Getting back on track.
I like to read just about anything, but kind myself coming back to the old tried and true.
RA Salvatore: His novels about a drow ranger named Drizzt really got me hooked (if you don't know the series, shame on you
![Grin ;D](/Smileys/default/grin.gif)
). His Cleric Quintet series and others are fantastic as well. Don't forget his other series too.
David Eddings: All his early stuff is great, I even enjoyed his newest series The Dreamers but not as much. He has started to recycle characters even more than usual (he's a great author but don't get me started on this topic).
Orson Scott Card: My Favorite author (sorry Brandon). He writes fantasy and but mostly sci-fi, even his short stories are awesome (for sure read Maps in a Mirror). Pick up any of his books and be amazed. His stories are awesome but his characters are unmatched anywhere. Try Hart's Hope, Ender's Game (of course) and Enchantment to get a start, then finish off the rest because you will be hooked.
Robert Heinlein: Sci-fi author extrodinaire. Starship troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land are where to start, but others are great too. He tends to be more than a little sexist (sign of the times when they were written) but he still has some great female characters (try Friday on for size).
Ben Bova: Pure Sci-fi, but our universe and not too distant future. Good stuff.
Patrick Rothfuss: I have to add my vote of confidence to this 1st time author, simply couldn't put The Name of the Wind down.
Ted Bell: He has a great series about a billionaire playboy spy that is great.
Ursula K LeGuin: The Earthsea Trilogy, need I say more except don't forget about the 3 or 4 new books written about earthsea.
Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere blew my mind and American Gods did it again. Stardust was just fun, and Coraline is a great book for older children.
Larry Niven: The Ringworld series was awesome as was Beowulf's Children (no not that Beowulf) and Destiny's Road.
I also read alot of Dean R Koontz. He has some great stories and characters and comes out with like 2-3 books a year, so there is always some thing new on tap.
I find it best to look for new authors at the library. Used bookstores and Goodwill, etc are good places to go too. You won't (usually) pay a lot for them so you aren't really out much if you pick a real stinker of a book/author. Plus you can always just redonate or trade/sell the book again.