Most Versatile Fantasy Authors

[@andrewhanson405]

Great list of authors you selected. Three others that jumped in my head while watching this are Gene Wolfe, China Miéville, N. K. Jemisin as writers who have a diverse range.

[@TheBookCure]

Great suggestions; thank you!!

[@Paromita_M]

Great video. So happy to hear the mentions of Neil Gaiman, Susanna Clarke and Ursula K Le Guin. Maybe try The Left Hand of Darkness by Le Guin next if you like SF? I would add the weird fiction authors Jeff Vandermeer and China Mieville to the list.

[@TheBookCure]

I have a couple books by China Mieville that I really need to get to. Thanks for the recs 🥰

[@robpaul7544]

Some names did come to mind, though the ones on your list are exceptional. Steven Erikson is mainly known for the Malazan books , which between the prequels and novellas already are pretty varied. But he also has a series of Star Trek parody books, as well as a great sci-fi book, and literary fiction and essays. KJ Parker also writes under the pen name Tom Holt, and the styles are very different. James Lovegrove has written Sherlock Holmes stories (with and without Cthulhu mythos popped in), he writes Firefly stories, has a sci-fi novel, and a whole slew of urban fantasy .

[@TheBookCure]

I’ve only read one book by Parker so far (The Folding Knife), but I was so impressed. Can’t wait to read more. Thanks for the other suggestions!

[@arlissbunny]

This video is such an interesting idea, thank you! Susanna Clarke’s The Ladies of Grace Adieu is a first rate collection. Some of the stories are set in the world of JS&MN so that’s kind of cool too.

[@TheBookCure]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@robertharcourt7650]

Great video Sarah. I love watching you rvideos to get ideas on what to read next. I have not read any Neil gaiman but after watching your video I think I will read a book of his next ;)

[@TheBookCure]

Sounds awesome! Please let me know what you pick. 🥰

[@robertharcourt7650]

@@TheBookCure I think I will start with American gods ;)

[@leticiatoraci9855]

I agree about Tchaikovsky and I want to read more by Jo Walton too. I consider Kingfisher and Bujold very versatile, in the way that even if I don't like horror or one of their books I can still really like others.

[@TheBookCure]

Great recs, thank you! 🥰 I am hoping to get started with T. Kingfisher soon.

[@jcmberne]

Steven Brust. Even comparing the Jhereg novels to the Khaavren romances - set in the same world, same magic system, etc. - the styles are so incredibly distinct. He's a marvelously skilled writer.

[@duffypratt]

Was going to say the same. Brokedown Palace is also in the same world, but different than them both. And then there are his other books, like The Gypsy, with Megan Lindholm (Robin Hobb) or Cowboy Feng’s Space Bar and Grille. I’d also add Hobb. There’s a pretty big difference between the Fitz Books and the Liveship books. Soldier’s Son is different than either. And that doesn’t begin to cover the urban fantasy she wrote under Lindholm. Others I might add are Bujold, Charles de Lint, and Dan Simmons. (Simmons may not be fantasy).

[@TheBookCure]

Thank you for the recommendation! I haven’t read anything by Brust yet, but this makes me want to start soon!

[@kyleeaton6770]

Highly recommend her recently republished short story collection The Wind's Twelve Quarters. It shows off her range really well

[@TheBookCure]

Thanks! I will try to pick that up soon.

[@alynam82]

I want to highlight an author who, may not be a fantasy writer, but has won the World Fantasy Award for best novel, in his debut Song of Kali. And this writer is Dan Simmons. He is widely acclaimed in Sci-fi, as you already know. BUT he has blended genres in many of his works and has dabbled with Horror, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction and Thriller. I'm a big fan of Simmons, and just as much as I enjoyed his popular books, I also love his historical and literary ones, like Black Hills and The Fifth Heart.

[@TheBookCure]

Nice! Would love to read more of his stuff, for sure.

