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Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: AllWrong on July 03, 2009, 10:39:24 AM

Title: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AllWrong on July 03, 2009, 10:39:24 AM
A little while back, I heard they hired some dude I'd never heard of to write the last WoT book.  My heart sank.  I've seen what happens when others try to finish off (or add to) a series.  Anyone horrified themselves with the Brian Herbert Dune books?  I have *shudder*.  Anyway, I thought "Actually, this guy must be pretty good if they hired him to finish these books.  I mean, choosing a virtually unknown author is a big risk."  So, I went out and bought Mistborn (Mistborn and Elantris were his only 2 published works at the time...then again, I wasn't looking in Young Adult, so I don't know when those were released.)  WOW.  I mean just wow.  He blew me away, I started staking out the bookstore looking for release dates.  He has impressed me so much, he is one of my favorite authors, now.

What I am wondering is this.  Who are your top 5-10 favorite authors?  Here is mine in order.

10. Neil Gaiman (Such a twisted imagination...Neverwhere is like an even more twisted (and modern) Alice in Wonderland)
9. William Gibson (Vin is the fantasy equivalent of Molly  ;D )
8. John Steakley (He'll never get higher, unless he writes more...only 2 books.  Armor is one of the best books I've ever read, though.)
7. Robert Heinlen (Whoever butchered Starship Troopers into that movie should be dragged into the street and shot.)
6. Robert Jordan (Nuff Said)
5. Brandon Sanderson (Yes, he edged out Mr. Jordan for my top 5.)
4. Orson Scott Card (I LITERALLY can't put Ender's Game down.  I read it straight through every time, 8 hours from the time I open the cover, tops.)
3. Melanie Rawn (Now...this woman is bloodthirsty.  She kills off so many characters...sometimes even the ones you love.)
2. Frank Herbert (I must not fear...fear is the mind killer.  Fear is the little death which brings total obliteration...)
1. J.R.R. Tolkien (I've read the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, and the Silmarillion 34 times each.  I'm not sure what is more sad, that I've read them 34 times, or that I KNOW I've read them 34 times.)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Valkynphyre on July 03, 2009, 01:21:24 PM
8. Anne Mccaffrey
7. Tom Clancy
6. Ray Bradbury
5. Dan Brown
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Orson Scott Card
2. Robert Jordan
1. Brandon Sanderson


last on my list

#107129848709147091. Stephanie Meyer
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Publius on July 03, 2009, 01:24:54 PM
Fantasy is my favorite yet least read genre, so I don't have many fantasy authors on my list but here it is:

10)  George R.R. Martin - Fantasy

9)     Tad Williams - Fantasy

8 -    Bernard Cornwell - Historical Fiction

7)     Michael Connelly - Mystery

6)     Nelson Demille - Suspense/Action

5)    Brandon Sanderson - Fantasy

4)    Steven Pressfield - Historical Fiction

3)    Robert Jordan - 1st fantasy author I ever read, so he'll always be tops on my fantasy list.

2)    Vince Flynn - Political Thriller

1)     Mario Puzo  -  The author that got me back into reading will always top these lists for me.

There you go.  My Top Ten list.

Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: ErikHolmes on July 03, 2009, 07:17:07 PM
It's tough to put them in order, but here's what I came up with.

1.  Roger Zelazny: Nothing tops the Chronicles of Amber
2. Brandon Sanderson: Mistborn was very good, I think Way of Kings might even be better.
3. Steven Brust: He might actually rate higher then Brandon, I've reread the Vlad Taltos books many times.
4. E. E. Knight, he's the best author out there that no one seems to know about.
5. David Farland: I'm really enjoying all of the Runelords books
6. Greg Keyes: The Briar King and the rest of the Kingdom of Thorn and Bone series was excellent.
7. Jim Butcher: I just started reading The Dresden Files, but I am really enjoying them too.
8. Fred Saberhagen: I loved the Books of Swords
9. Orson Scott Card: The Ender series was great, I should read more of his stuff.
10. Laurell K. Hamilton! If this chick wrote less about sex and more about her stories, she'd be one of the best out there.

