I came to a sad realization the other day that many of the Sci Fi and Fantasy
authors whose styles and skills I most admire are no longer with us.
So, that got me thinking. Who are the more recent authors I admire in the genre? My short list included several of the greats: Sanderson, Butcher, Rowling, etc. I’ve read many more but these are the ones that have stuck with me.
But I’m always looking for new reads. Help me out!
Who do you most admire among SFF authors who’ve been published within the last five years or so?
Big question. In the past fives years? eek. Though I've read quite a few great stories published in the last five years, I can't recall the author's names. Lemme think... Joe Abercrombie stands out. Neil Gaiman.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Beth Revis' Across the Universe series and These Broken Stars by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman. In two weeks, I'm interviewing Rachel Searles and giving away The Lost Planet, a new middle grade sci-fi book.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big sic-fi reader, but I've enjoyed all of Paolo Bacigalupi's novels. Shipbreaker and The Wind-Up girl were good reads. Both set in a futuristic world that has undergone huge environmental and political changes.
ReplyDeleteAnd Joe Abercrombie is a newish fantasy writer I enjoy. His novel The Blade Itself was pretty good. Haven't read the rest int he series yet, but one of these days...
A recent fantasy author I really like is Scott Lynch. The Lies of Locke Lamora was a great read.
ReplyDeleteI have to mention my first two favourites:
ReplyDeleteNeil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet
Douglas Adams who wrote Hutchhikers Giude to the galaxy
very current is author of Second Verse...did a review on her....Jennifer Walkup _adored her book
As Wendy said, Gaiman and Pratchett, definitely. Robin McKinley for fantasy. She doesn't get nearly enough credit. As for urban fantasy: the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, and the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane.
ReplyDeleteThanks everybody! Those are all great suggestions. The TBR list will grow, have no fear. :)
ReplyDeleteAlex - I've had others recommend Lies of Locke Lamora too - I'll have to check it out.
I did just finish These Broken Stars (amazing!!) and have enjoyed some of Patricia Briggs' stuff in the past too.
Pratchett and Gaiman have already been suggested. I also love Rachel Aaron's The Legends of Eli Monpress series. And Jim Butcher wrote a blurb for Rachel Caine, so one of her books is sitting in my TBR pile. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly not a huge fan of SFF - but I enjoy a great read, so am open to anyone.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the Potter books and liked our Alex's recent CASSA trilogy :)
PS... One day the '80s will be the subject of another fun movie starring a DeLorean car. (I wonder if my former hair will have a walk-on role? :)
I believe I have too many to name, but I have to give a shout out to Sanderson and Lowry! :)
ReplyDeleteLaura - Ooh, lots of good new authors to check out.
ReplyDeleteMark - Yes! More movies need DeLoreans! And 80s hair! Little Nicole definitely had some crazy crimped Bon Jovi hair going on in the 80s. :)
David - Love Sanderson!
I admire Tad Williams, Patricia McKillip and Sherri S. Tepper to name a few. This is a great question. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, man! Thant's a difficult question! Ok, admittedly, I'm not a super fan of SFF, but I've read a few of the classics and some of the new. Still, no one gets even close to the poetic quality of Ray Bradbury. We lost a big one there. Have you read "There will come rain"? Here is a link to the story narrated by Burgess Meredith. It is beautiful, elegant, scary, and enticing. The only story I've ever heard of that has no main character. Hope you like it! http://youtu.be/QXKT7QQsVx0
ReplyDeleteGood choice with Sanderson.
ReplyDeleteOne of my big favourites of the past few years is Daniel Polansky - his Low Town series is dark and phenomenal. I also really like Ben Aaranovitch's Peter Grant series - London copper who's also a wizard. What's not to like?
Aubrie - Thanks for sharing those names!
ReplyDeleteGeorgina - Wow, a story with no MC? Sounds like quite the challenge from an author's perspective.
Jamie - Those are both new to me. Thanks!