Kevin's Watch

Hi guys!

Well, since many of you encouraged me to do another survey, here it is! As I mentioned before, I had officially run out of ideas. But some people submitted suggestions, and this is one of them. Personally, I am persuaded that Robin Hobb will easily take the cake. But it will be interesting to see who else will make the list. . .

As always, feel free to vote here or on the blog. I'll compile the results in about a week!

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Well, I like lighter fare, so Anne McCaffrey gets my vote!

But, can I place Diana Gabaldon a close second? Or J. K. Rowling?

Lois McMaster Bujold

Patricia McKillip

Robin Hobb

Ursula K. LeGuin
(I think of her more as sf than fantasy, as I have read more of her sf books, so she didn't even initially occur to me )

P. C. Hodgell

Ursula K LeGuin

Edit: Now that MsMary has reminded me by bringing her name up, Madeleine L'Engle goes in here at #2.

Anne McCaffrey

Laurell K Hamilton

Personally, I am persuaded that Robin Hobb will easily take the cake. But it will be interesting to see who else will make the list. . .

Although I have little doubt Hobb will win in such a poll, and I defintely am a fan I certainly don't agree she is the best by any means - the exclusion of Lackey and Wurtz are intentional as I find both of them unbearable:

My Top 10 in order:

1. Ursula Leguin - nobody is even close; nobody can match the quatity/quality and versatility. Except maybe Willis.

2. Angela Carter

3. Susanna Clarke

4. Hope Mirless

5. Lois Mcmaster Bujold

6. Mary Gentle

7. Connie Willis

8. Vera Nazarian

9. Patrica Mckillip

10.. Kelly Link

Worth mentioning:

Robin Hobb
KJ Bishop
Tamar Yellin
JV Jones
Diane Wynne Jones
Lynn Flewelling
Steph Swainston
Holly Phillips
CL Moore
Sharon Shinn
Ann McCaffery
Liz Williams
Martha Wells
Catherynne M. Valent,
Jacqueline Carey
Jane Yolen
Tanith Lee
Julian May
JK Rowwing
Kage Baker

Ursula K LeGuin

There is NO other chioce.
Oh, and Robin Hobb is female? i didnt know that.

Robin Hobb; AKA Megan Lindholm.

Patricia McKillip

Ainulindale wrote:the exclusion of Lackey and Wurtz are intentional as I find both of them unbearable

Quite right, Mercedes Lacking ( ) must be excluded. I say Le Guin.

Why no Jane Lindskold on your list Ain? Too "Harlequinny"? I think May should be much higher on your wm list--(I'll confirm that after I actually read one of her books)--Mellisa Scott's pretty good too! (or is this an exclusively fantasy thread?)

I vote for U. K. Leguin, btw, and as well...

Why no Jane Lindskold on your list Ain? Too "Harlequinny"? I think May should be much higher on your wm list--(I'll confirm that after I actually read one of her books)--Mellisa Scott's pretty good too! (or is this an exclusively fantasy thread?)

I've only read one effort by Lindskold that I can remember and it was a collaboration, so not enough to go on

Was it with Roger Zelanzy? She was his protege and helped him finish 3 books or so...

In order of preference:

Patricia McKillip
Ursula LeGuin
Madeleine L'Engle
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Mary Stewart (Merlin series)
J. K. Rowling

It's sort of sad how few female fantasy writers I can think of, compared with the number of male writers.

Ooh, Marion Zimmer Bradley, of course!

Robin Hobb

J.V. Jones

Katherine Kurtz

Patricia McKillip

Edit: How did I forget Martha Wells?

danlo,

Was it with Roger Zelanzy? She was his protege and helped him finish 3 books or so...

It must have been her. She did several collaborations with Mr Zelazny late in his life, some of which are quite good I hear.

I read Lord Demon, one of those collaborations, and it was quite good.

Another woman fantasy writer who has done some good collaborations is Janny Wurts, who did some good work with Raymond Feist in the Daughter of the Empire and its sequels.

Another woman fantasy writer who has done some good collaborations is Janny Wurts

Who also wrote The War of Light and Shadow, and Alliance of the Light whcih still ranks iMHO the worst attempt at epic fantays in the history of the genre

I have heard good things about her collabo with Feist, but, I can't bring myself to read another Wurts work,

Her collaboration with Feist on the Empire series is indeed excellent. Never read anything else by her though.

--A

Avatar wrote:Her collaboration with Feist on the Empire series is indeed excellent. Never read anything else by her though.

--A

Yup, the Empire trilogy is really pretty good. I've only read (well, attempted to read) Wurts' Curse of the Mistwraith and it sucked so bad I couldn't finish it.