... My favorite authors. Hard to say, really, I tend to categorize them more as 'good' or 'bad'. Some are 'excellent'.

Two that I can think of right away are Tolkien and Eddings. I can share my least favorite author, though - that's definitely Donaldson.

[BeardofPants]

The first book isn't really full of "technobabble", but the certainly, as the series progresses, technology becomes a more important factor in hiding the human race (genetic breeding programmes), and certain humans in no-ship technologies. The race of Ix comes to dominate, and they're primarily a technologically driven race. Though, upon consideration, I guess "space opera" would suffice more than science fantasy.

[Forkbeard]

Well, for me fantasy is about the fantastical, the allusions to fables, magic, myth, quests, and so forth.

What does that mean, though? Are not myths and fables and so forth examinations of the inner psyche and how it interacts with the outer world? ANd isn't the quest to be human a fantasy theme? Aren't ray guns and floating cars magical?



Science fiction tends to be more 'factual'; the genre usually explores the impact of science upon society.

Right so like Walter Miller's Canticle for Leibowitz...many of Dick's stories are not about the impact of scient on society.


It doesn't necessarily have to be set in a futuristic world for it to be science fiction, and like-wise for fantasy - it doesn't have to be set in by-gone eras. The separation between the two is usually defined by a shift in the approach to writer takes to the material. Fantasy being more fantastical, and science fiction being psuedo-factual, or factual. The aspect of PK Dick's writing that has me being inclined to think that he should be qualified as a science fiction writer is that he often writes about mental illness, and how the individual(s) react to society, and how society reacts to them. His stories tend to be quite intro-spective, and driven by the human condition. They're usually set in futuristic dystopic worlds. Whilst it has to be said that PK Dick doesn't conform to the hard sci-fi genre (like Greg Egan) or space operas, etc, he certainly has his share of "techno-babble" going on in his novel(la)s. To reiterate, the human condition is something to be studied, under the guise of science. Time travel is an aspect of science (depending on how it is employed). So on, and so forth. Now, if you were to ask me what genre Frank Herbert's Dune series were to fall under, I'd be a bit more hard-pressed to argue it for a strictly science-fiction stance. Something like that would fit more comfortably in a science-fantasy type genre.[/QUOTE]

Obviously we disagree.

[Wayfarer]

The first book isn't really full of "technobabble", but the certainly, as the series progresses, technology becomes a more important factor in hiding the human race (genetic breeding programmes), and certain humans in no-ship technologies. The race of Ix comes to dominate, and they're primarily a technologically driven race. Though, upon consideration, I guess "space opera" would suffice more than science fantasy.

Right. The lack of technobabble was sort of what I was trying to allude to.

In the world of Dune, I've always felt Herbert takes what would traditionally be called 'magic' and tries to present it as psuedo-science. The mind powers of the Bene Gesserit, the ability to see the future, the various cults (the Bene Gesserit, the navigators guild, the Mentats, the swordmasters) with their special powers and uncanny abilities which don't have any firm grounding in fact - they're explained away in the same way I always tease my little brothers with things they don't understand: 'Oh, it's magic' 'Oh, it's a result of breeding/special training/drug use'.

I mean... for gods sake, besides the clairsentience/future sight that drives the entire plot, we've got spirit guides left and right. In later books, Duncan Idaho appearently learns to cast 'Time Stop', and has to deal with the 'Dominate Person' spells that certain individuals cast during sex. :rolleyes:

There's some genuine technology - the ships, the lasrifles, the shields... but by and large, most of what drives the society is essentially magic.

There is certainly a great deal of similarity to that other Space Opera (Star Wars). I'd tend to characterize them both as more fantasy than Scifi, though Dune has always seemed even less 'science-y' than SW. In the one case, we've got plenty of technology, and one instance of magic that is used by a very few people. In the other case, we've got only a few instances of technology and many instances of what I'd call magic.

