Shadowrun

Off-topic => Off-off-topic => Topic started by: james22 on <08-06-12/2210:22>

Title: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: james22 on <08-06-12/2210:22>
Hi buddies Tell Me About Your favorite Writer. my favorite writer is Tibor Fischer
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Simagal on <09-23-12/0149:13>
Mark Twain tops my list, but I also like Herber Asbury. I actually read a lot of primary source histories. I also seem to find myself reading Game Master's Survival Guide by jim pinto for L5R regardless of system I am playing.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Pyromaster13 on <09-23-12/0404:03>
Albert Camus
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <09-23-12/1352:29>
Hard to choose, due to different writing styles, but it's a toss-up between Sir Terry Pratchett and Jim Butcher.  David Weber is still in the running, however.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: JustADude on <09-23-12/1637:37>
Hard to choose, due to different writing styles, but it's a toss-up between Sir Terry Pratchett and Jim Butcher.  David Weber is still in the running, however.

I gotta go with Sir Pterry on that one. Butcher isn't bad but he's got a few problems that keep me from considering him on Pratchett's level. He's too heavy-handed in places, rather formulaic in others, relies too heavily on Harry being a cosmic punching bag, and he's got too many internal inconsistancies.

The last point, especially, irks me since he contradicts himself constantly on the relative power and abilities of the "NPCs" from Christian mythology compared to those from older religions, like the Faeries (Eldest Gruff vs Magog comes to mind) or Shagnasty The Skinwalker.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Wolfboy on <09-23-12/2010:12>
Ringo, Weber and Butcher are my top three followed by W.E.B. Griffin
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: farothel on <09-24-12/1232:06>
Hard to choose, due to different writing styles, but it's a toss-up between Sir Terry Pratchett and Jim Butcher.  David Weber is still in the running, however.

I gotta go with Sir Pterry on that one. Butcher isn't bad but he's got a few problems that keep me from considering him on Pratchett's level. He's too heavy-handed in places, rather formulaic in others, relies too heavily on Harry being a cosmic punching bag, and he's got too many internal inconsistancies.

The last point, especially, irks me since he contradicts himself constantly on the relative power and abilities of the "NPCs" from Christian mythology compared to those from older religions, like the Faeries (Eldest Gruff vs Magog comes to mind) or Shagnasty The Skinwalker.

One more vote for Terry Pratchett.  And he's quite fun in RL too, at least when surrounded by his loonies (that's what he calls his fans on DW cons).  Proud to be one of them.  :)
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <09-24-12/1442:58>
Sir PTerry:  ONE OF US!  ONE OF US!!!  ;D
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Twitchy D on <09-24-12/1505:42>
Another vote for the Meteor Weilding Knight, from some random shmuck across the Atlantic!
...um...by which I mean me.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <09-24-12/1943:55>
How many knights, suffering from a physically disabling disease, goes out and MINES THEIR OWN IRON for their sword???  ;D
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Twitchy D on <09-24-12/2020:31>
Man, he found and made that sword BEFORE he got knighted!

He truly deserves the title.

(stares up at the sky)
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Xzylvador on <09-25-12/1556:28>
More votes for Prachett. None can beat the man who invented a whole race of Igors and puts 6-foot-6 dwarves or Orangutan librarians in his books.

Second place to Tolkien (who I read before he started making movies, 'cuz I'm cool like that!), third I might actually give to Tom Clancy.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: All4BigGuns on <09-25-12/1600:25>
The books I've read most lately, have been from Mercedes Lackey.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: AndyNakamura on <09-26-12/0059:37>
Sir Pterry, J.R.R.T., Neil Stephenson, Jim Butcher, William Gibson. And that's besides the various Russian sci-fi authors.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Critias on <09-26-12/1322:30>
Right now I'm reading a lot of Stephen Leather thrillers, and for fantasy my knee-jerk favorite of the moment would be Patrick Rothfuss (with George RR Martin neck and neck).
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: PeterSmith on <09-26-12/1424:25>
Me.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: WSN0W on <09-27-12/0947:29>
Neil Stephenson and Richard K. Morgan.

I hate to go with 'favorite' as that's like asking what your favorite food is. It's so circumstantial and conditional I find it too broad of a question.

But those two authors I think are my favorite writers for their prose and wordsmithing ability while still leaving me in a state where I can sit and ponder on some of the ramifications and philosophies they introduce in their work. There are novels by other authors I may have enjoyed more than theirs, to be sure. Some are epicly clever or just set with a pacing that is hard to set down.

I gotta go with Sir Pterry on that one. Butcher isn't bad but he's got a few problems that keep me from considering him on Pratchett's level. He's too heavy-handed in places, rather formulaic in others, relies too heavily on Harry being a cosmic punching bag, and he's got too many internal inconsistancies.

