Favorite Sci Fi Author?

[Lion_of_Narnia]

S.M. (Steven Michael) Stirling, specializing in military/action Science Fiction and Fantasy

works include The Draka Series

the best-selling Island in Eternity/Dies the Fire series

has co-written with Anne McCaffery, the late actor James Doohan, Jerry Pournelle, Shirley Meir, and David Drake

Is often accused of being sympathetic to some extreme charecter worldviews–to which in response, he quoted fellow author Larry Niven:
"There is a technical literary term for readers who confuse the viewpoints of fictional characters with those of the author. The term is “Idiot”"

 

[kage_ar]

Harlan Ellison, of course, to pin his work down to Sci Fi would be plain silly.

Octavia Butler, her small body of work is well worth the search.

Clifford Simak

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

A bit over 16 years ago, back when I was still a gutless atheist (ie "agnostic’) I would have put Robert Heinlein at the top of my list. I can still admire the craft of his work, but I can now see in how many ways his worldview adversly affected his writing–most notably his irr-religion and sexual “liberationist” preaching. In fact, it is often the works where such preaching is absent (editorial or other restraint) that remains as his best writing, incuding his “juviniles”

Starship Troopers (dont confuse it w/ the excreble movie)

Have Space Suit, Will Travel

The Star Beast

and “adult” book The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is still tops

 

[Leopard]

I never much liked Piers Anthony-the covers were always much more interesting than the books.

Sometimes the cover art for books, Especially science fiction, is of exceptional quality. While I disagree with this appraisal of Anthony, I do agree that the cover art for his Xanth series is top notch. The paintings are by [Darrell K. Sweet](Buy a Domain Name - World's Best Domains For Sale(name removed by moderator)age.html), who has also done covers for Heinlein and other authors. His use of color and certain styles in the way he paints things like folds in clothing, ripples in water, and lines in faces make his work unmistakable and a joy to look at. Many is the time I’ve passed by a display in a bookstore, admired a cover on a new book, and say to my family, “That is one Sweet picture!”

They still roll their eyes at me, though.

 

[Hastrman]

Anthony’s serious stuff is awful, and his humor…largely consists of puns Nabeshin wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. And when you’re too undignified for this guy:

you have a problem.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Not having read a huge amount of sci-fi, and being more a fan of the short story than novel,

I’ll say Ray Bradbury is my favorite.

Then I’ll toss in John Wyndham.

Those are the two that I’ll read anything by, knowing that I’ll almost certainly like it.

I would read them - Bradbury is a delight & very memorable; and a good deal of Michael Moorcock is a good read, if rather bleak.​

 

[sallybranwyn]

No Neil Gaiman yet?

 

[Lissla_Lissar]

Huh. I really hate Darrell K. Sweet’s cover illustrations. His people don’t really have much expression, and they’re never looking at anything in particular.

Favourite SF authors? Hmm.

Ursula K. Le Guin
Madeleine L’Engle
Kim Stanley Robinson
Tad Williams

Favourite fantasy authors:

Robin McKinley
Tolkein
Lynn Flewelling
Susan Cooper