So, last week David Bratman had an interesting post on his blog:
https://calimac.dreamwidth.org/1058496.html
The two questions being asked are
(1) who is your second-favorite fantasy writer after Tolkien? *
(2) who are your two or three favorites among fantasy writers who came after Tolkien ( post-LotR)?
My answer to Question Number One is LORD DUNSANY, without a doubt.
My answers to Question Number Two wd be THE FACE IN THE FROST by John Bellairs, WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams, and I think THE BRIDGE OF BIRDS by Barry Hughart.
If you'd pick a different author or book, feel free to share in the comments
--John R.
current viewing: McCARTNEY 3 2 1
current reading TOM SAWYER, DETECTIVE
*this assumes your next-favorite is fantasy, which is not necess. the case. It also assumes Tolkien is yr favorite, which again may not be the case.
As for the post Tolkien three. I would give Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion series a shout out. While I wouldn't say the worldbuilding is as deep as Tolkien it is there. But the two main draw are it focus on Paksenarrion and how she grow into being a paladin in the D&D sense of a divine champion doing good. And how she makes the characters of the book come to life. Something she uses to great affect in the follow up series Paldin's Legacy as it solely focus the other character after the events of the Deed of Paksenarrion.
ReplyDeleteAnd unlike Martin's Song of Ice and Fire it has a moral center.
Dear Robert
ReplyDeleteI agree that Moon's book is worthy of high rank, though I think the middle book of the trilogy doesn't live up to the standard set by the first and fulfilled by the third. I haven't read the prequels and sequels, so can't comment on those.
--John R.
This post gave me deja vu, last October there was a very similar post. :) My answers haven't changed much, my favorite author after Tolkien, and my three favorite post-Tolkien authors are all the same:
ReplyDelete1. Susan Cooper
2. Mary Stewart
3. David Eddings
3. Lloyd Alexander
Honestly, the top two switch back and forth according to my mood, the tied third place spot is pretty stable (though recent biographical discoveries concerning Eddings require me to give him much more thought soon.
In fact, last fall i liked the post so much it inspired me to pull out an old article I wrote on my list of the top 20 most important fantasists, add new commentary, and post it on my blog. That can be found here and I'd love feedback: https://historytruefeigned.blogspot.com/2020/10/fantasy-authors-and-list-making.html
Paul:
ReplyDeleteI'd missed the news about Eddings. Leaving aside revelations about his personal history, I'd always considered him utterly generic. Which was odd, given that he maintained that his goal was to break away fantasy from its generic rut.
As for the blogpost you link to, I'm glad to say I've read all those authors, though not necessarily the specific work you recommend.
--John R.