Who's Your Favorite Author?
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globalvision
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My favourite author has to be Joseph Conrad. The philospopher John Gray has called Conrad (who died ealy last century) the voice of our times and it's hard to disagree. Conrad had an almost uncanny eye for the hidden impulses that drive human endeavour even, or perhaps especially, when that endeavour claims to be noble, and his dismantling of folly and frailty can be incredibly powerful. Yet his voice is never polemical. Conrad's narrator, be it 1st person or omnipotent, just relates what he sees with a cold, dispsasionate eye. His tales aren't neat moral fables, yet there is almost something of the Greek tragedy in his storytelling: of human beings plunging beyond their limitations, torn apart by chaos from within and without.
So it is galling that so many litterateurs, whilst paying lip service to Conrad's psychological insight, dismiss him somewhat as a hack, preferring the dry as dust stylism of 'the Master' Henry James or the smart-arse literary pyrotechnics of James Joyce.
So it is galling that so many litterateurs, whilst paying lip service to Conrad's psychological insight, dismiss him somewhat as a hack, preferring the dry as dust stylism of 'the Master' Henry James or the smart-arse literary pyrotechnics of James Joyce.
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rooserfeather
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Blueberry
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I suppose this depends on the moment. Interests shift, though I do have a longstanding favorite since I didn't read much before I read him; thus, Tolkien would be my forever favorite. At the moment, I'm very into Cormac McCarthy and I'm just expanding in any new direction I can. I'm getting into some Jose Saramago. He has a really interesting style. I only wish I could read Spanish.
I do so love it when I don't pay attention.
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StephenKingman
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My favorite author is, not surprisingly, Stephen King. Ever since i read my first King novel Carrie at the age of 16 i have been hooked by his stories. I was lucky that i had an older brother who loved King as well so i just started reading his collection instead of buying my own.
I started reading Point Horror books in my early teens but since that first King book i haven't looked back and he remains my favorite author. Often imitated, never bettered.
I started reading Point Horror books in my early teens but since that first King book i haven't looked back and he remains my favorite author. Often imitated, never bettered.
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Daily Alice
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I have so many favorite authors.
My newest is Charles Dickens. I adore his characters and humor.
Other favorites:
Richard Adams
Peter S. Beagle
Ray Bradbury
John Crowley
Stephen R. Donaldson
Robert A. Heinlein
Mark Helprin
Robin Hobb
Patricia McKillip
Vladimir Nabokov
Tom Robbins
Gene Wolfe
And probably more that I am forgetting.
My newest is Charles Dickens. I adore his characters and humor.
Other favorites:
Richard Adams
Peter S. Beagle
Ray Bradbury
John Crowley
Stephen R. Donaldson
Robert A. Heinlein
Mark Helprin
Robin Hobb
Patricia McKillip
Vladimir Nabokov
Tom Robbins
Gene Wolfe
And probably more that I am forgetting.
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Woodland Nymph
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landslide
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Wow 16 pages and only 2 mentions of my fave author: Stephen R. Donaldson
The man is a national treasure for his Thomas Covenant books alone! if you have not read "Lord Fouls Bane" or "The Illearth War" do it now. Don't die without having read those books and the rest, put them on your bucket list.
He's on the same level as that "other" fantasy writer...what was his name? J. R. R. something...
The man is a national treasure for his Thomas Covenant books alone! if you have not read "Lord Fouls Bane" or "The Illearth War" do it now. Don't die without having read those books and the rest, put them on your bucket list.
He's on the same level as that "other" fantasy writer...what was his name? J. R. R. something...
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Amelia
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Hands down Stephen King.
Always a completely different story, different characters, unpredictable, original and incredibly entertaining! I can read most of his stuff over and over and I get lost in the story every time.
I love how the books overlap in little ways, like little bones King is throwing to fans who have read most of his stuff.
Second would have to be John Marsden, although I think I may have grown out of him now the teen angst thing doesn't really speak to me. Still, big influence in my teen years and worth a mention.
Always a completely different story, different characters, unpredictable, original and incredibly entertaining! I can read most of his stuff over and over and I get lost in the story every time.
I love how the books overlap in little ways, like little bones King is throwing to fans who have read most of his stuff.
Second would have to be John Marsden, although I think I may have grown out of him now the teen angst thing doesn't really speak to me. Still, big influence in my teen years and worth a mention.
