Authors with Prodigious Imagination?
Captain_Tightpants
Posts: 2,215 Member
I just finished up Iron Council - the third in China Mieville's Bas Lag saga. It made me realize that I'm a huge fan of stories with prodigious imagination. Hard sci-fi and high fantasy is all good and well, but if you really want to hook me, you need to delight me with crazy ideas.
Looking back, I think that's why Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury and Neil Gaiman have been long time faves.
So anyways, having realized this, now I'm on the hunt - can any of you recommend me novels with massive imagination?
(Incidentally, if any of you haven't read Mieville's The Scar run to the nearest bookstore tonight!)
:drinker:
Looking back, I think that's why Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury and Neil Gaiman have been long time faves.
So anyways, having realized this, now I'm on the hunt - can any of you recommend me novels with massive imagination?
(Incidentally, if any of you haven't read Mieville's The Scar run to the nearest bookstore tonight!)
:drinker:
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Replies
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Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, (agreed)
Terry Pratchett, Joe R. Lansdale, Philip K. ****, Kurt Vonnegut, John Wyndham. Harlan Ellison 0 -
Hmmm John Wyndham... now there's one I haven't read! *hugs Allie*
How could I forget Pratchett? :noway:0 -
oh for fracks' sake. I couldn't Write Philip K D1ck?
Roger Zelazny too0 -
Sci Fi...
Dan Simmons, his Hyperion quadrilogy was astoundingly creative. Like, "holy SH**" creative
Also Neal Stephenson, I'm nominating him specifically for his novel Anathem
If you like incredibly detailed, bizarre sci-fi/fantasy you might enjoy the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove0 -
Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, Jeanette Winterson wrote a sci if novel called Stone Gods which I loved (but I adore her anyway!), Alistair Reynolds. Loved Zelaznys Amber Chronicles! Oh Jack Vance - Lyonese.
Comic book? Saga which is out monthly at the moment (Brian K Vaughn) is amazing! None scifi/fantasy but Strangers in Paradise and Love and Rockets are amazing!0 -
Ah Dan Simmons is an odd one to me. I've only read his horror stuff, not the sci fi, and while I loved the Summer of Night/Winter Haunting series I could not at all get into Carrion Comfort. I'll have to give Hyperion a try!
It's funny you should mention Neal Stephenson because I had never heard of him until a friend passingly mentioned "Snow Crash" the other day. Thanks SL!
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Oh my goodness! Pookylou dives in with a ton of names I haven't read! :flowerforyou:0
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Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, Jeanette Winterson wrote a sci if novel called Stone Gods which I loved (but I adore her anyway!), Alistair Reynolds. Loved Zelaznys Amber Chronicles! Oh Jack Vance - Lyonese.
Comic book? Saga which is out monthly at the moment (Brian K Vaughn) is amazing! None scifi/fantasy but Strangers in Paradise and Love and Rockets are amazing!
Unfortunately, I don't have anyone to add, but, I'm glad you mentioned Brian K Vaughan! And he has done some scifi/fantasy things... wrote season eight of Buffy!
I've heard great things about Strangers in Paradise but haven't picked it up yet. It's back on the list. Thanks! 0 -
Ah Dan Simmons is an odd one to me. I've only read his horror stuff, not the sci fi, and while I loved the Summer of Night/Winter Haunting series I could not at all get into Carrion Comfort. I'll have to give Hyperion a try!
It's funny you should mention Neal Stephenson because I had never heard of him until a friend passingly mentioned "Snow Crash" the other day. Thanks SL!
I've heard his horror stuff isn't as good, but I've read a LOT of sci-fi, and Hyperion is as close to perfection as I'm willing to grant. It's divided into sections, and if you don't s* yourself with amazement after part one, don't bother finishing the book. And then unfriend me. 0 -
Ed Greenwood....the entire D&D Forgotten realms is basically his creation form the the 1960's....
Also...I know it sounds cliche, but Stephen King is staring to tie all his novels together through the Dark Tower series....0 -
Just looking through my book shelves! Kids books ok? Phillip Pullman, His Dark Materials, Garth Nix The Old Kingdom Trillogy, Marcus Sedgwick - The Foreshadowing and Blood Red Snow White for a start.
Additional comic books - anything by Brian Wood (Local and Demo in particular).
Vaughn did Ex Machina which was also awesome!
Yes I have an epic number of bookshelves.....
Edit - I am an ex bookseller!0 -
Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, Jeanette Winterson wrote a sci if novel called Stone Gods which I loved (but I adore her anyway!), Alistair Reynolds. Loved Zelaznys Amber Chronicles! Oh Jack Vance - Lyonese.