[@owly611]

Thank you Sarah. Very informative. :)

[@jayspeijer614]

Interesting topic Sarah! Here are a couple that occur to me that were not mentioned: Tad Williams is primarily known for his epic fantasy works, but even these are not constrained to 1 universe/continuity: Osten Ard, Shadowmarch, War of the Flowers, etc. all happen in different worlds. In addition, he has an urban fantasy series: Bobby Dollar, and a cyber-punkish sci-fi series: Otherland. He’s also written comics, done radio and more. Although he has different ‘voices’ across these works they still share certain stylistic elements that are identifiably Tad. A long-time favourite. Another author that I am just getting into is fellow Canadian Kelley Armstrong. She has separate series in urban fantasy (Otherworld Women, Darkest Powers, Cainsville), Crime (Nadia Stafford), Historical/Sci-Fi/Mystery (Rip Through Time), Suspense thriller stand-alones and Adventure/Mystery (Rockton). She does adult, YA and books for younger readers, and I believe most of her stories have a significant romantic element. Good for her that she commands the respect of her publishers to afford her this latitude without having employ pseudonyms, aside from the occasionally used, thinly veiled K. L. Armstrong.

[@TheBookCure]

Thanks so much for these! I always love finding new Canadian authors, so I’ll have to look through Armstrong’s bibliography. Do you have a rec for where to start?

[@jayspeijer614]

@@TheBookCure I'm not an expert on her works as yet. I believe she is best known for her Women of the Otherworld urban fantasy series, but I did not start there because it feels like there is quite a bit already out there that feels similar. Having read a few of her other books now I fully expect to eventually enjoy this series, but it is not what grabbed me. What enticed me to try Armstrong was the premise of her Rockton series: the idea of an isolated town, off the grid, in the north Yukon, where people go to escape their real lives. The culture and sub-cultures that are developed in and around this community are quite fascinating. These are non-paranormal mystery stories, with a page-turning, literate writing style. I'm about halfway through the series now and thoroughly enjoying it. So, I would recommend this as a good starting point if and when you are in the mood for this kind of story. The first book is called The City of the Lost. It also reminds me a bit of the Scandinavian noir sub-genre that I've been recently dipping my toe into (it must have something to do with living in ski country). Another Canadian author that I've heard good things about, but not yet tried, is Tanya Huff, who writes military sci-fi and fantasy, including The Keepers: a trilogy involving talking cats that protect the universe (I'm in!). Huff is also on my absurdly large TBR stack.

[@funbahai]

Dan Simmons is not predominantly known for fantasy, but has won World Fantasy Awards, and writes horror, sci-fi, mystery, and genre-spanning books.

[@TheBookCure]

Love it! I’ll have to expand beyond his sci-fi works.

[@imokin86]

This was very interesting, I like this idea of presenting authors through a less obvious lens. I would add Steven Erikson, but his versatility is not so much between genres (although he has done different genres) or individual books, as it is within each book. One plotline in a novel can be a comedic heist, and another might be straight up horror, and still another might be about refugees caught in a war. And the writing in all three will be subtly different.

[@TheBookCure]

My scale of success for a video is whether or not I get an Igor comment. I give myself a pat on the back for being interesting when I do! 🤣❤️

[@EricMcLuen]

Not only has Gaiman won a lot of awards, he caused them tonchange the rules when Sandman won the World Fantasy Award.

[@TheBookCure]

I did not know this. He’s really the best. ❤️

[@esmayrosalyne]

Great list Sarah!! Gaiman and Tchaikovsky are definitely some of my favourite authors partly because of the fact that they keep me on my toes with their stories. Other authors that I think have great range are T. Kingfisher, Akwaeke Emezi and Ken Liu. Loved this video 🤩

[@TheBookCure]

I need to get to T. Kingfisher’s work. I’m hoping I’ll find lots to love there.

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@TheBookCure I have a feeling you will find a new favourite author!!

[@coleton7048]

Today I was literally thinking about how badly I want to read Fragile Things by Gaiman and when I could fit it onto my tbr between all of these series I'm drowning in. When I saw the title of the video I knew you would mention him! So true how versatile he is. One of the legends. We need to set a start date for The Doors of Eden! You got me hyped up talking about Tchaikovsky!