Damn, Robin Hobb, Karen Moning, Kate Elliot, Elizabeth Haydon, Holly Black, should probably be up there too!
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Raphael on July 03, 2009, 10:01:53 PM
1. Robert  Jordan
2. Brandon Sanderson
3. Frank Herbert
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Terry Brooks
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AGrey on July 04, 2009, 01:01:01 AM
In the top 3 with Stephen King and Robert Jordan.

which ne takes top slot depends on my mood at the time
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: necronos on July 04, 2009, 01:09:17 AM
My list:

5)David Gemmell (He really cemented me into reading fantasy)
4)Robert Jordan (I'm so invested in his work at this stage, he can't not appear on the list)
3)Brandon Sanderson (I've only read two books of his at the moment, he might move up more after I read Mistborn)
2)Dan Abnett (I loved his stuff in the comic 2000AD, then I discovered his 40k stuff)
1)Terry Pratchett (one word - Discworld)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Ari54 on July 04, 2009, 04:56:08 AM
While I don't think I'm likely to ever list my favourite authors in order as it seems a little arbitrary, I can certainly say that Brandon is currently my favourite living author.

I don't know if anyone's likely to replace my special affection for Frank Herbert as the first long-form Scifi/Fantasy author whose work I read. I guess that makes him my absolute favourite for now.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: little wilson on July 04, 2009, 09:42:22 PM
My list:

10. Gail Carson Levine - children's lit
9. Terry Pratchett - fantasy/humor
8. David Eddings - epic fantasy
7. Meg Cabot - teen fiction/humor/mystery
6. Cassandra Clare - teen fiction/urban fantasy
5. JRR Tolkien
4. Orson Scott Card - science fiction
3. Scott Westerfeld - science fiction/dystopia
2. Libba Bray - teen fiction/fantasy
1. Brandon Sanderson

Note that this isn't quite the precise order, but it's close. And there are a lot of other authors who I love who should probably be on this list too....Like Piers Anthony, Susan Cooper, TA Barron, Robert Jordan (haven't finished the whole series, which is why he isn't on there right now...), Maureen Johnson, John Grisham, Shannon Hale, etc.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 05, 2009, 05:22:43 AM
Card groupies i hate you all....

1. Robert Heinlein
1. Roger Zelazny
3. Brandon Sanderson
3. Issac Asimov
5. Robert Jordan
6. Stephen Erickson
7. Frank Herbert
8. Larry Niven
9. J.R.R. Tolkien
10. Harlan Ellison
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Plasman on July 06, 2009, 12:36:29 AM
Wow. sounds like i have some reading to do...

9. Scott Lynch (The Lies of Locke Lamora was just awesome. I highly Recommend it, though the sequel wasn't nearly as good)
8. David Farland
7. John Scalzi (so far all of his books have been very entertaining)
6. JK Rowling
5. CS Lewis
4. RA Salvatore (If for nothing other than his fight scenes)
3. Tolkien
2. Orson Scott Card (sorry Kaz. even his short stories leave me in awe)
1. Brandon Sanderson (never has an author intrigued me more. I've spent many, many nights I should have spent sleeping speculating on the worlds Brandon has created)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on July 06, 2009, 04:01:14 AM
These lists are very Brandon-topheavy, but...what else should I expect, in the Brandon Sanderson forum?
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: necronos on July 06, 2009, 06:16:25 AM
Ookla, you should see the 'Favorite Authors Assistant' lists... it is very you heavy  ;D
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AllWrong on July 06, 2009, 10:34:02 AM
Quote
Card groupies i hate you all....

**GASP**

There's someone out there that actually DOESN'T like Card?  The man is a literary genius in my opinion.

Anyway, with everything I read from or about Brandon my opinion of him rises.  If he keeps going the way he's been, I foresee him taking Tolkien's place in another 5-10 years.  Coming from me, that is very high praise, indeed.

EDIT:
Wow, you know this list has the side-effect of reminding me of alot of authors to go back and re-read.  Thanks, guys!
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Rrikor on July 06, 2009, 03:37:54 PM
Well I am going to say that Robert Jordan is my favorite other then that in no particular order. Mainly because the order changes with my reading habit at the time.

