There are times when I feel people just don’t appreciate how tough it is to write good fantasy novels.
To be able to create such vivid out of body experiences for readers takes a special kind of wizardry. Only a few authors are able to consistently weave their magic and transform the world of a person, even if it is just for a few moments.
There have been a few authors who have done that for me. While I am in awe of several writers, I am giving below five who have a special place in my heart for various reasons.
1) Terry Pratchett (1948 – 2015, United Kingdom)
My most favourite author of them all. I still remember reading ‘The Colour of Magic’ for the first time. I didn’t know what to make of it at the beginning but by the time it ended, I was desperate for the next one in the series.
Terry Pratchett, author of the insanely popular Discworld series with 41 books is quite simply a legend in the fantasy genre.
The planet of Discworld is one of the most imaginative and ingenious worlds I have ever read in any fantasy series.
What I love about Terry Pratchett’s books whether in the Discworld series or others, is that they are all quite simply, fun epic adventures with incredible characters and a brilliant sense of humour.
It is really unfortunate that our beloved Terry Pratchett passed away in 2015 due to Alzheimer’s disease. However, even after his death, he continues to have a profound effect on all of his fans, old and new. He is the only one for me who can cheer you up regardless of your state of mind and truly alter your senses even if it is for a brief moment.
2) Neil Gaiman (Born 1960, United Kingdom)
While Terry Pratchett has made the most significant impact on my reading habits, my love affair with fantasy actually started with Neil Gaiman.
The Graveyard Book, published in 2008, was the first paranormal fantasy book I ever read. The story of Nobody Owens, an orphan who is adopted by ghosts at a cemetery after his parents are murdered, captivated me to a point where I obsessively started seeking out other books in the genre. I explored more of Neil Gaiman’s work and it is only after that I came across the Discworld series to quench my thirst for similar novels.
Neil Gaiman with his humour and spellbinding storylines was the first author to make me truly connect with the fantasy genre that I so absolutely love today.
3) Frances Hardinge (Born 1973, United Kingdom)
I find it interesting that Frances Hardinge is classified as a children’s fantasy author. Her books have so much depth to them and she is one of the few authors whose books appeal to readers of all ages. A feat that is incredibly tough to achieve.
In fact Frances Hardinge’s The Lie Tree was the second ever children’s fantasy novel since 2001 to win the Costa Book of the Year award in 2015.
My first Frances Hardinge book was Verdigris Deep and I have not been able to stop picking up her books since then. She is definitely one of the authors I admire the most and I can’t wait for what she comes up with next.
4) Diana Wynne Jones (1934 – 2011, United Kingdom)
Pure joy, feel good fantasy. These are the words I associate with books written by Diana Wynne Jones. There is none of the grimdark sinister stuff that is so popular today. Her novels are witty, charming and increasingly complex.
Honestly I pick up a Diana Wynne Jones book whenever I simply want to smile. Her work is divided into speculative fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Although her books are primarily classified as Children’s or Young Adult fantasy, she is another author whose work appeals to all fantasy fans regardless of age.
My first Diana Wynne Jones book was Howl’s Moving Castle and even though I have not read all of her 40+ novels, I am determined to do so in the near future. She is another author after Terry Pratchett who still continues to inspire and bring joy to people’s lives long after her death in 2011.
5) Jim C. Hines (Born 1974, United States)
The latest author to have me spellbound into reading all of their work is American author Jim C. Hines.
I absolutely loved the Goblin Quest series and I am in the midst of exploring all of Jim C. Hines’ books.
I find his books quite quirky with heroes you would least expect to triumph. Of course the adventures are thrilling with a fresh take on old ideas.
His most famous fantasy series include the Goblin Quest series, Princess series and Magic ex Libris series with each one being quite different from the other.
So there you have it. My five most favourite authors. One thing they have in common is most of their work is quite light-hearted with books that can be read by readers across all age groups.
If any of you have suggestions on other authors I should be exploring with a similar style of writing, please do let me know as I am always looking for new worlds to explore.