[@TheBookCure]

We’re both always hyped for Tchaikovsky 😁

[@mattkean1128]

I have a cute little hardcover of Tooth and Claw to try too, along with some of Jo Walton's other books.

[@TheBookCure]

Let me know if you pick it up sometime soon!

[@angelamccollister]

I love Tcaikovsky. I've read many, but not all. Probably the biggest trend I find is his love of insects and other animals.

[@TheBookCure]

Yes! Insects and weird biology.

[@punkrockcerealbowl]

I would throw Neal Stephenson in the mix as well. Snow Crash and Anathem are wildly different yet equally enjoyable.

[@TheBookCure]

I have had Snow Crash for SO many years. Gonna have to pick that up soon.

[@Lookintobookz]

i wrote a fantasy novel! i love reading all kinds of fantasy stories :)

[@TheBookCure]

Congratulations, that’s awesome 🥰

[@fithfath3615]

Hi Sarah, I like your list. I've read Neil Gaiman & Adrian Tchaikovsky and agree both are amazing authors. I have been meaning to pick up some Ursula K Le Guin for ages. Unfortunately I just can't get into Stephen King. Tad Williams also writes across genres and does a great job of it.

[@TheBookCure]

Thank you! 🥰 I haven’t read anything at all by Tad Williams; I should really fix that.

[@BookishChas]

Fantastic list Sarah! I haven’t read Susannah Clarke yet, but I’m hoping to read Piranesi soon. Le Guin and Gaiman are instant wins for me.

[@TheBookCure]

Thanks, Chas! It’s so hard to go wrong with Gaiman.

[@aliciaguzman]

Love this video. I completely agree with Neil gaiman. I haven’t read enough of the other authors you mentioned. Other authors that come to mind for me are Silvia Moreno Garcia, Simon Jimenez and Colson Whitehead

[@TheBookCure]

Thank you! 🥰 I’m so excited to get started with Simon Jimenez.

[@bridgit2541]

Some great names! I would add T. Kingfisher, John Scalzi, VE Schwab. Leigh Bardugo has definitely made a big change form her YA to her Adult series,

[@TheBookCure]

Thanks, Bridgit! So many people agree about T. Kingfisher. Need to start reading soon!

[@readbykyle3082]

These are the exact five I guessed would be on here 🤣🎉 haven't read any of the others either besides Griffith!

[@TheBookCure]

Hahaha. It’s because of the genre bending channel on discord. Total giveaway 🤣🤣

[@novelideea]

T Kingfisher ! Everything of hers is So different!

[@TheBookCure]

Ooh, good one! I need to try some of her stuff. 🥰

[@chadia25]

Children of Time was awesome. Made Things is my next Tchaikovsky.

[@TheBookCure]

Awesome. I’m doing Dogs of War next month!

[@thatsci-firogue]

Tchaikovsky rules

[@TheBookCure]

Agreed! What a cool brain 🤯

[@mellies.8822]

So true, three Tchaikovsky books are my absolute favourites (Guns of the Dawn, Ogres, Elder Race) and two I didn't like that much (Empire in Black and Gold, The Tiger and the Wolf)

[@TheBookCure]

Interesting that the series seemed to be more hit or miss.

[@mellies.8822]

It's also his earlier work, his writing style improved very much from his debut (Empire in black and gold) and his later books. I definitely want to try some more series by him, Shards of Earth and Children of Time

[@angelaholmes8888]

I have read many of Stephen king's books since 2013 he's a very gifted writer

[@TheBookCure]

Absolutely agree! ❤️

[@angelaholmes8888]

I have only read one book by Neil gaiman American gods I absolutely enjoyed it read it in one day

[@TheBookCure]

Awesome. Are you planning to read anymore soon?

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@TheBookCure yeah I'm planning on reading his other books later this year

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

🤩

[@TheBookCure]

❤️