Brandon Sanderson
Anne Mccaffery
Rick Cook (If you are a computer geek this is an interesting fantasy series)
Mercedes lackey
Robin Hobb
David Farland
L. E. Modesett Jr
R.A. Salvatore

I also read read alot of dragonlance books but the authors change alot in those. 
I am sure I am missing some but I own alot of books.   
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Zhalfirin on July 07, 2009, 02:26:29 AM
10. H. P. Lovecraft
 9.  Robert W. Chambers (I always found idea behind The King in Yellow intriguing)
 8.  Neil Gaiman
 7.  Tom Clancy
 6. Stephen King
 5. Isaac Asimov
 4. Brandon Sanderson
 3. Robert Heinlein
 2. Robert Jordan (Best fantasy author I've read)
 1. Peter F. Hamilton (His style of writing reminds me a lot of RJ, but for Scifi)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: WriterDan on July 07, 2009, 05:47:19 AM
I have a difficult time rating my favorite authors.  The cream of the crop though are:

Daniel Abraham
KJ Parker
Scott Bakker
Robert Jordan
Joe Abercrombie
Stephen King (for his stories and characters, if not his endings)

Brandon probably fits somewhere towards the bottom of the top 20.  Thus far, I've been very impressed with his ideas (magic systems, worlds, plots) and his characterizations, but have felt the actual directions that his stories take to be somewhat lacking.  Worth my reading time, just not a top position with my favorites.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Zimra on July 08, 2009, 02:30:52 AM
I don't have an order of who's my favourite, so off the top of my head...

David Eddings (The characters in the Belgariad are brilliant. He may not be the most sophisticated writer, but along with Tolkien he got me into fantasy.)

Raymond E. Feist (Again, not the most sophisticated author,  but my old English teacher gave me a copy of Magician, and I love the whole Riftwar universe. He needs to write more about Kelewan, though.)

George R.R. Martin (Wish he'd write faster)

Frank Herbert (I love Dune)

Robert Jordan

Brandon Sanderson

My all time favourite though has got to be Janny Wurts. The Wars of Light and Shadow is the best fantasy series I've ever read, and her standalone books are great too, especially Master of Whitestorm.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Ehran on July 08, 2009, 04:33:32 AM

George R.R. Martin (Wish he'd write faster)


There, I helped correct your statement a bit. 
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: morppp on July 22, 2009, 04:28:59 PM
My current top 10 authors
1) George R. R. Martin
2) Susanna Clarke
3) Robin Hobb
4) J. D. Salinger
5) Donna Tartt
6) Patrick Süskind
7) Robert Jordan
8) Brandon Sanderson
9) Trudi Canavan
10) Jonathan Stroud


Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Jexral on July 22, 2009, 06:31:44 PM
5 Brandon Sanderson
4 Mark Z. Danielewski
3 Terry Goodkind
2  Robert Jordan
1 (And the oddity...) Emily Bronte.  I just love that Wuthering Heights.  <grin>
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 22, 2009, 11:19:06 PM
Does anyone remember at what age and what author that got you interested in the genre? i was 7 or 8 and i read John Peel's Diadem (books of magic) and since it is a kids or ya (i can't remember what age group it was written for) i really am not interested in rereading it... i read harry potter a year later and like that series more but it wasn't the stone that tipped the boulder running for me.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: FantasyAngel on July 22, 2009, 11:46:27 PM
If I remember correctly I was 15 and it was Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials that really propelled me into fantasy.  Prior to that I was heavily into point horror books.  I probably would still be a big horror reader now if I hadn't picked The Golden Compass up at the book fair to do a book report on for  english class.  I've never looked back although I still branch out occasionally.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: sortitus on July 23, 2009, 02:53:29 AM
I started by reading Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three in 1st grade, which would make me 6-7. My brother talked incessantly about WoT when I was in 3rd grade (he was in 5th), so I read that series so I wouldn't be clueless in conversation. I was done for after that.

