This is supposed to be a blog about stories as well as yarn, and I’ve been slacking on the book reviews and lists.  So-  ta-da!  Here is the beginning of my “I love these authors” list.  Why authors instead of titles?  Because the people on this list are so good at what they do that I can’t pick just one title or even one series.  I’ll start reviews by picking books/series from this list.

Sci-Fi

(yes- sci fi.  The old fashioned abbreviation.  I’m old, and I break out in hives when I see it written as SYFY)

• Neal Stephenson
• Ian Banks
• Peter Hamilton
• Julie Czerneda
• Sheri Tepper
• David Brin
• John Scalzi
• Brandon Sanderson
• Connie Willis

Fantasy

• Robin Hobb
• Patrick Rothfuss
• Jim Butcher
• Neil Gaiman
• Terry Pratchett
• Tad Williams
• Seanan McGuire
• Brandon Sanderson
• Tanya Huff
• Tom Holt
• Lois McMaster Bujold
• Scott Lynch

Urban / Paranormal Fantasy

• Jim Butcher
• Kevin Hearne
• Seanan McGuire
• Shannon Mayer
• Patricia Briggs

Classics Sci Fi/ Fantasy

• L’Engle
• McCaffery
• R.A. McAvoy
• Robert Silverberg
• Roger Zelazny
• Susan Cooper
• Phillip Pullman
• Margaret Weis
• Katherine Kerr

Before you say- wait- What about Benford, Bear, Gibson, Robinson, Scott Card, Modesitt, and all of the authors I love?!  How could this list not include Tolkien!  What about Asimov and Bradbury & Heinlein?!  Alan Dean Foster, Robert Asprin, Piers Anthony.

Peace!  I love these authors too.  I’ve read most of their work.    But for a bunch of capricious reasons. they aren’t on the list.  Most people on the list are actively publishing.  Not all.  Some are important to me for personal reasons.  It’s the joy of having my own list.   And in case there is any doubt:  Terry Pratchett will always be at the top any fantasy list I write.

This isn’t to say that more authors won’t be added along the way.  Maybe I’ll add  lists based on the publishing time period.