The last point, especially, irks me since he contradicts himself constantly on the relative power and abilities of the "NPCs" from Christian mythology compared to those from older religions, like the Faeries (Eldest Gruff vs Magog comes to mind) or Shagnasty The Skinwalker.

I'm not sure what it is with Modern Fantasy and Skinwalkers. The Iron Druid stuff has a similiar thing where the main character literally cuts through gods by accident (and some Irish ones) but some pissed of evil juju speed freak Skinwalkers are top class baddies that take a whole novel, several near brushes with death and lots of levels of uber-cheats to survive.

But I kinda find most multi-mythos drawing modern fantasy settings to be like 'Between DC's Superman and Marvel's Thor...who'd win?' 'Spiderman vs Batman' kinda debates. Sure, there are some match ups that make more sense, but at the end it really comes down to 'who is writing the conflict and what's their prespective.'
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: ArkangelWinter on <09-27-12/1800:50>
As living authors go, I'm a Neil Gaiman nutjob and I'll fight about it  ;D

But Tolkien, Heinlein, and Lovecraft are definitely my favorites of all time.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Zilfer on <09-28-12/1727:57>
I like Orson Scott Card, Steven Erikson, Tolkien (before movies as well), and Christopher Paloni. There is also a few others i can't think of right now :D
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: WellsIDidIt on <09-29-12/0046:27>
I'll have to side with Douglas Adams (Wrote the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). There's a type of humor there that I've always been able to synch with.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Gardensnake on <09-29-12/0215:37>
Have to throw another vote for Pratchett. I also really liked Nigel Findley. The man could write and it is a shame he passed before he gained the fame he deserved.

William
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: emsquared on <09-30-12/1605:32>
Since my favorite writer to read changes with regularity (though these two are perpetually in the top 5), I'll have to say the writer who influenced my writing style the most; Bukowski. Though Hemingway is really part and parcel with that influence, I just found Bukowski first.

After reading them, not even consciously trying, I just kind of realized later - wow, I use way less words then I used to, and say so much more.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Critias on <10-01-12/0352:14>
Since my favorite writer to read changes with regularity (though these two are perpetually in the top 5), I'll have to say the writer who influenced my writing style the most; Bukowski. Though Hemingway is really part and parcel with that influence, I just found Bukowski first.

After reading them, not even consciously trying, I just kind of realized later - wow, I use way less words then I used to, and say so much more.
For me, that sort of influential writer (who I later notice showing up in my work from time to time) would be John Steakley.  Ironically, and unfortunately, he's actually from Cleburne, Texas, where my wife is from (and which had part of the city showcased in the film version of one of his stories, Vampire$)...but he passed away before we moved here.

I would've loved to have bought him a beer and thanked him for his stories, few as they were.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: DWC on <10-01-12/1843:58>
Can't go wrong with Milton, Dumas, or Walter Jon Williams.  I'll also admit to loving the GW licensed work of Dan Abnett and Aaron Dembski-Bowden.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Mad Hamish on <10-02-12/0017:44>
I find it hard to narrow it down to just 1
Terry Pratchett is up there
Robert Heinlein has been up there since I started reading him in 83 or thereabouts (I was around 10 at the time)
Fan of Jim Butcher (and hanging badly for the next Dresden book)
Think some of Tanya Huff's stuff is about the funniest things I've ever read (parts of the Keeper series for instance)
Charlie Stross does some amazing things (especially the Laundry series)
Tolkien is what got me started on reading a lot
still have a soft spot for David Eddings (repetitive but fun) and David Gemmell (he of the dimension hopping, time traveling bear)
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: farothel on <10-02-12/1238:38>
I find it hard to narrow it down to just 1
Terry Pratchett is up there
Robert Heinlein has been up there since I started reading him in 83 or thereabouts (I was around 10 at the time)
Fan of Jim Butcher (and hanging badly for the next Dresden book)
Think some of Tanya Huff's stuff is about the funniest things I've ever read (parts of the Keeper series for instance)
Charlie Stross does some amazing things (especially the Laundry series)
Tolkien is what got me started on reading a lot
still have a soft spot for David Eddings (repetitive but fun) and David Gemmell (he of the dimension hopping, time traveling bear)

With a nickname like Mad Hamish, it's hard not to put Terry on the no 1 spot.  :)
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Wakshaani on <10-05-12/0225:38>
Jared Diamond, RIchard Scarry, and Dr Seuss.

Stan Lee, Kurt Busiek, and Mark Gruenwald.

Nigel F'n Findley.

...