Comic book? Saga which is out monthly at the moment (Brian K Vaughn) is amazing! None scifi/fantasy but Strangers in Paradise and Love and Rockets are amazing!
Unfortunately, I don't have anyone to add, but, I'm glad you mentioned Brian K Vaughan! And he has done some scifi/fantasy things... wrote season eight of Buffy! I've heard great things about Strangers in Paradise but haven't picked it up yet. It's back on the list. Thanks!
I treated myself to the boxed limited edition of SiP it is beautiful. It really is as good as they say, oh and his is writing a novel about the characters too!! Echo was great, not picked up Rachel Rising yet but sure it'll be awesome.0 -
Joe Hill's "Horns" and "Heart-Shaped Box" are good. The Joe Ledger novels by Jonathan Maberry are good, more sci-fi/thriller really. Another vote for the Dark Tower series from Stephen King.0
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Oh yeah kids books are fine too. In fact I love that all the sickest authors out there have written for kids. Meiville goes from having his flesh elementals make human beings "erupt with wet burps to leave flesh rags blowing in the wind" to his kids book Un Lun Dun. Gaiman goes from having his protagonist facing death by hammer for the entirety of American Gods to the sweetness of Stardust. Then of course you've got Barker's Thief of Always and King's Eyes of the Dragon.
I think there may be a link between a twisted imagination and a desire to write for children... o_O0 -
@Michelle, I do love Joe Hill. I gotta admit I only read him to see if he could measure up to his dad.
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Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, Jeanette Winterson wrote a sci if novel called Stone Gods which I loved (but I adore her anyway!), Alistair Reynolds. Loved Zelaznys Amber Chronicles! Oh Jack Vance - Lyonese.
Comic book? Saga which is out monthly at the moment (Brian K Vaughn) is amazing! None scifi/fantasy but Strangers in Paradise and Love and Rockets are amazing!
^^^^ This right here is why we are friends lol. I was totally gonna recomend RJ and BS ..... Still way to long til the next book comes out though sigh0 -
. Another vote for the Dark Tower series from Stephen King.
No The DTS made me throw the last book into a wall and curse SK like crazy. :grumble: And I never throw books lol:blushing:0 -
OMG Add me if you love Clive Barker, I'm a ridiculously huge fan
I recommend:
early Robert R. McCammon (stuff like Swan Song)
Gordon Dahlquist (The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters and follow up, The Dark Volume)
Mark Danielewski (House of Leaves... can you say mind f^ck?)
I am not a huge King fan, but I adored Needful Things0 -
Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, Jeanette Winterson wrote a sci if novel called Stone Gods which I loved (but I adore her anyway!), Alistair Reynolds. Loved Zelaznys Amber Chronicles! Oh Jack Vance - Lyonese.
Comic book? Saga which is out monthly at the moment (Brian K Vaughn) is amazing! None scifi/fantasy but Strangers in Paradise and Love and Rockets are amazing!
^^^^ This right here is why we are friends lol. I was totally gonna recomend RJ and BS ..... Still way to long til the next book comes out though sigh
I follow Sanderson on Twitter the temptation to scream HURRRRRRY UUUUUUUP at him is mighty high Only came to his stuff via RJ, loved the Mistborn series and Way if Kings was aces! 0 -
FR sent Quasita!
House of Leaves is officially the only book that ever scared me. It scared me more than just when I was reading it too... like I would sit at work waiting to get home and read it, totally consumed by the Navidson Record, and questioning my own sanity just like Johnny Truant. That wasn't a book, it was a month long experience.
And just for the hell of it, here's a pic of Clive pimping a book I wrote for. :-)
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp176/percapitasmile/memisfitsdanandclivebarker-1.jpg0 -
FR sent Quasita!
House of Leaves is officially the only book that ever scared me. It scared me more than just when I was reading it too... like I would sit at work waiting to get home and read it, totally consumed by the Navidson Record, and questioning my own sanity just like Johnny Truant. That wasn't a book, it was a month long experience.
And just for the hell of it, here's a pic of Clive pimping a book I wrote for. :-)
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp176/percapitasmile/memisfitsdanandclivebarker-1.jpg
The book that scared me the most was black house by SK and peter struab. Maybe cause the first book was some much more childlike... But this book was creepy as hell0 -
The late Douglas Adams. I devoured everything he wrote. And laughed my butt off. Wel, not literally, of course. Wouldnt need this site if that actually happened. Also, Neil Gaiman repeatedly blows my mind.
Mostly I'm just bumping to get a good list of authors to hunt down, next.0 -
While we're at it, anyone know of any military steampunk or military new weird/urban fantasy?0
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freakangels, free web comic from Warren Ellis (now finished) http://www.freakangels.com/?p=23 - to read from the start, is Steampunk, not really military, through there is some in there...0
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FR sent Quasita!