And before anyone else brings it up: I've never bought into the 'advanced technology is the same as magic' explaination. I think that's a lame excuse. Technology is external and mechanical, and takes advantage of natural laws to produce a predictable result. It can be explained and understood. Magic just happens.

So... er... anyway. Not that we're off-topic, has anybody read Jack Vance? I haven't, actually, but it's appearently from his writing that we get one word for what I just did to this thread - to pnume.

[Manveru]

my favs are:
JRR Tolkien
CS Lewis
Lloyd Alexander

[Lief Erikson]

I agree with BoP on this, Forkbeard. Fantasy to me is involving normally a more medieval type setting. Industry isn't involved. Rifles are rarely permitted. Cars, space ships, ray guns and such aren't permitted. Magic, quests, a general medieval type format, perhaps some strange monsters and races that are of a mythological/legendary nature. High technology is normally not permitted, unless perhaps it's highly bonded with magic. This is perhaps not the correct definition of fantasy, but it is the definition of fantasy that is normally accepted. Sci-fi is more technology based. Normally it is based on the future. Fantasy is more medieval based. Normally it is based on the past. Those are the images that come into most people's minds when they think of fantasy or sci-fi. They may not be correct, but that's just the normal.

Of course, my view may not be important to you ;). Though it should be! I mean, duh! Who's broadly acknowledged as the smartest person on Entmoot? :rolleyes:

Anyhow, I leave you to attempt to respond to my post ;).

[Iboen]

Dah! I hate it when people do this to me! I try to think of my favourite writers...and they disappear...hmm
In no order:
Chris Paolini
Garth Nix
Tim Bowler
Philip Pullman
Cornelia Funke
Gail Carson Levine
Woo! Go me! :D

[Rosie Gamgee]

I agree with BoP on this, Forkbeard. Fantasy to me is involving normally a more medieval type setting. Industry isn't involved. Rifles are rarely permitted. Cars, space ships, ray guns and such aren't permitted. Magic, quests, a general medieval type format, perhaps some strange monsters and races that are of a mythological/legendary nature. High technology is normally not permitted, unless perhaps it's highly bonded with magic. This is perhaps not the correct definition of fantasy, but it is the definition of fantasy that is normally accepted. Sci-fi is more technology based. Normally it is based on the future. Fantasy is more medieval based. Normally it is based on the past. Those are the images that come into most people's minds when they think of fantasy or sci-fi. They may not be correct, but that's just the normal.

Of course, my view may not be important to you ;). Though it should be! I mean, duh! Who's broadly acknowledged as the smartest person on Entmoot? :rolleyes:

Anyhow, I leave you to attempt to respond to my post ;).

Sounds right to me.

[Pytt]

my alltime favourite is J.R.R. Tolkien. all of his works.
C.S Lewis and Robert Jordan afterwards. thats all the fantasy authours I have read something of.
and besides I think Lief is right about what is fantasy.

[Elemmírë]

Um...

Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R.R. Tolkien
John Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien

That's about as far as it goes.

Hm... can I put more than 5, since those would be at the top of the list...?

in order (I think...)

6) Terry Brooks
7)Anne McCaffrey
8) George RR Martin & Robert Jordan
10) Ursula LeGuin


oh! I'll respond to Lief.

I agree completely. It seems to me that good sci-fi tends to romanticise a futuristic world, while good fantasy usually romanticises a world of the past.

My brother and I look at sci-fi as the dreams of the mind; and fantasy as the dreams of the soul.

[Finnrodde]

Elemire!!! You put Brooks ahead of Jordan??? How could you??? And over Earthsea? TRAITOR!!!!!!!

Oh; my top 5
1: Norse, Celtic and Greek Mythology. The earliest sources of brilliance
1: Tolkien (who else) (tie)
3: Lucas (Star Wars has both fantasy and sci fi elements)
4: Robert Jordan
5: Ursula K. Leguinn
6: Terry Brooks
7: George R.R. Martin
8: Salvatore
9: Piers Anthony
10: someone I forgot about

honorable mention: Terry Pratchett.