Brandon's in the top 10 somewhere. Zelazny is probably number one, though he does do some things that irk me occasionally. Jordan, Pratchett, and Bujold are up there.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 23, 2009, 04:40:16 AM
Yay three people agree Zelazny pwns!!!! though i do have him tied for 1st
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: little wilson on July 23, 2009, 07:37:13 AM
I mocked fantasy for the longest time. I was converted in about 8th or 9th grade. I'm not sure which I read first because they were so close together but it was either The Belgariad, or Harry Potter. I'm leaning more towards HP, though, because I distinctly remember when my sister went into the living room to read Goblet of Fire (chapter was The Dark Mark) out loud to her twin, and I decided to go in and make fun of it....Yeah, I failed miserably.  :D
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Hero of Ages on July 23, 2009, 09:24:46 AM
EUOL is definitely near the top of my list of favorite authors along with Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, enuf said), David Eddings, Ben Bova, Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land [the unabridged version, naturally] is one of my favorite books of all time), Tolkien (The Hobbit is the 1st "High/epic fantasy I read over 20 years ago when I was 10 or so, and as such will always hold a special place in my heart), R.A. Salvatore, Dean Koontz, Poe (probably my favorite all around author, from poetry to short stories, fantastic), Neil Gaiman (if you haven't read Everwhere you are missing out), Le Guin (the Earthsea series is fantastic), just to name a few.

You may notice that RJ is missing. Yeah, so, I am one of the few that just couldn't finish reading his books.   I thought book 1 was good (enough so that I kept reading) but by the time I got about half way thru Lord of Chaos (book 6), I realized I just didn't care about any of the characters and wasn't interested in what happens next.  So I stopped reading.  Blasphemy, I know.  I own books 1-10 so I may eventually go back and start over again.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Bururian on July 23, 2009, 11:26:36 AM
5. Brent Weeks
4. Tad Williams
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Robert Jordan
1. Brandon Sanderson

It fluctuates on a yearly basis, so things shift. This year Jordan is behind Sanderson, next year Sanderson could drop, but that I highly doubt. It's just on what I'm really into at the moment.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Kestrel on July 23, 2009, 08:23:48 PM
Sanderson is easily my favorite right now. I recently started going through the Mistborn books with my girlfriend, and they're absolutely fantastic. Hands down some of the best books I've read in ages. No one comes close right now. xD

Other than that, I don't really have a particular order. Tamora Pierce is probably the only other author I enjoy that comes close to Sanderson, but while I enjoy a lot of others I really can't say that they'd be ranked as favorites.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: musicman99 on July 23, 2009, 10:57:06 PM
1. J. R. R. Tolkien
2. Orson Scott Card
3. Robert Jordan
4. Brandon Sanderson
5. Isaac Asimov (go Foundation!)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 25, 2009, 04:04:46 AM
yay some sci fi peeps!!! if you think that cheering goes for people who put down orson scott card and possibly one other it doesn't..you are a card groupie and i hate you all!!! :P though you can redeem yourself by either putting asimov or heinlien on you list
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Danath on July 25, 2009, 05:30:42 PM
In no particular order:

Brandon Sanderson
Stephen Lawhead
JRR Tolkien
Robert Jordan
Bernard Cornwell
Isaac Asimov
Patrick O'Brian
Conn Iggulden
Frank Herbert
David Eddings
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Relient A on July 25, 2009, 07:07:14 PM
These lists are very Brandon-topheavy, but...what else should I expect, in the Brandon Sanderson forum?

It's hard to not like a guy who writes this well, works as hard as he does, AND manages to remain a part of his community of readers while pulling 16 hour workdays trying to meet an insane deadline for WoT.

I'm having an extremely difficult time making a list... My memory is horrible, so I'd have to reread all of these authors again (which I usually do in cycles of two years) to make a definitive one:

1. Brandon Sanderson: I addressed this above. I also have genuinely enjoyed every published book I've read so far to the point of losing sleep just to finish them.
2. Terry Brooks: I think I've seen posts on here bashing his work to a fair extent so I don't think he's much popular here, but he was (besides The Phantom Tollbooth, which I read no less than 30 times in 2nd grade) my introduction to the fantasy realm. Yes, The Sword of Shannara completely ripped off LotR, but the rest of the series is all him. Word/Void also probably is one of my favorite series ever.
3. Orson Scott Card: Speaker For The Dead. I don't think I need to say anything after those 4 words.
4. J.K. Rowling: I know, I know... typical answer, blah blah. But seriously, her writing ability improved immensely with each book released. And I've read the books so many times that I'm doubting I'll ever be emotionally connected to characters like these again.
5. Robert Jordan: He would undoubtedly be higher on the list if my attention span/memory allowed me to enjoy his super long descriptions of how an attractive woman's dress makes her breasts look perfectly round.

