The Sword and Laser discussion
Do you have authors where you'd buy anything they write?
I would buy much but not anything from the "classic" ABCH authors. Even Clarke managed to write some drek. I'm looking right at the later Rama books as I write that.Even Niven, my fave among later authors, wrote some bad books. I eventually came up with the idea of the "expiration date," that authors eventually ran out of ideas. That was primarily after Star Wars came out and respected authors did unneeded sequels for the cash, but it came to fruition when I read Niven's Integral Trees. I found it silly and derivative. It was years before I read another Niven book. I've since softened on the idea of an "expiration date," but it does seem true that some authors have a golden period and a...let's call it a later period. Where some works are good and others not so much.
James Rollins. I haven't got everything his ever written but close enough. I like his thrillers better than his fantasy.
Mod
Brandon Sanderson
Robin Hobb
James S.A. Corey
Michael J. Sullivan
Id read most things by Stephen King, but he writes so much, probably not everything.
not even a sword or laser author, but I love Sidney Sheldon and have bought any book by him without a second glance.
Alex wrote: "Do you have authors where you'd buy anything they write?"Nope. I used to when I was a kid and there simply wasn't very much sci-fi and fantasy available, but I got over that by the mid-80s.
When they were still alive, I would get anything by Arthur C. Clarke, and Kurt Vonnegut. Now, I eagerly look forward to the next Paul Auster release, no matter if it is a new novel, or some non-fiction/memoir/essay collection.
And, James SA Corey, of course.
There are several authors I buy regularly, but if I get burned by one book, then I back off them.Used to buy every Anne Rice, but I gave up on her when she got religious. Her new book was good though, so we'll see if she keeps that up.
My current favorites are-
James SA Corey
Jim Butcher
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
John Scalzi
NK Jemison
Ellen Kushner
Connie Willis
Robin McKinley
I've got some NK Jemison in my to read pile and I haven't read enough Robin Hobb to put her on the list yet.
My big names for this would be Brandon Sanderon and Patrick Rothfuss. For some reason the way these two authors write is completely entrancing to me. I just picked up Patrick Rothfuss's A Slow Regard for Silent Things (A short story focusing on a single character from the Kingkiller Chronicles. I would suggest reading the other books first or this one will completely confuse you) and I devoured the thing in a few hours.
Where Brandon Sanderson is concerned, his command of the written word is amazing. I love his style of writing and am confident he would do well in any genre.
I would honestly just look for their names in a book store. I wouldn't even read the covers.
For me, it's R. Scott Bakker, Clive Barker, Michael Chabon, Umberto Eco, Mark Z. Danielewski and Leslie Marmon Silko.
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There are plenty of authors who I will keep an eye out for but are not definite buys.
I've got (and read) everything Heinlein wrote. Of living authors I get everything by Spider Robinson, Robert Sawyer and Christopher Moore.
Lately, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, and GRRM go on this list for me (for stories they wrote, not collections they edited). That said, Sanderson's Reckoners series isn't my favorite.Brent Weeks may go on the list based upon what Lightbringer has become, and I often want to read things that Ken Liu has translated (and am looking forward to his first novel).
If Randall Monroe writes another "What If?" book, I'll be all-in. And I'd like to have time to read more Jim Butcher, I suspect he would go on the list.
Neal Stephenson used to be on the list but Anathem and Reamde made me wary. He could get back there, though, if he returned to books like Snow Crash and The Diamond Age.
Too hard to edit on phone...Robin Hobb is another that I think that if I read more of her stuff, she would go on the list. Hmm I feel like I may be writing my 2015 reading goals unintentionally in this thread... :)
Phil wrote: "I've got (and read) everything Heinlein wrote."Same here [pretty much]. I went on a RAH binge several years ago.
GRRM, Robin Hobb, and China Mieville for sure. R. Scott Bakker, Joe Abercrombie, and Scott Lynch are making their way steadily to that point with me as well. Also, although I feel like I need to check out more of their stuff to really say for sure, I've recently become very interested in Gene Wolfe and Joe Haldeman.
Neal AsherPeter F. Hamilton
Alastair Reynolds
Generally get bought as they are released and jump straight to the top of the pile.