House of Leaves is officially the only book that ever scared me. It scared me more than just when I was reading it too... like I would sit at work waiting to get home and read it, totally consumed by the Navidson Record, and questioning my own sanity just like Johnny Truant. That wasn't a book, it was a month long experience.
And just for the hell of it, here's a pic of Clive pimping a book I wrote for. :-)
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp176/percapitasmile/memisfitsdanandclivebarker-1.jpg
I've read house of lleaves 4 times now, everytime I see something new....0 -
@Michelle, I do love Joe Hill. I gotta admit I only read him to see if he could measure up to his dad.
I didn't even know he was Stephen King's son until I had finished "Heart-Shaped Box" and was looking for more of his work online. I think he has a little of his father in his writing, but a lot of his own voice too. I'm getting his comic book series next.Another vote for the Dark Tower series from Stephen King.
No The DTS made me throw the last book into a wall and curse SK like crazy. :grumble: And I never throw books lol:blushing:
Oh, but that was part of the FUN. He did warn you through, you have to give him that.While we're at it, anyone know of any military steampunk or military new weird/urban fantasy?
Not military, but Cherie Priest's "Boneshaker" is a good read if you like zombie novels. She has other steampunk novels, but haven't gotten a chance to get to them.0 -
I apologize in advance. Books with imagination are my obsession.
Robin McKinley writes for a younger audience mostly, but for full immersion reading, there's no one better, and she shares my "favorite author" spot with Neil Gaiman. Sunshine is one of her non-young adult books, and it's superb.
You might try Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress. It's sci-fi, political, moral, well-written and explored. It starts a series, but it stands on it's own just fine.
Robert Heinlein? He forays into weird (Friday, Stranger in a Strange Land). Starship Troopers is one of my favorite sci-fi and I'm slowly exploring other stuff, but I have to space out his books because his female characters make me angry. (Especially in Glory Road. UGH.)
The Last Unicorn, by Peter S Beagle went to some VERY interesting/unexpected places.
The Princess Bride surprised me, pleasantly. I can't decide if I think the author has that good an imagination or is legitimately delusional.
The Dark Angel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce is good. It manages to be fantasy and sci-fi at the same time, which is fun. I like genre bending.
The Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix is another good one. (Think it might by young adult, but meh, don't care.) I love the magic in that book, it's a bit different than the standard.
Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages is fanstastic. I love her assassin. He is my favorite fictional assassin of all time.
I adore Patricia Briggs, recommend Dragon Bones/Dragon Blood, which is fantasy. She also has one of the better urban fantasy series. (Two, technically, but they're in the same world.)
The Lies of Locke Lamora - fantasy meets the con artist. Beautifully detailed. It's by Scott Lynch. Another series starter that is complete by itself.
I'll add my voice to the chorus for Jacqueline Carey and Anne Bishop.
TL:DR; Read Sunshine by Robin McKinley.0 -
I am nearly done with A Dance with Dragons, so I'm just posting so I can look up all these books later.0
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Okay...since y'all like reading...what are some cheap books that you liked on iBooks?
...Also how do you work audible books/ Kobo on an iPhone? I feel abysmally stupid for not being able to use them and too impatient/ lazy to google the cliff note instructions.0 -
Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, Jeanette Winterson wrote a sci if novel called Stone Gods which I loved (but I adore her anyway!), Alistair Reynolds. Loved Zelaznys Amber Chronicles! Oh Jack Vance - Lyonese.
Comic book? Saga which is out monthly at the moment (Brian K Vaughn) is amazing! None scifi/fantasy but Strangers in Paradise and Love and Rockets are amazing!
Pookylou, you are awesome!
I'm going to second Brandon Sanderson. I used to work for him and have devoured each of his novels. You should definitely give him a try.
Other great authors:
Dan Wells - Has a couple of different types of books. His first series has three books so far: "I am not a Serial Killer", "Mr. Monster" and "I don't want to kill you"--they are amazing. He then has one called "Partials" that is a post-apocalyptic type novel and just had his last book come out which is called "The Hollow City"--which is about a guy with schizophrenia who learns that not all of his visions are fake.
Robison Wells - Dan's brother, his first book was called "Variant" and is a great YA novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. The sequel comes out this fall.
Larry Correia - Start with "Monster Hunter International"
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman -- Most people know about their Dragonlance stuff. But they had two other series that I like a lot more: "The Darksword Trilogy" and "The Deathgate Cycle". If you have never read either, I totally recommend them.
and, of course, I love Neil Gaiman, Neil Stephenson, Dan Simmons, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin and David Farland--to name a few.0
