Le Guin
Obviously, Mary Shelley. Created the most famous character of all time and the entire genre of science fiction while still a teenager.
I’m a fan of Tanith Lee. She started weird fantasy and Neil Gaiman stole all his best ideas and most of his writing style from her.
Karen Slaughter writes detective novels that make Jack Reacher look like a school boy.
Tana French is Slaughter’s Irsih cousin.
Joanna Russ was an out Lesbian back in the 1970s. “The Female Man” is still cutting edge.
I’m curious about your Lee/gaiman idea. I can’t see it at all and Don’t Bite the Sun is my fav ever.
In “Death’s Master” the Demon Prince refers to the Lord of Delusions as “uncousin.”
In the ‘Sandman’ comics there are a lot of little cut-away stories, just like the tale of the teardrop necklace in “Night’s Master.”
deleted by creator
Thus proving my point.
Ah! I’ve not read Sandman so utterly unaware
They put out the whole comic series in four big printed volumes after the TV show came out. The entire run of the comic.
Get them from your local library; they are worth a read, and if you get them from the library he doesn’t get any more money.
There’s also always piracy arrrrr.
But yes support your local library.
I meant printed volumes.
Don’t steal books form the library.
I meant digital volumes. I agree, support your library, do not steal from it.
Haven’t read either of these two authors, but by “cut away stories” do you mean stories within the story? If so there is a long tradition of that, going back to the 1001 Arabian Nights, post modern authors like John Barth, etc.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to talk about the authors’ styles if you haven’t actually read them.
That is true, but I didn’t say anything about their styles.
Agatha Christie. While not quite what I like there is no denying her success.
A lot of folk are giving great answers here.
I just want to add Andre Norton to the list. She was a pioneer in Sci-Fi and her fantasy work was great too.
I’m disappointed that no one has mentioned Lois McMaster Bujold yet.
I don’t know about “of all time” but “The Coming Plague” by Laurie Garrett should be required reading.
Poets are authors too, so I’m tossing mine in for Emily Dickinson
Ellen Booraem (YA, she’s great at writing books from a totally different angle), Oyinkan Braithwaite (she’s only written two books so far but they’re great), Katharine Kerr.
Many great authors mentioned. I’ll add: Marilynne Robinson is magic. Harper Lee. Zora Neale Hurston!!! I’ll also add Charlotte Bronte bc Jane Eyre is such a great read.
Incorrect answer but I’m very excited every time she has a book, Mary Roach.
I met her in person! She’s super funny!!
Lucky you! I am 0% surprised she’s funny, that combination of smarts n funny is what makes her writing so goddamned good.
Ursula LeGuin
Margaret Atwood
Diana Wynne Jones
and for personal preference, Robin McKinley
Ursula le Guin is a great SF writer
metacommantary: "
Who os the best X of all time?"
All answers are about am*rican or british X.
This thread also made me realise that I do not read that many woman-writ books.
answer:
I enjoyed books by : Ursula K. Le Guin, JK Rowling, Patricia Ann McKillip, and Kathy Reichs.
All answers are about am*rican or british X.
Maybe you have not read my answer?
you are probably right
Does there really have to be a post complaining that English speaking countries are over represented on every post like this that is in English?
I’m sorry. That’s a thorn in my ass I guess.
If you set your language to your native one you’ll stop seeing these posts.
I’ll stop seeing any posts.
Sorry, but we also don’t want you to go. The last thing we need is less diversity. You know the are country/language centric instances.
Thanks for kind words. I enjoy my english centric experience and will stay.
Post the same question in a comm that uses another language that you speak and see what answers you get there.
Marjane Satrapi
Persepolis was intense but beautifully conveyed, full agree.
Toni Morrison
Angela Carter
Virginia Wolfe
Shirley Jackson
Octavia Butler