Neal StephensonDavid Mitchell
Tim Powers
Charles Stross
James S.A. CoreyTerry Pratchett
Robin Hobb
GRRM
Terry Pratchett. That said I just starter Dodger and couldn't get into it.Janet Morris
Rob wrote: "Jim ButcherBrandon Sanderson
Robin Hobb
James S.A. Corey
Michael J. Sullivan
Id read most things by [author:Stephen ..."
I'm gonna be lazy and just pretty much copy this list. (I've had a busy month and my brain is fried) Except I don't think I'd buy everything Stephen King wrote either. He's very hit or miss for me, I either love a book he writes or I hate it. And I would also add Scott Westerfeld and Scott Lynch.
Harlan EllisonDan Simmons
Michael Flynn
Joe Hill
Peter Straub
And although they are no longer with us, I will read everything from Ray Bradbury and Roger Zelazny that I can find.
Also Mieville, Stephenson, Heinlein, King. For some reason, Stephenson has never disappointed me, although I certainly understand the spectrum of opinions surrounding his work.
King does have a few clunkers here and there; anyone that prolific is bound to. Both Straub and Hill are better writers imo, but there's nobody I'd rather have telling stories around a campfire...
I buy anything that Brandon Sanderson writes
I don't actually have anyone like this.I almost wrote Gene Wolfe, China Mieville, David Mitchell, Paolo Bacigalupi.
But I don't read YA. Three of these authors have written YA stories that I did not buy. I love them, but that genre is not for me.
And while I might think that I would clamor for anything they'd put to print, I realize I do have boundaries. I do love Wolfe fiercely as a writer, regardless. Profanely, even. He causes me to recommend him with strings of four-letter-laced praise.
Kenneth wrote: "I don't actually have anyone like this.I almost wrote Gene Wolfe, China Mieville, David Mitchell, Paolo Bacigalupi.
But I don't read YA. Three of these authors have written YA stories that I d..."
You MIGHT actually like Railsea, and I could almost guarantee that you wouldn't like Un Lun Dun.
I enjoyed the Bacigalupi YA's. They had a similar feel to The Wind Up Girl, and took place in the same universe.
Interesting question - I tend to do this in waves. Back when he was alive, I used to buy (or read) anything Michael Crichton wrote, but towards the end of his life/career I don't know if he changed or I changed, but I liked each book less and less.
Same was the case with Dean Koontz for a while.
My current buy anything author is Terry Pratchett. Scalzi is a contender, but I've only read two of his works so far.
Interesting sentiment about YA. I have nothing against it, in fact, I'll even read a decent middle age series.Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books ranged from good to excellent, so on that I got the Egypt books (fair.) Then he continued the "demigod" ideas with a Roman take. Those books got worse over time and the finale was poor at best. I don't know that I'll be running out to get his take on Norse mythology based on what I've seen.
The Warriors books, written by "Erin Hunter" (a composite author) are pretty good dark fantasy about cats living in a forest. Their way of life is pretty much tribal human, expressed as cats. My daughter loved them and I found them pretty good.
I just hate, hate hate YA. I'm an adult, I don't need that kind of writing. But that's for another thread. (And it's been said before).I did actually read Rail Sea, not knowing it was intended to be YA at the time. I was meh about it, thinking that the metaphors could have gone farther, the Melville allusions could have been deeper and more complex, and the lack of agency in many of the characters less than desirable. I didn't hate it, but I would not now have gone and read it knowing what I do.
Kenneth wrote: "I just hate, hate hate YA. I'm an adult, I don't need that kind of writing. But that's for another thread. (And it's been said before).I did actually read Rail Sea, not knowing it was intended to..."
Understandable reactions, all. I'm not a YA person either. However, I will read some here and there.
I'll read anything by Daniel Pinkwater. I'm think I'm up to 70+ books of his I've read.
Haruki Murakami for me, and Alastair Reynolds. Neal Stephenson is also on the list. I loved Reamde, although it seems like people are pretty mixed on that one.
Scott wrote: "I'll read anything by Daniel Pinkwater. I'm think I'm up to 70+ books of his I've read."I need to read more Pinkwater.
