Favourite author?

[Alan Sex]

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.

 

 

I'll give a second vote to Gaiman - including the brilliant "Good Omens", co-written with Terry Pratchett.

[Unrighteous]

American Gods for me was readable but not fantastic.