EDIT: This is not to say I don't enjoy the books. Note that while he is last on my list, that's only 5 names.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Meer on July 29, 2009, 04:44:10 PM
I am going to limit my list to the fantasy genre, or it will be considerably too long.

10.  Andre Norton - Yes, she wrote fantasy as well as scifi.  One of the first I read and the first I met.
09.  Orson Scott Card - I've only read one fantasy series by him, or he would likely move up.
08.  Ursula LeGuin - She never wrote enough to suit me
07.  Lloyd Alexander - Taran Wanderer is still one of my favorites about growing up
06.  Robert Lynn Asprin - I am saddened that he will never finish Myth Adventures
05.  Roger Zelazny - Creatures of Light and Darkness is my favorite
04.  Raymond Feist - Epic
03.  Fred Saberhagen - Empire of the East and the later Swords books were great
02.  Robert Jordan
01.  Finally read Brandon's books.  He is currently on the top of the list as his are the most recently read. 



Insofar as I may be heard by anything, which may or may not care what I say, I ask, if it matters, that you be forgiven for anything you may have done or failed to do which requires forgiveness. Conversely, if not forgiveness but something else may be required to insure any possible benefit for which you may be eligible after the destruction of your body, I ask that this, whatever it may be, be granted or withheld, as the case may be, in such a manner as to insure your receiving said benefit. I ask this in my capacity as your elected intermediary between yourself and that which may not be yourself, but which may have an interest in the matter of your receiving as much as it is possible for you to receive of this thing, and which may in some way be influenced by this ceremony. Amen.

From Creatures of Light and Darkness.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 29, 2009, 10:52:25 PM
What confuses me is the father son relationship of that book...i mean it is seriously wacky
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AllWrong on July 30, 2009, 12:03:09 PM
Quote
Does anyone remember at what age and what author that got you interested in the genre?

I'll never forget it.  The Hobbit when I was 6.  Fellowship of the Ring when I was 7, and The Two Towers and The Return of the King when I was 8.  The book that made me realize that REALLY BIG BOOKS were cool was Shogun.  The first book I ever read over 1,000 pages.

Quote
yay some sci fi peeps!!! if you think that cheering goes for people who put down orson scott card and possibly one other it doesn't..you are a card groupie and i hate you all!!!  though you can redeem yourself by either putting asimov or heinlien on you list

You'll note I have Heinlen and Steakley on my list, as well as Card.  I was going to make some remark to banter with you, something like "BLASPHEMY!", but I have to ask, Kaz.  What gives?  What is it about Card that you dislike so much?
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AllWrong on July 30, 2009, 12:05:47 PM
Oh yeah, and I'm really glad I first posted this topic.  I've found quite a few authors, thanks to you guys.  Another thing that's helped is that I got a Sony Reader, and looking for books on it has opened me to quite a few new ones, as well.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: WriterDan on July 30, 2009, 06:30:08 PM
2. Terry Brooks: I think I've seen posts on here bashing his work to a fair extent so I don't think he's much popular here

There hasn't been a whole lot of Terry Brooks bashing going on that I know of.

However--

ahem

--there has been a fair bit of Terry Goodkind bashing.  And as far as those bits are concerned, I can say that I've been a proud contributor.  :D
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 31, 2009, 04:50:52 AM
What gives is,and i do believe my opinion in sci-fi and fantasy is valid as it is all i read that isn't a text book, while he is a fair author he has been blown to such huge proportions, that i am of the belief of, he doesn't live up to. Not to mention the fact that Ender's Shadow is much better written than Ender's Game and yet the award winning one is the latter. To sum it all up i believe he is of the same stock as JK Rowling (though i prefer her...and after my re-read she has grown on me enough that i will rank her as an A- in the genre instead of a B)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AllWrong on July 31, 2009, 08:09:20 AM
A fair point that Ender's Shadow was better written.

