Favourite author?

[JRD7]

Old testament god - the bible kicks ass. Rape, murder, genocide, slavery, magic, more rape, incest and a talking snake. That homie knows how to write a fucking book.

[SpeedyG]

Amis's books are always good value, either of them.

 

Really? I read Times Arrow and didn't bother looking for any others.

[Cosmos]

Really? I read Times Arrow and didn't bother looking for any others.

 

Lucky Jim is immense, The Rachel Papers is nauseating but very funny, Money is ace and so is Yellow Dog. I've read a few others but can't really remember them, this is more than likely due to my own inadequacies than the quality of the text, however.

[hamstrung]

Kerouac, Huxley, Orwell and Pam Ayers.

[SpeedyG]

Lucky Jim is immense, The Rachel Papers is nauseating but very funny, Money is ace and so is Yellow Dog. I've read a few others but can't really remember them, this is more than likely due to my own inadequacies than the quality of the text, however.

 

Cheers, added to my list.

[SpeedyG]

Fantasy Authors

 

They were a few mentions of fantasy authors early on and I'm surprised about a couple who haven't been mentioned yet.

 

Steven Erikson. He has a series, the mazalan empire of the fallen, which has the best world building i've read since tolkien. In some ways it's better, it has more depth and is better integrated into the novels but doesn't have the precision of tolkien. On top of that there are lots of complex characters (and more than a few caricatures) facing just about every single challenge the human condition can throw up at you. All that with a liberal sprinkling of pretty decent fantasy story lines.

 

George Martin: Song of Ice and Fire series. More fantasy with depth. The angle this time though is political intrigue.

Edited May 31, 2009 by SpeedyG

[Yerma'satexan!]

Albert Camus' date=' Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Peter Lamborn Wilson (Hakim Bey), Robert Anton Wilson, Thomas Paine, Charles Bukowski, Friedrich Nietzsche, Stephen Vizinczey, Aldous Huxley, Octave Mirbeau, Primo Levi to name a few.[/quote']

 

I forgot Stendhal.

[Teflon Don]

Lucky Jim is immense, The Rachel Papers is nauseating but very funny, Money is ace and so is Yellow Dog. I've read a few others but can't really remember them, this is more than likely due to my own inadequacies than the quality of the text, however.

 

London Fields is the best Martin Amis for me - not read much Kingsley, but Lucky Jim is rightly lauded as a classic.

 

In terms of contemorary writers, I'm a fan of Christopher Brookmyre and Colin Bateman, each of whose first novels (Quite Ugly One Morning and Divorcing Jack, respectively) are decent introductions into their work/style, which, to be fair, they've never drifted too far away from, but usually includes a number of good jokes.

[L19red]

London Fields is the best Martin Amis for me - not read much Kingsley, but Lucky Jim is rightly lauded as a classic.

 

In terms of contemorary writers, I'm a fan of Christopher Brookmyre and Colin Bateman, each of whose first novels (Quite Ugly One Morning and Divorcing Jack, respectively) are decent introductions into their work/style, which, to be fair, they've never drifted too far away from, but usually includes a number of good jokes.

 

both good, and if you like them then try Carl Hiaasen. Sort of a Florida version of those guys very heavy on ecology and the protection of the environment.

 

Another writer i really like is Mark Kurlansky although he doesnt write fiction, mostly historical, but his style is excellent and really brings to life the subject.

 

And and old school author Charles Dickens, A tale of two cities is as good as anything you could ever read.

[Cosmos]

Don't think he's been mentioned, Henry James is rather good. As a starting point, Turn of the Screw is pretty much the perfect novella .

[mgw100]

Interesting I've always thought of Camus as a bit 1 dimensional and more of an existentialist commentator than philosopher.

 

My existentialist top 10.

 

Kafka. The trial. The castle. Metamorphosis. A hunger artist.

Jean Paul Sartre. Nausea. The Wall. Road to Freedom.

Hermann Hesse. Steppenwolf.

Dostoevsky. Notes from the underground.

