Favourite Authors....

In the interests of not boring the heck out of you lovely readers, I present a sampling of authors whose work I consistently enjoy:

Robert Louis Stevenson. I've mentioned him a few times as an example of Doing It Right, but not really gotten a chance to gush. What makes his work special is the fact that what are superficially simple adventure stories can hold up to repeated reading, and pack a lot of emotional depth. He is also an excellent example of how to handle politically charged topics and settings thoughtfully and insightfully.

Amy Tan. Reading her books is like getting a full cultural immersion as well as an interesting storyline. Her characters are always original and complex, and she hits the nail on the head when portraying the conflict of immigrants torn between assimilation and the desire to preserve their identities.

Douglas Adams. Because his books can make me laugh until I snort, even after multiple readings.


Patricia Wrede. A fantasy author with an amazing range-- from serious and haunting to outrageous parody. Her work includes a wide variety of engaging female characters, including inventive mousse-cooking princesses, unflappable witches, and determined warrior women.

Neil Gaiman. Probably one of the most creative fantasy authors out there. If you haven't checked out his work, close out of this window and go to the library stat.

Diana Wayne Jones. Another fantasy author with the ability to go from bittersweet sadness to gut-busting hilarity. She did amazing comedic fantasy (The Dark Lord of Dirkholm being a favourite of mine), as well as writing the Tough Guide to Fantasyland, which is a (laugh-out-loud funny) must-read for fantasy writers looking to avoid the genre's worst cliches.