[BeardofPants]

At least she can spell "LeGuin"...

[Elemmírë]

Nice one, Boppy.

You got that, Finnrodde? :p

By the way, Finnrodde, my name is Elemmire, not Elemire.

Also known as Amarie, Ungoliant, 'Mire, LM, Ellie, and.... Boggy. :mad:

(didn't leave anything out, did I?)

And I happen to like Brooks better than Jordan. I can't recall one of the books that disappointed me at all... though I could be wrong. ;)

The LeGuin... I don't know. I was having trouble putting them in order. And I completely forgot Star Wars. Everyone, bump that up to #2 behind Tolkien. :D Well... #6, I guess it was... ;)

By the way, everyone, Finnrodde is my brother.

Hopefully he will have the sense eventually to start a new account using the name "Finrod" since it by itself is still untaken...

Or a new name altogether... how about Orondil or Orondur? I think that would translate well enough from your real name, Highlander. ;) :D

[Embladyne]

J.R.R.T.
Neil Gaiman
Andre Norton
Tad Williams
Serena Valentino
(there are many more, from my childhood i've forgotten)

in no particular order...
recently, i've been reading a lot more (beat) poetry...and was having trouble recalling the authors i used to read constantly.

[Rûdhaglarien]

J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas Adams, Mary Stewart (solely because I adore her Merlin trilogy and The Wicked Day), Frank Herbert, and J.K. Rowling.

[Lenya]

You had better hide before someone jumps on your head for naming Adams. I did it and that started a whole new debate on the difference between fantasy and sci-fi.

[Rûdhaglarien]

You had better hide before someone jumps on your head for naming Adams. I did it and that started a whole new debate on the difference between fantasy and sci-fi.

Thanks for the tip. |scurries away|

[Snowdog]

My picks:
Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Tolkien's Middle Earth
The Black Company series (all of them) (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=5854)
Dune (first three books at least)
Farseer trilogy
Fire & Ice (haven't finished this, but what I read has been good)

[robertwchandler]

My top 5 in order are

1. Tolkien
2. George R.R. Martin
3. Steven Erikson
4. R.A. Salvatore
5. Robin Hobb

[nasuada]

Favorite top five are:
1. C.S. Lewis
2. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Lloyd Alexander
4. Robert Jordan
5. Cornelia Funke



Some others are:
Brian Jacques
Christopher Poalini
J.K. Rowling :D
Sorry I needed to add those, they are great authors!

[Mark of Cenla]

By now I would add these:

R.A Salvatore
Raymond Feist
Sara Douglass
David Gemmell
Weis and Hickman

So for me that is ten. Peace and goodwill.

[Hirulin]

J.R.R.T
Terry Pratchett
C.S.Lewis
Neil Gaiman
A.C.H Smith (purely for the Dark Crystal adaptation!)











and Douglas Adams
*lowers head and rapidly runs away shreiking!!!*

[Grey_Wolf]

JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
- my absolute nr one favourite!

AA Attanasio's The Arthor Series
- The ultimate retelling of the legend of King Arthur, beautifully told and magnificent prose.

RL Green's King Arthur & His Knights of the Round Table
- Written in olde English with black and white medieval etching images. Marvellously told and the prose absolutely fabulous.

Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Books
- The story can be read a multitude of times - every time as thrilling as the one before. Wonderful telling of the story of Mowgli - taken up as a cub in a wolfpack at the good word of Bagheera and Balou and at the price of newly slain waterbuffalo.

Michael Moorcock's Chronicles of Corum Trilogy
- The story of Corum Jhaelin Irsei - Last of the ancient race of Vadhag which was slaughtered by the newly emerged Mabden (Man) - on the direct wish of the Sword Rulers - who oppose order and rightousness.

