My favorite fantasy authors (and why I love them)
Patrick Rothfuss - An extremely talented writer, first and foremost. With refreshing prose that doesn’t resort to shortcuts or dip too deeply in the well of genre stereotype. The Kingkiller Chronicle’s take on fantasy is decidedly non-derivative. I especially love the scenes where Kvothe is playing music! If Rothfuss can close the deal with book three, he may go down as one of the all-time greats. But for now, he is merely GREAT!
Brandon Sanderson - Just enough of the familiar trappings a fantasy reader is looking for, with twists that make his world- and magical system-building unique and special. Mistborn—magic fueled by the consumption of metal! Stormlight Archive—magic powered by the mysterious phenomenon of an energy-storm that regularly passes across the land. And characters that are generally interesting and distinctive enough that you can keep them straight in your head—despite any shifts in point of view.
George R. R. Martin - He writes gritty and grown-up stories. Perhaps he leans a bit dark, thematically. But then, there is a place for that on my nightstand, too. One cannot subsist on dessert alone, right? His prose is clean and enjoyable. And his stories are replete with the Medieval/Renaissance backdrop fantasy readers want. He is not so much revolutionary in his creativity when it comes to magical systems or creatures. But he is a tapestry-weaver of human conflict on a scale that brings to mind writers like Tolstoy.
Terry Brooks - The first three Shannara books are so good. They still rank among my favorites in the genre. A tattered copy of The Sword of Shannara has been handed down and around in my family for years. At one point, it was replaced. And the second copy is now equally tattered. First and foremost it’s the characters. And not just the tier one characters. Even the secondary/supporting characters are wonderful. Panamon Creel. Balinor Buckhannah, Menion Leah, Keltset, Hendel! Next are the settings and descriptions. Brooks includes an abundance of detail about the world around these characters but stops short of being Dickensian. And finally, his plots always start out appearing as straightforward contests between good and evil. But Brooks adds enough internal dialogue, doubt, and depth of characters, that things rarely turn out to be too black and white. Finally . . . ELFSTONES!
Stephen R. Donaldson - His works are not easy. His prose is dense. And his stories require commitment and endurance. Add to that the fact that his anti-hero protagonist, Thomas Covenant, is a horrible person on many levels. So why read them? Because nestled inside his morally challenging, sometimes ponderous storylines are moments of exultation. And some true heroes, to provide even more contrast with the questionably motivated Covenant: Bannor of The Blood Guard. Saltheart Foamfollower. Even Vain! Donaldson’s tales are ultimately not for the faint of heart. But his stories will challenge you if you are willing to expend the emotional energy to work through them.
Piers Anthony - So prolific. So creative. A true visionary who is not afraid to run with his flights of fancy. From the Adept Series to Incarnations of Immortality, to his dabblings in SciFi (like the masterful post-apocalyptic Battle Circle). And, of course, there’s Xanth. I’ve read dozens of Anthony’s books. And they have opened my eyes to what is possible in SciFi and Fantasy tales. Based upon what I see in his writings alone, anything goes!
David Eddings - Pawn of Prophecy’s colorful characters are larger than life. Almost caricatures of archetypes, if you will. The bear. The weasel. The grouchy old man. The enigmatic wise woman. Layered on top of those figures are digestible plot lines. A wholesome underlying morality. And an immersion into a world of medieval trappings where the challenges of modern life are absent, and Garion’s choices feel uncomplicated.
Ursula LeGuin - She wrote clean and powerful stories. In contrast to the others on this list, hers were the most subtle. Her Earthsea books were light enough to be accessible to children. But they were also heavy with meaning. Parables, rather than the lavishly painted eddas and operas of some of these other writers. These were among the first fantasy books I ever read. And their approachability and her light touch served as a perfect entrée to the world of fantasy.
J.R.R. Tolkien - A lover of words and language. A sampler of culture and a builder of new worlds from old mythologies. An academic, but with a creator’s soul. Like so many of the others on this list, much of what he presents to his readers is not truly original. But what he shared in his stories has become an entire genre of writing that did not exist before he came along. Without him, there would have been no one to inspire the other works that have had such an influence on me. The fantasy genre he launched has been an escape and a sanctuary for me for most of my life. And for that, as much as for his own works themselves, I am forever grateful to Professor Tolkien.
Thanks for reading!