However, I've said this before and others on these boards have agreed...Warbreaker is better written than the Mistborn Trilogy, but I LIKE the Mistborn Trilogy better.  That has alot to do with it.  (Though in the case of Card, if you want to discuss best written and most likeable book in the Ender and Bean series, I'd have to say (for me at least) the award for both goes to Speaker for the Dead.)

Anyway, thanks for the answer.  We can now return to our banter.

"You don't like Card??? BLASPHEMY!"
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Geomantrix on August 04, 2009, 06:45:00 AM
I'm not a very big reader, and very much less of a fantasy reader, but here goes:

1.  Orson Scott Card
2.  Laura Ingalls Wilder
3.  Fyodor Dostoevsky
4.  Jane Austen
5.  Leo Tolstoy
6.  Brandon Sanderson
7.  J.K. Rowling
8.  Frank Herbert

Actually, this is probably the list of authors who've ever induced me to read more than one of their books.  The upside of being so picky is I've honestly never read any Stephanie Meyers.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: AllWrong on August 06, 2009, 07:57:01 AM
I read the entire Twilight series.  My brother and sister-in-law don't read, so I promised them I would read anything my neice or nephew wanted to read to vet it before allowing them to.  This, unfortunately, lead to me needing to read the entire series...wow, just...WOW.

I think Stephen King said it best, "Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. ... The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good."
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Batchman on August 06, 2009, 07:45:14 PM
Brandon doesn't make my list yet, because I am too new to him. I have read two books, and through bits and pieces am tremendously interested in three more (plus WOT, of course) but I have only been reading him for a couple of weeks. Give it a few months to sink in, and we'll see where things stand.

I can't put my lists in direct order at this point, so I will mention #1 authors in certain areas.

Children's Humor: Gordon Korman
Non-Children's Humor: P.G. Wodehouse
Science Fiction: Isaac Asimov
Children's Fantasy: JK Rowling
Non-Children's Fantasy: Ray Feist (with honorable mentions to Janny Wurts, David Eddings, Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, Terry Pratchett, and many others ... I read more fantasy than anything else.)
Mystery: Dick Francis
Animal Stories: Colonel S.P. Meek
Classics: Dickens? Avoided him due to school, when possible, but recently read David Copperfield and found it a very enjoyable story.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on August 06, 2009, 10:41:24 PM
Hooray for Gordon Korman! His books brought me and my wife together.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Batchman on August 07, 2009, 02:59:05 AM
Check out his web site some time (if you haven't already) ... http://www.gordonkorman.com.

He's still writing up a storm, though it is all adventure rather than humor, now.

I started Warbreaker (is that the right name) online last night, and had a hard time stopping.

I am almost certain Brandon is going to be in my top ten list in the near future!
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on August 07, 2009, 03:27:39 AM
Best mystery writer is Arthur Conan Doyle
Humor  everyone should buy I Am America and So Can you because it's probably funnier than his show (it's Steven Colbert's book)
As for classics i like George Orwell
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Hero of Ages on August 07, 2009, 06:12:06 AM
Best mystery writer is Arthur Conan Doyle

I would almost agree with you there if it weren't for Poe.  He basically invented the "modern" mystery story.  I just wish that he had written more than 2 stories.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on August 07, 2009, 05:08:28 PM
10) John Steakly (Armor FTW)
9) O. S. Card (Seriously, he only had one really good book in Ender's Game, but that book rocked like none other)
8) Heinlen (I loved Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land)
7) Stephen Gould (Little known author, but you have to check him out; Read Jumper, so much better than the movie)
6) Mercedes Lackey (Chrome Circle is her best work while everything else she writes is at least decent)
5) C. S. Lewis (He really knows how to get you emotionally involved in a story; his non-fiction is really good too)
4) Robert Jordan (Some of his books dragged on way too long or he'd be higher on the list)
3) Edgar Allen Poe (He started it all for me; The Tale Tell Heart is awesome)
2) Brandon Sanderson (Everything I could want from an author: great characters, original storylines, and twists that actually catch me by surprise)
1) Terry Pratchett (His way of looking at the world puts him at the top of the list; his work is social commentary, humor, and fantasy, all rolled into one, and that's hard to beat)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on August 07, 2009, 09:22:00 PM
What are you recovering from...a terriable case of temporary optimism??? Being cynical is SOOO healthy so that can't be it...trust me on it ;)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on August 08, 2009, 10:37:01 PM
What are you recovering from...a terriable case of temporary optimism??? Being cynical is SOOO healthy so that can't be it...trust me on it ;)

