the archives
dusted off in read-only
dusted off in read-only
Consider the following (hands Bill Nye his obligatory nickel):
Glen Cook is an excellent author .... the Black company is well plotted
Steven Brust is very good as well .... The Phoenix Guards is a good place
to start.
Charles De Lint ................. Try Svaha if you can find it ... myths with a
twist
Elizabeth Moon............... The Deed of Paksenarrion is excellent ... not
for the plot which is average at best but the
realistic look at combat in the sword and
sorcery world is interesting
David Drake .................. Grab yourself a copy of The Lord of the Isles
David Gemmel .............. A bit repetitive in his plotting but Legend is a
must read.
The Eddings ................. Just for the setting and character development
in the first four books. Plotting is a bit ho hum
but I loved them as a young adult for their deft
growth of character and some nifty down home
description of places like Aunt Pol's Kitchen.
Steven Erikson .......... Similar to Cook and much more interesting in
his characters and plotting.
Those should keep you busy for a bit. Enjoy 
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Two two word phrases .... Historical fiction .... Harry Turtledove ....
oh .... and enjoy
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Alas, egad, *blushes with a shameful admission* I have read Forgotten Realms material. Salvatore is the best of the TSR authors (IMHO). However, alas, that is not a high standard. view post
I would say Shadow then Ender but you can't lose.... they are all amazingly funny. Just my two cents. view post
The Eddings are not offensive (well, any more than Barny *evil chuckle*).... and I agree great for teen reading .... not really "grown up" stuff. Would have to say Hubbard ... just because he gave the world ... scientology ... win the bet and lose the world .... icky ... *shudder* *minor rant.... apologies* By the way .... Heinlein was bit odd in his later years but consider he was writing about stuff that no one else would touch in the 30s, 40s and 50s ... sure he was a right wing, misogynist with a penchant for large breasted women and redheads (not blondes) but an Original (in the Znaimer sense). view post
The major reason that I enjoy Bakker's writing is that he has created an interesting world peopled by more than simple heroes, villians and vapid supporting characters. His characters are not for the faint of heart, they are gritty fully human (and fallible) with their own contexts.
I find Bakker's attempt at injecting conflicting elements of philosophy, religion, culture, bizarre social mores and true racial dichotomies (I am talking of Human, Non-Man, Sranc and Demon/Dragon etc.) into a fantasy setting intellectually stirring. He seems to have adopted an almost relentless pursuit of crushing the western version of truth, found in most fantasy novels, into the fine philosophical dust of used to cover the travel worn boots of his Crusaders as they head to Shimeh.
Intriguing questions abound from this writer's work. Not the least of which would certainly make Eric Fromm smile. If the power of the Logos is found only in complete submission to its tenets, then are the "Truly Free" truly free? Said in a more simple fashion ... does the realization of the futility of free will make one free? Hmmm ... okay, perhaps that is not more simple 
Any way .... good plotting .... excellent setting and character description and development .... a non apologetic approach to the setting and cultural descriptions *considers hugging the publisher that allowed a glossary to be included* which I enjoyed ... and well history that means something to the characters and the settings .... that and a cracking good read.
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Gaiman is not my favourite author but he writes well enough that I read American Gods to the end and then picked up another of his books. Worth the read if you are not knee deep in other interesting authors. By the bye ... anyone read any Wade Stanley? view post