This Top Ten Tuesday prompt is just evil — to list my top ten favourite authors of all time. How can I do that!? Well, let’s have a go.
- Jo Walton. Needless to say.
- Ursula Le Guin. I might not read and reread her work as much now as I did, but she certainly had a hand in forming my brain.
- N.K. Jemisin. She’s relatively new to my shelves, but nonetheless awesome.
- Guy Gavriel Kay. Only one or two of his books have failed to make me cry. He writes powerful relationships between complex people so well.
- Robin McKinley. I don’t know why Chalice of all her books lives in my mind so strongly, but that and Sunshine are going to be favourites for a long time to come.
- Patricia McKillip. Also relatively new to my shelves, but she writes a kind of enchantment I can’t get enough of.
- Jacqueline Carey. She can make Sauron sympathetic. How can you not be in awe?
- Mary Stewart. My comfort reading of choice. <3
- Dorothy L. Sayers. A love shared with my mum and which saved me from severe panic after my cholecystectomy!
- Scott Lynch. I’ve loved everything he’s put out so far. (Even if I haven’t finished Republic of Thieves.)
Great list! I’m desperate to read some Jo Walton. I actually already own two of her books – Among Others and My Real Children – but I’ve heard so many amazing things about Among Others that I want to read something else of hers first and save that one for a little later. I ordered a copy of Tooth and Claw not too long ago, and the idea of regency style dragons has me very excited so I’m looking forward to reading something of hers soon. 😀
Oh, Among Others really is great. A lot of her books are quite different from one another in style and tone; I started with the Small Change trilogy, which is a Golden Age crime fiction pastiche, in part, and also an examination of fascism creeping into a country. Much more serious than, say, Tooth and Claw (which I also love: my review is here, if you’re curious).
I had to go with authors that shaped my reading life and a few modern favourites. There are a lot of authors where I liked the first book I’ve tried a lot but haven’t read enough to really judge. Maybe they’ll be on this topic next time round…
Yeah, I definitely picked ones that have either been around for a big chunk of my reading life, or where I’ve acquired everything they’ve written and gulped it down!
Glad to see Guy Gavriel Kay on your list. He’s one of my favorites too! Which ones didn’t make you cry?
Ysabel, definitely, and also I suspect The Last Light of the Sun.
I confess that I’m not familiar with many of your authors. I will definitely have to check them out, though. I’m curious now 🙂
That’s what I like to hear!
So excited to see both Jacqueline Carey and Guy Gavriel Kay! Carey is one of my all time absolute favorites, and I think Kay’s writing is gorgeous.
Yes, both of them write wonderfully! And Carey has a pretty awesome range, from epic fantasy to urban fantasy.
I thought Dorothy Sayers was on my list too and then realized she somewhat wasn’t. Now I want to change it because she NEEDS TO BE. I love her so much. There are a lot of people on your list I’m ashamed to say I’ve never tried but have on my miles long TBR.
Haha, I had that experience with other people’s lists too! And hurray for Dorothy Sayers love. I’m not exaggerating much when I say her work saved my life.
Wow, I’m always impressed when people can narrow it down to a top 10. I am completely not succeeding at this, there are so many authors to choose from.
I’m not very good at it… I thought of a different ten the minute I’d finished. Jo Walton and Ursula Le Guin were the only constants.
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve read anything by any of these authors! Most I’ve never heard of. I’ll have to check them out! 🙂
Hurrah! Hope you enjoy them if you do!
Sooo I haven’t read books from any of these authors! But I’ve heard good things about Scott Lynch and want to read his books. And I want to read Robin McKinley’s BEAUTY!
Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf
Oh, Scott Lynch is great, and McKinley’s books are amazing. You’re in for a treat!
Nice list. Lots of authors on here are ones I know but have never read.
I had that too — lots of slightly guilty “oh I recognise that name”, haha.
I must admit, I haven’t read any of these authors! But i will be looking them up for sure- great list 🙂
Thank you!