Camus. Plague.

 

Good selection there (of the one's I've read which isn't all). Interesting that they all sit in the same-ish period (late 19th, early 20th century). Does that mean it's no longer possible to write an 'existentialist' novel, or indeed be an existentialist? Probably not, but then the agnostic age that we find ourselves definitely softens the impact of the position.

 

Obviously God isn't the only inhibitor to one's freedom to define a personal 'essence', but it was the easiest one to rail against. Next came the supposedly inherent commitment to one's familial responsibility.

 

My own view is that existentialism is pretty much the default position these days. The drive towards it was incredibly important; however in some respects the result is bit depressingly selfish.

[RedBrian84]

I have to read a lot of fairly heavy political-science/political theory based stuff so the last thing I want to do when I can chose my own reading is engage in anything too heavy. As such (and as far as easy reading goes) I really used to like Raymond Feist and David Eddings. As a teen I was also was a big fan of Robert Howard. I have tried to get into Pratchett but just couldn't. That said, it seems that I seem to enjoy the same type/genre of books as you do, so maybe I should give him another go again?

 

 

I'd defintely give Pratchett's Discworld another go mate, once you get into them you'll be hooked. They really are a joy to read and I can't think of another living author who is as good a satirist as Pratchett. His books aren't pretentious and are accessible to all, which is one of the reasons I love them.

 

The beauty of them as well is this: you don't have to read them in any particular order. The first Discworld book I read was Lords and Ladies, which if I remember rightly is about eleven books into the series, and it was hilarious. If however you are a bit OCD about things like this though, like me, then you'll want to start with the very first two books he wrote, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic. They get you right into the world and the feel of the series. From there you can then go for any of them!

 

I recommend the two just above, obviously, and then Guards! Guards!, Men At Arms, Feet Of Clay and Night Watch, all centred aound a City watchman called Sam Vimes. They really are top class books. But any of his books are worth the read. As well as his stories from outside the Discworld, Johnny and the Dead, Johnny and the Bomb, Truckers, Diggers and Wings.

 

 

Also saw a few people give a mention to Orwell- top shout there. Animal Farm is just about the finest piece of observational satire I've read. Genius. .

[Jose Jones]

Good selection there (of the one's I've read which isn't all). Interesting that they all sit in the same-ish period (late 19th, early 20th century). Does that mean it's no longer possible to write an 'existentialist' novel, or indeed be an existentialist? Probably not, but then the agnostic age that we find ourselves definitely softens the impact of the position.

 

.

 

Have a go at Jose Saramago - The Double, plus various others.

 

A bit more comedy, but certainly has Kafka-esque overtones in a late 20th century setting.

[big red 'kok]

favourites would be Conrad and Kipling but agree with Op on most.

conrad is very descriptive and kipling's work very evocative. best single book catch 22 by Heller.

read a lot of heavy stuff for work so often enjoy simple sci fi for bed time reading, as long as its not war porn

[Guest The Chimp]

Nice one Brian - will have a look mate. I also forget to mention to anyone interested in the Magician etc. that the Servant, Daughter, Mistress of the Empire books are fantastic. Janny Wurts with Feist.

[Karl_b]

Another shout for Pratchett from me. I'd also mention Tolkein, James Ellroy and Richard Morgan as big favourites.

[JRD7]

I'd defintely give Pratchett's Discworld another go mate, once you get into them you'll be hooked. They really are a joy to read and I can't think of another living author who is as good a satirist as Pratchett. His books aren't pretentious and are accessible to all, which is one of the reasons I love them.

 

The beauty of them as well is this: you don't have to read them in any particular order. The first Discworld book I read was Lords and Ladies, which if I remember rightly is about eleven books into the series, and it was hilarious. If however you are a bit OCD about things like this though, like me, then you'll want to start with the very first two books he wrote, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic. They get you right into the world and the feel of the series. From there you can then go for any of them!

