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Author Topic: Best-Loved Authors  (Read 5905 times)

Offline Allama

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Best-Loved Authors
« on: August 28, 2007, 05:27:50 PM »
The title says it all.

Of all the authors who's books I've read in my life thus far, I've gotten to have a few favorites: Juliet Marillier, author of the Sevenwaters trilogy, has captured my heart, as has Terry Brooks (a guilty pleasure, to be sure).  Fyodor Dostoyevsky is another clear favorite, though only when one can find a decent translation.

I must confess Orson Scott Card to have created the worlds and characters I have come to love and empathize with most of all.  His writing combines intellectual musings with sincere emotional depth and a true understanding of the nature (and potential) of humankind.
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Offline Akka-Wakka

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2007, 08:52:48 PM »
It would be too easy to say "All the good ones" wouldn't it?

Despite the fact that everyone seems to be embarrassed about reading main stream novels, I feel a certain attraction to the whole J.K. Rowling/J.R.R.Tolkien/Philip Pullman type of authors (although the 4th and 5th Harry Potters aren't very good).

Aside from that, I can easily loose myself in one of Frank Herbert or Isac Asimov's classics with a side helping of down to earth Jane Austen or Robert Louis Stevenson.
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Offline Larry

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2007, 09:14:58 PM »
Hmm, well, apart from all the obvious ones (Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Tolkien, Asimov, etc.) it's hard to think of any particular favourite authors. Tom Holt is pretty good most of the time, and I have a soft spot for Anthony Horowitz. Oh, and Iain Banks, although I'm not a fan of his science-fiction books. I can't think of any more right now, but they'll come to me.
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Offline Ryazania

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2007, 09:18:16 PM »
Moses?
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Offline Of Crazed

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2007, 02:19:06 AM »
Kurt Vonnegut.
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Offline Eientei

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2007, 03:59:34 AM »
Big seconds on Dostoevsky and Vonnegut.  Melville is also one of my favorites.  The detail in his writing really draws me in, although it seems to repel as many people as it attracts.
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Offline kor

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2007, 04:22:07 AM »
There are alot of great authors. It's hard to pick favorites, but Vonnegut is definitely high on the list. Very near the top of my list is Mark Twain and John Steinbeck.
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Offline Solnath

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2007, 09:50:01 AM »
\o/
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Offline Allama

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2007, 11:44:53 AM »
Asimov is one of my favorites, as well!  Nightfall (the novel expanding on the also-excellent short story) was wonderful, as was the original Foundation trilogy.  Vonnegut is an obvious winner, too.

Has anyone else read anything by Alexander Solzhenitsyn?  He's wonderful, really.  I admit to a soft spot for George Orwell, cliche as that is.
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Offline Eientei

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2007, 03:56:33 PM »
Quote from: Allama on August 29, 2007, 11:44:53 AM
Asimov is one of my favorites, as well!  Nightfall (the novel expanding on the also-excellent short story) was wonderful, as was the original Foundation trilogy.  Vonnegut is an obvious winner, too.

Has anyone else read anything by Alexander Solzhenitsyn?  He's wonderful, really.  I admit to a soft spot for George Orwell, cliche as that is.

I'm reading The Gulag Archipelago right now, in fact.  I also read Ivan Denisovich back in high school.  A lot of respect goes to someone who pursues the truth like that, especially when it's difficult to do.
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Offline Bialy Rycesz

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2007, 08:15:21 AM »
Hermann Melville,Joseph Conrad,William Shakespeare,Dante,oh what a shame I almost forgot Mark Twain....The short story Tennessee journalism is one of my favorites of all time
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Offline Khem

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2007, 08:23:00 AM »
Ambrose Bierce. although i can third on the Vonnegut.

Quote
"In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office."
-Ambrose Bierce
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Offline Tanukistan

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2007, 11:39:52 AM »
Let's see... There's obviously Tolkien, but I think Homer, Virgil, Harry Mulisch, Umberto Eco, Jerzy Kosinsky, Orson Welles and Tolstoy deserve to be mentioned as well.
Mind you, the books by them that I've read aren't necessarily my favorites... Their style of writing isn't always to my taste, but that doesn't mean that they're not great authors.
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Offline Solnath

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2007, 11:57:19 AM »
Frank Herbert.
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Offline Allama

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Re: Best-Loved Authors
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2007, 12:18:25 PM »
* Brains Soly with a frying pan.

Reading Herbert feels like that ^ did.  It's as though his main point in writing is "I'M SMARTER THAN YOU, NYAH NYAH!"  I can (and often do) heartily enjoy books that have a lot of in-depth scientific explanations or philosophy or a highly advanced vocabulary; typical "intelligent author" reads.  I cannot, however, stomach Herbert's seemingly-insufferable attitude of superiority.  It sweats out of every page like a rancid sort of arrogant stench.

[/rant]
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