Kevin's Watch

We are all well aware of the fact that SRD is perhaps one of the finest, most talented wordsmiths to ever take up the pen ... or word-processor, as current technology would dictate.

But I'm curious to know which other authors of the fantasy genre do the members of The Watch consider peers to our beloved SRD?

(Bear in mind, I don't intend this thread to become a battle to determine which authors are better than others, but only to gauge the boards thoughts in terms of finding which authors they hold in the highest regard alongside Mr. Donaldson!)

As for myself, I'd have to say:

Michael Moorcock
J.R.R. Tolkien
Neil Gaiman
Ray Bradbury


I should point out that I rarely read any hard Science Fiction or Speculative Fiction, so I constructed this topic with mostly Fantasy authors in mind, but please feel free to include any authours you feel are at SRD's level of writing prowess ... perhaps some of us (meaning specifically, ME!) can discover new authors whose work we (I) can enjoy as much as you do!

EDIT - I just realized I put this in the wrong forum. Sorry!

Philip K. Dick is my current favorite. I also like Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke.

Tolkien, Frank Herbert, George Martin--can't think of any others.

In Fantasy? George R. R. Martin, Gene Wolfe and SRD's fav Fantasy author, Steven Erikson (...and David Zindell getting closer with each book in his Ea Cycle: Black Jade [book 3] looks to be a classic!).

In Sci-Fi? David Zindell, Frank Herbert, David Brin, Dan Simmons, Walter Jon Williams, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Ian Banks and the new guy: Tony Daniel with his amazing Metaplanetary and it's sequel, Superluminal.

So far only Martin, but I haven't read Erikson, Wolfe or Zindell yet.

Sum sui generis
Vs

Patricia McKillip and, perhaps China Mieville, to name a couple not listed yet.
Wolfe, Wolfe, Wolfe, and Wolfe

The only other fantasy author other than SRD that I read consistently is Anne McCaffrey, so I'll throw her name in.

I like Ursula K. LeGuin and Marian Zimmer Bradley and (though at a different level) Robin McKinley and Mary Brown.

There: that adds a few more females to the list.

Also, Harlan Ellison is hard to beat.

McKillup (SRD's penpal and to whom he dedicated The One Tree) and Le Guin are fantastic!

Ahhh yes, I forgot Ellison. Brin is hit-or-miss with me. I really enjoyed The Postman, but I'm having a really hard time getting into Earth.

Most of the ones I would say have already been mentioned, but I would throw Lois McMaster Bujold's name out there in addition.

What about:

Fritz Leiber
Robert E. Howard

The Wanderer by Lieber (tho...it is scientifically dated and it's premise somewhat disproven) is one of the greatest Sci-Fis ever written. Cail you need to read Brin's 1st "Uplift" series: Sundiver, (the classic Hugo and Nebula Award winning:) Startide Rising and the Uplift War. Glory Season and The Heart of the Comet (with Gregory Benford) are excellent too...!

Keep going with Earth after halfway it starts to kick serious ass.

In SRD's league? I'd definitely say George R.R. Martin is up there (I'm re-reading 'A Game of Thrones' right now). His Song of Ice & Fire is as nearly close to my heart as 'Covenant' is.

I also think Robin Hobb is great with her Farseer/Liveship Traders/Tawny Man series. (She's next on my re-read list). I haven't read much new fantasy lately, but I keep hearing how good Steven Erikson's books are. Have to read those...

Then there's the classic authors that came before SRD: Eddison's 'The Worm Ouroboros' is a classic; Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast Trilogy (although I thought 'Titus Alone' was pretty weak compared to the first two); Howard's Conan stories; Jack Vance's underrated Lyonesse Trilogy; C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia; and, of course, Tolkien. Where would any *modern* fantasy author be without him?

As far as sci-fi I enjoy Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos and the 'Dune' prequels by Herbert and Anderson.

You know, I love all of these authors, but I can't say that I like any of them BETTER than SRD, including Martin. Let's face it: 'Covenant' is pretty profound stuff, and I just haven't found anything as thought-provoking as they are in a long time (we're talikn' like twenty years here!). Maybe I'm just a SRD snob!

Hope I didn't go off-thread too much.. I get really into these kinds of topics!

Starkin

Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies are magnificent.

And George RR Martin, of course.

Anne Rice, Tamora Pierce, Piers Anthony.... Go ahead, start throwing stuff. They are my fovourites...

I didn't even know SRD played sports.....

After reading "Ruins of the Earth", anyone.

That's f***ed up.

Agreed, but it's his opinion to a question asked, so ...