[EllethValatari]

Favorite Fiction Authors (haven't read much fantasy)

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George Orwell
3. Charles Dickens
4. C.S. Lewis (Space Trilogy, not Chronicles)

Can't think of a fifth :)

[BeardofPants]

You should check out the whole thread and see if you can find a fifth. So much to read! :D

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Neil Gaiman, Brian Jacques, and Stephen Lawhead being three who jump out, from a brief scan of the last couple pages.

Though I totally dig the classification of Dickens as fantasy. ;)

[EllethValatari]

You should check out the whole thread and see if you can find a fifth. So much to read! :D

Thought of one, although I don't think it has been mentioned here...

5. John White, The Iron Sceptre and The Tower of Geburah

[Gwaimir Windgem]

*head asplode*

DUDE. Blast from the past; I have read those books!

[GrayMouser]

Neil Gaiman, Brian Jacques, and Stephen Lawhead being three who jump out, from a brief scan of the last couple pages.

Though I totally dig the classification of Dickens as fantasy. ;)

She did say favorite fiction authors while adding she hadn't read much fantasy- but, anyway, how about A Christmas Carol?

[EllethValatari]

*head asplode*

DUDE. Blast from the past; I have read those books!

Really? I loved them when I was younger-stole them from my mom to put in my own collection

She did say favorite fiction authors while adding she hadn't read much fantasy-

Yes I did :)

[Tessar]

Oh my gosh.... tough one....

Hmmm. In no particular order...

1. Robert Jordan
2. Ursula K. L.
3. Brandon Sanderson
4. Ellis Peters
5. C.S. Lewis/Tolkien :D

And Frank Herbert. :D

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Yes I did :)

I know; that was just a jab at Charles Dickens. :p

[EllethValatari]

I know; that was just a jab at Charles Dickens. :p

I though it might be...why don't you enjoy reading Dickens' works?

[BeardofPants]

And Frank Herbert. :D

Freakin' A. :D

[GrayMouser]

In the science fantasy category, yes.

Another of that type is Robert Silverberg's Majipoor series: Lord Valentine's Castle, Majipoor Chronicles, and Valentine Pontifex.

Majipoor is a huge planet, much larger than Earth, settled by humans and a few minorities of other alien races thousands of years before. It has Earth-level gravity because it is metal-poor, which means a low-tech medieval-style economy.

Fantasy elements are provided by strange creatures genetically modified in the past and remnants of ancient psi-based technology, which the modern inhabitants use without really understanding. Good stuff.

[GrayMouser]

Haven't read much post-Tolkien fantasy....

Splitting this into two categories

Adult:

1- Tolkien- why else would I be here?
2- Fritz Leiber-Grey Mouser/Fafhrd- why else would I have this name?
3- Lord Dunsany
4- E R Eddison, "The Worm Ouroboros"
5- John Crowley, "Little, Big"- sadly neglected, probably because it doesn't fall ino the category of heroic fantasy.

Honorable mention: Neil Gaiman

Young people's

1-Tove Jannson, Moomintroll
2-Ursula K. LeGuin, Earthsea Trilogy
3-C.S. Lewis, Narnia
4- Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials
5- E. Nesbit, Psammead Series- Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet; the Arden series

Tolkien should go in here as well for The Hobbit

[Snowdog]

My picks:
Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Tolkien's Middle Earth
The Black Company series (all of them) (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=5854)
Dune (first three books at least)
Farseer trilogy
Fire & Ice (haven't finished this, but what I read has been good)


This has to be seriously edited. When I posted this, I was trying to read GRR Martin's Game of Thrones. But after managing to get 7 chapters in, it sat and sat and sat. I could not get back into reading it again. Then the TV series came along and I gave up.

Here is my updated listing:


Lord of the Rings Trilogy - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Black Company series - Glen Cook (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=5854)
Dune - Frank Herbert (first three books)
Malazan Books of the Fallen - Scot Erickson
Farseer trilogy - Robin Hobb