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Heroes Community > Other Side of the Monitor > Thread: Who is your favourite writer and why?
Thread: Who is your favourite writer and why? This thread is 3 pages long: 1 2 3 · «PREV
Corribus
Corribus

Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
posted November 04, 2010 03:28 PM

Why does every author or novel thread quickly devolve into an argument over whether Tolkien was a hack?

*Yawn*

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JollyJoker
JollyJoker


Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
posted November 04, 2010 04:09 PM

I don't see any argument here.
To me it looks like we all pretty much agree here.

About King's The Stand, yeah. That was the first book from him I read in English, since the full version wasn't available in English, and I wanted to read the real deal. Up to that point my impression had been, that he could tell a gripping story, but were quite simplistic in his style.
So The Stand blew me away as well, since it turned out that the simplistic style was that of his translator.
I really enjoyed Misery. Pet Semetary got me somewhere deep in my guts... everyone is different.
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Corribus
Corribus

Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
posted November 04, 2010 05:10 PM

Pet Sematary was creepy.  I still get shivers thinking about it.  And I never have looked at dogs the same way after reading Cujo.  Salem's Lot was probably one of the better vampire novels ever written.

Most of King's later work leaves a little bit to be desired, but Desperation was fantastic.

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Keksimaton
Keksimaton


Promising
Supreme Hero
Talk to the hand
posted November 04, 2010 05:54 PM

"I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." Said a certain Stephen King.
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Noone shall pass, but no one besides him shall pass.

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OmegaDestroyer
OmegaDestroyer

Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
posted November 04, 2010 06:20 PM

Speaking of horror authors, I've recently picked up Lovecraft's works.  Perhaps it's the style or the time I read, but twice now I've been found asleep, book in hand, by my girlfriend.  

At least I don't have to worry about insomnia.

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Corribus
Corribus

Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
posted November 04, 2010 06:53 PM

Quote:
Perhaps it's the style or the time I read, but twice now I've been found asleep, book in hand, by my girlfriend.  


That's better than being found asleep, book in hand, by someone else's girlfriend.

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JollyJoker
JollyJoker


Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
posted November 04, 2010 07:42 PM

Quote:
"I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." Said a certain Stephen King.


He's understating his abilities. He's more like a home-made Burger with a bit of bacon and a very tasty cheese, packed in a crispy burger roll, with fries from real potatoes and a nice fresh salad.

Stephen King... at this point I think that his SHORT work, that is, his short stories and novellas, is severely underrated. He HAS written some really great novels -

I read Salem's Lot first, followed by Shining which was awesome to read; his work under the Richard Bachman alias are EXACTLY my kind of stuff, clipped in tone, slightly understated, and soaked with a feeling of inevitability and purpose; and I just love Christine, even though it's probably not one of his best books, and Dead Zone; Green Mile has been a great movie at least, and Needful Things made a good movie as well; I really enjoyed Cell (probably because I make fun of people with a cell phone fetish) -

but it's the short work he really shines with, whether it's the novellas or the short stories.

And this is my very serious advice for reading King:
don't miss his short stories! That's just great stuff to read as a goodnight story.
And read some of his novellas - lots of them have been made great movies: The Body (Stand by me), Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Mist, The Hearts in Atlantis collection...

In short, Stephen King is a great one in the business. The Dark Tower series caters to fantasy freaks, and I didn't read much Fantasy that surpasses The Talisman.
He may be the equivalent of a burger, but that is just because his output has been so massive.

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Vlaad
Vlaad


Admirable
Legendary Hero
ghost of the past
posted November 04, 2010 07:59 PM

Fantasy seems like a tough genre to love. Tried Martin and Jordan but those read like fan faction. Must check JJ's suggestions.

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Binabik
Binabik


Responsible
Legendary Hero
posted November 04, 2010 08:18 PM

I think I'd have to say that Raymond Feist is my favorite author. I've read all of this books. Some were not up to par, but most are very good. I think he has some of the best character development around. But I suppose the types of characters people like is opinion aa much as the authors abilities.

I liked reading for enjoyment when I was a kid. I read a variety but tended toward sci-fi, and I especially liked Jules Verne as a kid. For some reason I also liked biographies as a kid, don't remember any of them though. As an adult I got completely away from reading for pleasure. I still read a lot but it was text books, newspapers, etc. For a long time I missed reading for pleasure and wanted to get back to it. It wasn't until I was in my mid-40s that I finally did. It's entirely for pleasure now and I don't care if it has any deep message.

So I'd put Feist first. And I also like Tad Williams a lot. I'll give Katherine Kerr and Sean Russel a plug too. I read 95% fantasy now, so I'm not very familiar with other genres. But outside of fantasy I'd mention James Clavell and Mark Twain. Mark Twain totally cracks me up, but I'm not sure if his humor is for everyone.

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JoonasTo
JoonasTo


Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
posted November 04, 2010 08:59 PM

Feist is lovely. Adult fantasy. Not the regular fairytale.

Williams was okay I think. But boring at times. I like how his fantasy world is different from the rest.
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watcher83
watcher83


Supreme Hero
Child of Malassa
posted November 05, 2010 07:04 AM

Quote:
Quote:
I for one just love Mario Vargas Llosa's work.I first discovered him a while ago (6 years?) I recommend him to everyone. According to the saying too little too late he won the nobel prize this year, which in my book means absolutely nothing.
Anyway... I'm curious to hear about your favourites, so pls do.