 

I recommend the two just above, obviously, and then Guards! Guards!, Men At Arms, Feet Of Clay and Night Watch, all centred aound a City watchman called Sam Vimes. They really are top class books. But any of his books are worth the read. As well as his stories from outside the Discworld, Johnny and the Dead, Johnny and the Bomb, Truckers, Diggers and Wings.

 

 

Also saw a few people give a mention to Orwell- top shout there. Animal Farm is just about the finest piece of observational satire I've read. Genius. .

 

I preferred the film.

[Elmyn Noos]

Too many to choose just the one, but got a bit of a shortlist of those who are all totally enjoyable.

 

Robert A. Heinlein, Tolkien, Robert Silverberg, Robert Anton Wilson, Issac Asimov, Richard Rhodes, William L. Shirer, Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen King, Michael Palin, Douglas Adams, Bill Bryson and Ernest Hemingway to name but a few.

 

My two, right there, with an honourable mention to John O'Farrell.

[Unrighteous]

George Martin: Song of Ice and Fire series. More fantasy with depth. The angle this time though is political intrigue.

 

I hear that new book of his might be out this year... :wallbutt: I'm going to have to reread all the previous ones to fucking have a go at it.

[SpeedyG]

I hear that new book of his might be out this year... :wallbutt: I'm going to have to reread all the previous ones to fucking have a go at it.

 

hehehehe If you think Martin is slow, try Erikson.

 

BTW There are torrents for the ice & fire audio books.

[Unrighteous]

hehehehe If you think Martin is slow, try Erikson.

 

BTW There are torrents for the ice & fire audio books.

 

Yeah, I was looking for the ebooks as I am contemplating that Sony Reader.

[stringvest]

for populit - Murakami, John Irving, DBC Pierre, Shyama P, all the biggies ;)

[Paul]

My favourites, in no particular order:

 

James Ellroy - insane prose, morally ambiguous characters, sex, drugs, violence and Los Angeles.

 

Iain M. Banks - great, utopian-future SF.

 

Richard Morgan - Initially really gritty, noir-ish SF, but recently he's gone for similarly gritty fantasy stuff.

 

Stephen King - I'm no completist, but he's very, very readable and a great story-teller.

 

Garth Ennis - for Preacher.

 

Bernard Cornwell - His Sharpe novels are formulaic, but really, really addictive; real Boys' Own stuff.

 

Also, Don Winslow and George Pelecanos for crime fiction, John Wyndham and John Christopher for SF and Camus and Shakespeare for the classic stuff.

[Travis Bickle]

Lee Child

Clive Barker

James Herbert

Jeffery Deaver

Tolkien (the hobbit is THE best bedtime book for kids.)

Mith Albom

Joseph Heller (Carch 22)

The Divine Comedy (Dante Alighier)

[REDTALISKER]

Will have to second that recommendation of Iain M. Banks. Not normally a fan of that genre but cant think of a book of his that I haven't enjoyed. Used to prefer his contemporary novels (in his other guise without the M)but since the Crow Road/Complicity they have all been disappointing one way or another.

 

As for some suggestions,

 

Jonathan Carroll - probably a bit hard to find as a lot of his stuff is out of print in this country.Writes about the world as we know it but with magical elements added to it. He blurs the edges of the two. Sleeping in Flame for example is a modern retelling of an old fairy tale. Anyone who has read Gaiman's Sandman series might remember the story arc 'A Game of you' which was inspired by one of Carroll's books.

 

Which leads me onto American Gods(Neil Gaiman). Cant believe no one has suggested

this.

 

Also have a soft spot for detective fiction. John Connolly writes an excellent series featuring his character Parker.Has the same old clichés about a detective who cant give up his work despite the damage it does to his personal life but does have the added twist of some supernatural hints in among the hunt for serial killers. These become stronger as the books progress.

 

If you like your horror then try 'Supping with Panthers'. A kind of rewriting of the classic Dracula. Historical/fantasy then 'Soldier of the Mist' by Gene Wolfe. Soldier who fought for the Persians, lost his memory but now can see the gods.