Who is your favorite author?

Question

Who, and what works of she or he would you recommend? What is it about the person's writing that fascinates you?

Please tell me the reasons why I might want to read this person. Give me a motivation to read them. Thank you.

Answer 1

Terry Pratchett is by far my favorite author, at least for his genre. He's been praised as one of the most prolific writers out there (next to Stephen King) and indeed, he does have a lengthy list of books, most taking place in his Discworld universe.

What I love about him is that it's fantasy, but somehow stripped of all pretentiousness. And he's funny as heck! Seriously- this guy uses every gag and type of humor known to make his stuff literally pull laughs out of you, while at the same time having really good, solid stories. Because everything's a series (yet independent, another thing I love- you don't have to read the books in any particular order), he's able to craft the most amazing characters, from the ladies' man- sorry, dwarf-Casanunda, Death, who ALWAYS SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS, multiple personality-disorder Agnes Nitt, who's alter-ego is that inevitable "thin girl inside every fat girl", and Cohen the 80-something year-old Barbarian (how could an old man be dangerous? Well, think about it . . . he's lasted this long as a Barbarian), and so on. The cast is so huge and diverse and it's brilliant to watch them interact.

He takes all the old myths and redoes them, humorously, satirically, but without losing sight of the story and the heart behind them. I've never read anything that comes even close to nailing his particular brand of writing.

If you want to start reading him, and I highly reccommend trying at least one book to see if you like him, you should try "The Wee Free Men". It's not one of his first books, but it's a really good introduction, and gosh darnit if the characters, little blue men called the Nac Mag Feegle, aren't so hilarious you won't be laughig at them. My dad- who seriously never picks up a book anymore, at all- read it and its sequel in a day when I started reading it aloud to little brother. Yeah, it's that good.

Hope you check him out!

Answer 2

Orson Scott Card is my favorite author. His best known work is Ender's Game. It won both the Hugo and Nebula Award. Not that awards always mean it's the 'best' book, but in this case, it is a real winner. I have read it dozens of time and I absolutely love it. Our hero, Ender, "Andrew Wiggin" is only a young boy (ages from 6 to 12 or 14 in the novel) but earth's future may very well depend on his actions. You see, this 'genius' child just might be earth's best chance against alien attack. It is the first in a long series of science fiction books. What makes me love Orson Scott Card? He writes well. His stories have well-developed, likable, enjoyable characters that you can get to know and love. But he also has good plots. His books aren't boring. He doesn't sacrifice excitement to develop character. He also writes in several genres. He writes science fiction, fantasy, and realistic fiction. Ender's Game is a great starting point. But I also enjoy PASTWATCH: THE REDEMPTION OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. It is an incredible book. It is about many things including time travel and alternate histories. Anyway, those two would be at the top of my list.

http://www.hatrack.com/

You can also read the first chapter of most of his books (if not all) on his website. (Some of his books have more chapters online.)

http://www.hatrack.com/osc/index.shtml

Answer 3

Walter Dean Myers His writings are for these times, he writes for
young adults, the problems they face and how they deal with it.
His autobiography"Bad Boy" does just that." Biography of My
Dead Brother" is another good read as is "Fallen Angels" about
the Vietnam War. This writer has also written some historical
fiction diaries " Journal of Scott Pendelton WWII Diary" and
"Journal of Joshua Loper:Black Cowboy". I like his style he writes in a realistic sense, something you can relate to.

Answer 4

I love mystery books and all that Aghata Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle have written.They have some really good mystery stories such as The Hound if the Baskervilles,The Crime from Orient Express,Philomel's Cottage

Answer 5

"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt regarding his impoverished childhood in Ireland during the mid-20th century... and it fascinates me because I can relate to his childhood hardships.

Answer 6

I simply love J.K.Rowling, she just rocks, i dunno why but i like her alot.
Dan Brown is cool to, his plots are wicked, in his book, really the unthinkable can happen!!!