Really, there's too many to narrow it down. I loves me some books.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <10-05-12/2356:01>
People I Want To Write Like:
Robert A. Heinlein.  Andre Norton.  Steven Brust.  Roger Zelazny.  Patrick Rothfuss.  J. R. R. Tolkein.  Jim Butcher.  Matthew Woodring Stover.  David Drake.  C. J. Cherryh.  Tanya Huff.  (Yes, Nigel Findley and Pratchett.)  Wm. Shakespeare, and Pretty Much Every Other Classics Author You Care To Name.  Carl von Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, and Miyamoto Musashi - who all wrote the same thing with increasing levels of brevity and clarity (but Go Rin No Sho is still my favorite.)

Random Guilty Pleasures:
Steve (and Stephanie) Perry - who write novels out of movies, and into movies - if you want to write something incredibly formulaic that might get picked up and turned into a cash cow summer blockbuster explosion-ridden something-or-other, you couldn't do better.  David Weber - who is, compared to David Drake, a truly terrible writer, but I -do- want to see what he does to Honor next.  David Eddings - who turned a simple hero quest into two quintets and two trilogies, plus two or three add-ons - as far as I know.  Stephen R. Donaldson - who wrote something interesting, then wrote like he was getting paid by the word - and still made it interesting, even if I would have murdered the schmuck only a third of the way through the first book, and kicked his ass regularly throughout the others.  Alexandre Dumas, père - who, let's face it, created a story factory, stole their work, used every possible bit of novelization tripe in existence up to date, but still made it fantastic fun to read, and almost impossible to not imitate in some way.

There are literally hundreds of others ...
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <10-06-12/0049:09>
It's an open secret that John Ringo is my own guilty pleasure.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Black on <10-06-12/0558:15>
Alexander Dumas, David Gemmell, Neal Gaimen, Mark Waid, Charles Dickens, Tolkien, Canray
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: BlackSpade on <01-06-13/0022:23>
Mine is defiantly Stephan King. :D
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: FuelDrop on <01-06-13/0300:51>
Sir Pterry gets another vote over here. There are many others of course, but come on how could I not vote for the discworld?

I'd vote for myself but I'm not published yet :(.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Crunch on <01-06-13/0503:45>
Thomas Pynchon for prose and Charles Simic for poetry.

Of genre writers Gibson, Lovecraft and Drake.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Aryeonos on <02-11-13/2010:11>
Aside from the classics, like Mark Twain, I'd have to say I like Karen Travis. That republic commando series really shaped my view of special forces.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <02-11-13/2013:44>
I'd vote for myself but I'm not published yet :(.
I can't vote for myself, period.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <02-11-13/2322:33>
What, because you feel you're not that good?

I have to admit that I've really enjoyed developing conversation; the second part of the latest in Pananagutan (http://forums.shadowrun4.com/index.php?topic=5111.15#msg177772) was incredibly fun to write, and remains almost as fun to read, so I suppose I kind of half-count myself as one of my own favorite writers.  (Not published, alas.)
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Wildcard on <02-12-13/1334:43>
Phillip K Dick.

There's just something about a good Sci-Fi writer with a healthy fear of God that goes the extra mile with me.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: PeterSmith on <02-12-13/1504:16>
I can't vote for myself, period.

You should, otherwise you may end up with a few self-esteem issues.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Aryeonos on <02-12-13/1737:07>
I can't vote for myself, period.

You should, otherwise you may end up with a few self-esteem issues.
I'll vote for myself once I stop hitting that wall 6 chapters into whatever I write....
Speaking of god, had anyone read Jack L. Chalker's Planets Trilogy? 1.5 plots per book and no resolutions, gonna murder some people for that other .5 plot, though maybe it's in the 3rd book which I've yet to read.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Black on <02-13-13/0013:08>
Alexandre Dumas
Neil Gaimen
David Gemmell
Terry Pratchet
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Palladion on <02-16-13/0555:43>
For me, that sort of influential writer (who I later notice showing up in my work from time to time) would be John Steakley.  Ironically, and unfortunately, he's actually from Cleburne, Texas, where my wife is from (and which had part of the city showcased in the film version of one of his stories, Vampire$)...but he passed away before we moved here.

I would've loved to have bought him a beer and thanked him for his stories, few as they were.

Armor has always stuck in my head after I read it that first time.  Great book.

Personal favorite is Brandon Sanderson (www.brandonsanderson.com).  Also, long time favorite, Isaac Asimov.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Aryeonos on <02-16-13/1111:23>
Ah, iRobot is what inspired me to start writing, 90 something pages latter I can't think of a motivation for the main characters...
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Necrogigas on <02-16-13/1120:19>
Brandon Sanderson of the Mistborn series, and Max Barry of Jennifer Government and Machine Man.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <02-16-13/1335:44>
Ah, iRobot is what inspired me to start writing, 90 something pages latter I can't think of a motivation for the main characters...
Beer.