Alex wrote: "So the question is: Are there authors who have given you so much joy and confidence in their capability to write that you'd buy ANYTHING they wrote, even if it was a vast departure from their normal fare?"Jasper Fforde
Douglas Adams
Brian Froud
Phil Foglio
I'm currently tracking down the works of Ann and Jeff Vandermeer
James Burke (not sff, but I love his history books)
Not a single author, but I have every book I have been able to lay my hands on for the DragonLance saga.
I've had various authors enter and leave this category over time (I remember OSC's historical fiction about Mormon settlers). The one author who hasn't disappointed me yet is Lois McMaster Bujold. I even liked her fantasy romances.
Robin Hobb (Though that's kinda cheating as it doesn't go for her Megan Lindholm persona, where she puts all her not-epic fantasy writing.)Joe Abercrombie (With exception of one book none of his stuff made it into my "favorites" category, but overall his writing is just so consistently competent and fun, including his recent YA adventure, that I'm now at the point were I pre-order his stuff.)
Joel Shepherd (Not as well known as the other two, and maybe not as competent a word-smith, but both his SF and fantasy series are just so filled with nuance and complexity in socio-political and moral issues without losing focus or falling into "Grimdark" traps. He also has awesome protagonists, that are just plain fun to read about.)
And in the categories: "maybe" and "for now": Patrick Rothfuss. It all hinges on how well he wraps up his Kingkiller Chronicles.
I'll add a second nod for James Burke. His ideas are very thought provoking.
Answer to the posed question: Yes.But they're all DEAD!
Honestly, I can't even keep up with my much beloved authors who are living. To much to read. Some I have to relegate to a library in book, ebook or audio form. I rarely buy a paperback anymore, though I will buy my favorite authors newest stuff for Kindle.
Saying stuff like Patrick Rothfuss is cheating he has only written 2 big books and one small side story.As far as authors I own everything they have ever written...and is currently alive, and has more then say 5 books.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Jim Butcher
Larry Correia
A few come very close like Jack Campbell/David Weber/Terry Pratchet/Brandon Sanderson/Garth Nix/John Scalzi where I'm one or 2 books shy of a complete collection and at some point in time I had them on a always buy list then I read something from them that I didn't like.
Bryan wrote: "GRRM, Robin Hobb, and China Mieville for sure. R. Scott Bakker, Joe Abercrombie, and Scott Lynch are making their way steadily to that point with me as well. Also, although I feel like I need to ..."Bryan, have you ever visted Scott Bakker's blog, Three Pound Brain? He has posted there some short stories set in the same univese as his fantasy novels as well as a draft version of Light Time and Gravity, which he describes as "an anti-literary literary work that tries to break the wrong rules."
http://rsbakker.wordpress.com/stories/
Aaron wrote: Lois McMaster Bujold
Jim Butcher
Larry Correia"
Excellent list.
Thane wrote: "Answer to the posed question: Yes.But they're all DEAD!"
This is also true for me. I have pretty much all of Arthur C. Clarke's, Isaac Asimov's (fiction), and Robert A. Heinlein's books [The Big Three Grand Masters of SF]. As well as most of Kurt Vonnegut's books.
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
Beowulf and the Critics (other topics)Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode (other topics)
Parma Eldalamberon XII: Qenyaqetsa, The Qenya Phonology and Lexicon (other topics)
Half a King (other topics)
Light, Time, and Gravity (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Neal Stephenson (other topics)Charles Stross (other topics)
Joel Shepherd (other topics)
Megan Lindholm (other topics)
Robin Hobb (other topics)
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So the question is: Are there authors who have given you so much joy and confidence in their capability to write that you'd buy ANYTHING they wrote, even if it was a vast departure from their normal fare? I mean fantasy authors writing science fiction, or alt-history. Or in the example of Jim Butcher, traversing from Urban Fantasy 1st Person POV, to High Fantasy 3rd Person POV, to now Steampunk.
I have a few, and the more I think about it, the more I realize why I spend so much on books >.< So without further ado, and in no particular order, these are the authors (I'd buy their grocery lists if they made them available):
Neil Gaiman
Brandon Sanderson
Jim Butcher
Philip K. Dick
Terry Pratchett
James S. A. Corey (and of course Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck)
John Scalzi
Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire
There are a few other authors who I'd buy anything in their ongoing worlds, but I haven't seen them branch out yet (i.e. Patrick Rothfuss, Ann Leckie) It occurs to me that I really need to read more books written by women.