What does he write about?




Mostly about the misery, anger, violence, corruption of the peruvian society during his youth ( which is very similar to the situation in my country in the past 20 years since the fall of communism), and the problems that individuals have to endure, all presented with sarcasm,revolt and tragi-comic way of showing the ugly side of things which is ever present but most people choose to ignore.
Some present the lives of different persons who are real, or certain historical facts in the same manner as stated above.
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markkur
markkur


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
posted November 05, 2010 05:03 PM
Edited by markkur at 17:05, 05 Nov 2010.

Quote:
Quote:


What does he write about?



Quote:

Mostly about the misery, anger, violence, corruption of the peruvian society during his youth ( which is very similar to the situation in my country in the past 20 years since the fall of communism), and the problems that individuals have to endure, all presented with sarcasm,revolt and tragi-comic way of showing the ugly side of things which is ever present but most people choose to ignore.
Some present the lives of different persons who are real, or certain historical facts in the same manner as stated above.


Those aspects of personality can be very gripping when written by a true crafts-person. I think the best author would have to be able to write as if; they themselves had the written aspect buried deep inside themselves as well, almost like a purge with a pencil.  When I write in my novice way, I tend to write "what I know" and that is the first rule so to speak but if an author stays there <IMO> they would be limited. How could a reader know this difference; good writing or giving a well written account of experience with some part of personality? Only when the author spills the beans

To whomever:
As far as me debating Tolkien here (once again, though not by me) I hope I made a new point. It was not his authorship I wanted to talk about,it was his "schloarship of ancient lit."...his real legacy ...not the Rings. The well behind the pen. The two are of course interwined and hard to seperate.

One other thing: I saw a few positive statements towards older stuff. Look up the "Gutenberg Project" on line. Much of the writing of William Morris (1800s fantasy) and countless others are there because of their writings now being in the public domain.

Make a great day, Markkur

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"Do your own research"

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gnollking
gnollking


Supreme Hero
posted November 05, 2010 05:34 PM

Propably Terry Pratchett but I also indeed like J. R. R. Tolkien
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markkur
markkur


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
posted November 05, 2010 06:07 PM

Quote:
Propably Terry Pratchett but I also indeed like J. R. R. Tolkien


Then You will be safe to read this; I could not stand the Silmarillion. I read it and thought "what in the world?" I was very disappointed, More Rings, not this stuff! Something like 20 years went by and then I read it again. It is beautiful and written like the 'fables of old' but I could not see that at all, way back when. Preference is such a fickle view, especially in myself.

Make a great day...in any old/new way.

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"Do your own research"

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markkur
markkur


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
posted November 05, 2010 06:11 PM
Edited by markkur at 18:12, 05 Nov 2010.

Quote:
I don't see any argument here.
To me it looks like we all pretty much agree here.I really enjoyed Misery

About King's The Stand, yeah. That was the first book from him I read in English, since the full version wasn't available in English, and I wanted to read the real deal. Up to that point my impression had been, that he could tell a gripping story, but were quite simplistic in his style.
So The Stand blew me away as well, since it turned out that the simplistic style was that of his translator.



I think the underlined is sort of what the nutz and boltz of writing is about. Trying to come-up with a new or novel way of grabbing your readers. As you well said; sometimes it is very simple things (even if not intended) that will do it. I imagine that has something to do with the complexity of our real world. But that is just an opine.
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"Do your own research"

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phoenixreborn
phoenixreborn


Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
posted November 06, 2010 05:33 AM

Mickey Zucker Reichert, Rosemary Kirstein, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, George Alec Effinger.  Those are off the top of my head.

MZR - Great fantasy stuff, she pays attention to her characters insides.  Start with The Legend of Nightfall to see if you like her.

RK- Steerswoman series, feminist stuff very rare in the fantasy genre.

HE- "I have no mouth and I must scream" gets all the plaudits and I found it as good as the Stephen King I read.  Some other great short stories from this guy.

RS - he wrote that "Sci-fi is never about the future it is always about the present".  Some of his stuff comes off as social/urban planning predictions and some is just excellent time-travel stories.  Doomforge if you hate JKR plot junk try this guy, he is much more solid.

GAE - An absorbing writer especially if you like the Middle East setting.

Oh and I forgot Orson Scott Card - Ender series was ok, got tired though.  'Lovelock' is an excellent short novel about what it means to be human.
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gnollking
gnollking


Supreme Hero
posted November 07, 2010 11:48 AM

Quote:
Then You will be safe to read this; I could not stand the Silmarillion. I read it and thought "what in the world?" I was very disappointed, More Rings, not this stuff! Something like 20 years went by and then I read it again. It is beautiful and written like the 'fables of old' but I could not see that at all, way back when. Preference is such a fickle view, especially in myself.

I thought exactly the same way when I first read it, but in reality it is a really great book

Another good writer is David Eddings, The Malloreon book series were awesome, and I recommend his books for everyone who likes J.R.R. Tolkien, Heroes of Might and Magic and other fantasy games and books.
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phoenixreborn
phoenixreborn


Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
posted November 07, 2010 01:59 PM

Quote:
Another good writer is David Eddings, The Malloreon book series were awesome, and I recommend his books for everyone who likes J.R.R. Tolkien, Heroes of Might and Magic and other fantasy games and books.


I agree.
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Bask in the light of my glorious shining unicorn.

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