Of course, I'm Canadian, so that's typically my answer to everything.  ;D
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Aryeonos on <02-16-13/1449:15>
I'd give you a picture of an over under century clip equipped assault rifle as an example of what beer invents but I don't have the time at this second to dig it up for you.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: PeterSmith on <02-16-13/2323:32>
Beer.

Of course, I'm Canadian, so that's typically my answer to everything.  ;D

To quote the great philosopher Homer:

"Beer. The cause of, and the solution to, all the worlds' problems."
Title: I liked "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" too
Post by: Supine on <02-19-13/0033:49>
To quote the great philosopher Homer:

"Beer. The cause of, and the solution to, all the worlds' problems."

I thought you were talking about the other Homer for a second.


I'm not really good at picking favorites, but I think that Joseph Heller is up there.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: UltraDroid on <04-09-13/0620:28>
Mine is Margaret Drabble, and her “A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman book was my favourite.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: mtfeeney = Baron on <04-09-13/0706:36>
Piers Anthony.  Check out the Xanth series if you like humor mixed with fantasy, or the Proton/Phase series if you prefer to keep it more serious.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Elektrycerze3 on <04-09-13/0820:37>
Boy oh boy, I might actually stand out ;D Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

I dig the Strugatsky brothers and their social science fiction (my favourite kind) hidden from censor in plain sight. Also I highly recommend Stanisław Lem to those who love some philosophy with their fiction.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <04-09-13/1012:16>
George R.R. Martin's "A Game of Thrones", book one of "A Song Of Ice And Fire"

I can't watch TV or movies (don't ask) and my reading ability is limited (really don't ask.  I don't want the banhammer in the face!) but I'm getting through this one slowly.  It was a good companion after surgery during the times when the magic button didn't make all the pain go away and I was stuck awake.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: mtfeeney = Baron on <04-10-13/0101:45>
But...I have to ask!  Are you saying you "can't", meaning you refuse to?  Or you're actually unable to watch stuff and read?  I feel really bad for you, if it's the latter.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: darken92 on <04-10-13/0130:58>
and Richard K. Morgan.

Best writer I have come accross in a long time.

Special mention goes to Terry Pratchett of course.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: CanRay on <04-10-13/0221:41>
But...I have to ask!  Are you saying you "can't", meaning you refuse to?  Or you're actually unable to watch stuff and read?  I feel really bad for you, if it's the latter.
Actually, literally can not.

Sit in front of the TV/Computer, try to watch something, get at most ten minutes before I have to stop.  Five is closer to the average.  There are YouTube Videos I can't watch!
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: mtfeeney = Baron on <04-10-13/0429:28>
That's unquestionably awful.  Sorry, man.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Neurosis on <05-07-13/2143:19>
Actually can't possibly choose a single favorite, but the top twenty might include: H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Brian Michael Bendis (earlier indie work only),  Matthew Woodring Stover (Acts of Caine series), David Milch (if television counts), George R.R. Martin, Nigel Findley.

Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Nitishajack on <04-20-14/0826:24>
It's a tie between James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Parker on <05-24-14/1218:52>
Somewhat of a bookworm.  Of many, I'd mention Patricia Briggs as a good writer who spans different genres of fiction.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Kincaid on <05-24-14/1244:14>
The vast majority of the stuff I read is non-fiction, but limiting myself to fiction-only (and, simply because it's much easier, living authors), I'd go with AS Byatt, Denis Johnson, Jim Harrison, and Don DeLillo.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: martinchaen on <05-24-14/1328:47>
Tolkien and Robert Jordan.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Backgammon on <05-26-14/1420:14>
Raymond Chandler. When I write, I ask myself if I made it Raymond Chandler enough. I have my own style and my own introspections so I'm not afraid of cloning his work, but he is my idol when it comes to writing.

I love Lovecraft for his ideas, and a little for his writing vocabulary, but dear god, he cannot write dialogue. Comes from his personal lack of expertise on the matter, I understand.

A vote for Richard Morgan as well.

I also have to gives special thanks to Stephen King. I have not read any of his books, except for a single one: "On Writing". Changed everything for me.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: ChewyGranola on <06-16-14/1645:54>
Patrick Rothfuss, Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Richard Matheson, Devon Monk, J.K. Rowling (go ahead and judge :P)...those are the authors that pop up in my head first.
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: MijRai on <07-10-14/1947:13>
Michael Moorcock, Glen Cook, Jim Butcher, Brandon Sanderson, Andrzej Sapkowski, Terry Pratchett, Patrick Rothfuss, Robert Jordan, Margaret Weis, Dan Abnett, D.M. Cornish, Robert Heinlein, Lev Grossman... Not in that order. 
Title: Re: Who is Your favorite Writer?
Post by: Herohades on <07-13-14/2230:52>
Robert Jordan, J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, R.A. Salvatore, and Brandon Sanderson are my favorites.