But you see, I chose my forum name because it is a conundrum, an irreconcilable juxtaposition of descriptors.  :) 

It also happens to be accurate.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Batchman on August 11, 2009, 09:21:32 PM
OK, fourth Sanderson book down, and he's now on my favorite author list ... not in any particular order, but he's in there! I just seem to reallyy enjoy the kinds of writings Brandon does!

Elantris was a heck of a lot of fun, and I just plowed through the entire thing in on sitting, last night!

Mutant Zombie Gods! Way cool!
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Shaggy on August 15, 2009, 02:33:48 AM
Quote
last on my list

#107129848709147091. Stephanie Meyer

She doesn't even deserve a number.

I'm not well-read (or old enough!) to have spread through a big enough range, to have read enough period, or basically to read the books i want to (and will (hopefully)) eventually read, but up there right now: RJ, BS, Patrick Rothfuss, Ray Bradbury, Mercedes Lackey, Chaim Potok, Michael Crichton, Jonathan Stroud, and all the others that I can't think of right now.  :)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: sortitus on August 15, 2009, 03:12:11 AM
She doesn't even deserve a number.
I think she deserves a number. If we don't give her a number then the professional reaper won't think she's an author and will forget to punch her ticket. Goodness, that's a mess of a metaphor if I've ever seen one. I'm kicking a dead metaphor and mixing my horses. Or something.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: little wilson on August 15, 2009, 03:36:44 AM
I think she deserves a number. If we don't give her a number then the professional reaper won't think she's an author and will forget to punch her ticket. Goodness, that's a mess of a metaphor if I've ever seen one. I'm kicking a dead metaphor and mixing my horses. Or something.

Question: Do we want the professional reaper to think she's an author? Doesn't she give other authors a bad name (with her distinct and blatant lack of professionalism)?

That said, the number given, I think, is too low. It needs to be MUCH higher...Like, add about 5 more zeros to the end.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Shaggy on August 15, 2009, 03:38:12 AM
Naw, zeros make it lower. Use nines.

:P
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: little wilson on August 15, 2009, 03:40:06 AM
True. Very true. I was mostly just referring to digits in general, but yes. Nines are more appropriate. ;)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: sortitus on August 15, 2009, 04:02:38 AM
Question: Do we want the professional reaper to think she's an author? Doesn't she give other authors a bad name (with her distinct and blatant lack of professionalism)?
Well, if the professional reaper doesn't think she's an author, he won't come round to kill her career. Of course, she may have killed it already with the leaked manuscript breakdown. I hope that's the case, but don't expect anything.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: little wilson on August 15, 2009, 04:56:19 AM
Of course, she may have killed it already with the leaked manuscript breakdown. I hope that's the case, but don't expect anything.

I wish that was the case, but unfortunately, the last I heard was she's now working on some book about time-traveling mermaids or some crap like that. Shoot me now before I see the literary world lose even MORE braincells to the terribad writing of Smeyer... ::)
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on August 15, 2009, 05:08:59 AM
Would you put that in legal tender? :P Yay for assisted suicide!
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: sortitus on August 15, 2009, 05:12:50 AM
Whoa! I always call BS "Branderson" to my family and friends who know him! Good times.

What mean you by "legal tender", good sir? Cash? Yes, I would write "In Stephenie Meyer We Trust Not" on currency.
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on August 17, 2009, 05:29:46 PM
Time-traveling mermaids? I'm sold. That may be the first Meyer book I read!

EDIT: CONFIRMED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEgKA6U8les
Title: Re: Favorite Authors...Where does Brandon Rate?
Post by: Bookstore Guy on August 17, 2009, 06:06:44 PM
Time-traveling mermaids? I'm sold. That may be the first Meyer book I read!

...i cant wait to review THAT book...