Best Living Fantasy Authors - Ep. 114 of Intentionally Blank
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ย. 2024
- Brandon and Dan spend some time in a recent heist before moving on to their lists of their picks for the top five living fantasy authors.
🍔 Food Heists:
““Do Not Steal the King's Potatoes!” (just kidding, please do)" - • Cats is Marvelous! - E... (0:22-5:35)
vs
“The Caceres Casks” or alternatively “Soon To Be a Major Motion Picture Starring Ana de Armas” - • A Visit From the Suckf... (0:20-5:03)
🔥 Bad Story Ideas:
"Luke Gorgeous and the Multiverse of Mediocrity" - • A George Lucas Bad Sto... (0:05-2:45)
vs
"Titanic 2: Sink Harder" - • Titanic 2: Sink Harder... (4:20-8:55)
And make sure to cast your vote on this week's polls by clicking the Google form below: forms.gle/r77M...
Which stories and heists will emerge victorious! Join us next week to find out!
Check out our previous episode of Intentionally Blank
• Depression - Ep. 113 o...
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On both Brandon and Dan's mentions:
Terry Brooks
Philip Pullman
Victoria Elizabeth Schwab
Seanan McGuire
Holly Black
Robin Hobb
Charlie N. Holmberg
Brent Weeks
Brian McClellan
Brandon Mentions:
Leigh Bardugo
Jim Butcher
Patrick Rothfuss
Sarah J Maas
Andrzej Sapkowski
Lois McMaster Bujold
Joe Abercrombie
Dan Mentions:
guy gavriel kay
Samantha Shannon
Dan's picks:
#5 Neil Gaiman
#4 Matt Ruff
#3 G Willow Wilson
#2 Robin Mckinley
#1 Fonda Lee
Brandon's picks:
#5 guy gavriel kay
#4 Neil Gaiman
#3 NK Jemisin
#2 Jane Yolen
#1 George RR Martin
I wonder why Joe Abercrombie isn't mentioned?
"Shawn McGuire" the name is "Seanan McGuire" (also writes zombie fiction as Mira Grant). Just so people will actually be able to search for her works.
I haven't even read any of his books but it is insane that none of them mentioned Joe Abercrombie, specially given how high George R. R. Martin is on the list 😂
Everyone commenting about Abercrombie, Brandon was clearly scoring based on versatility, and multidisciplinary success. That's why he didn't make it on Brandon's list, and Dan has a clear aesthetic that selects for things other than warish medievalish grimdark fantasy. Joe's great, but he so clearly owes so much to GRRM & Cormac Mcarthy
Tysm!!
Hope they follow this with a discussion on the best undead fantasy authors
Goated comment 😂
Actually I would love to see that episode. Lots of authors were nobodies while they were alive (Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, etc) and get massive boosts decades after their deaths. What is that if now undeath?
Yeah. Wait wut
Love your comment.
The List of No Names would be the title of such a podcast 😁 unless they made it a bad story idea of what if certain authors came back as undead(thinking undead of course).
Lol Sanderson spent 5 minutes on this and has a 4 part ranking system for each person and did a numerical score to arrive at his list. Naturally!
Brandon is DEFINITELY in top 5 when it comes to straight-up popularity.
And without a single TV/Movie adaptation of his work. One can only imagine how big he will get when one happens and becomes popular.
@@LSMugliaI’m just glad he’s waiting to ensure quality. He’s said before that the showrunners are knocking, but it seems like he doesn’t want to risk a half-baked, money-grab adaptation. A lot of books have been destroyed by the screen recently.
@@Crimser3 He wants a great adaptation, not a maladroit wanabefamous director's misinterpretation of his Cosmere. **cough** _whispered:_ Rafe **cough**
Jade War was the first time I put a book down for an extended period of time out of being mad at a character. It wasn't because of poor writing, or a twist that was wildly out of character, but because he did something that elicited a reaction, and the only thing I had the power to do was stop reading like a spiteful child waiting for a friend to apologize after an argument.
I just purchased this book last week. I am currently reading The Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence but it is sitting there daring me to read it
Haha, I did this with the magicians series.
For me it was The Poppy War. It took me so long to read the second book after the first.
i never got to jade legacy, but i’m about to reread war to go read it bc everyone says it’s better
I know exactly what character you are talking about and what action you are referring to. Its been like two years and I have yet to fully wrap my head around it.
This episode is very worth, not only for the video itself, but the comments recommending more authors 💫
Brandon seemed uncomfortable with people consuming his likeness in effigy. However, that would be the perfect entree for Koloss Head Munching day.
Would love a science fiction author discussion as well.
Amazing video. And yes, Fonda Lee is INCREDIBLE. The Green Bone Saga is the best trilogy I've ever read!
I would like to add Naomi Novik as a honorary mention! She has written different styles and is fairly popular in the reader community. Also, she created AO3 that really impacted how a reader or a consumer can enjoy art and create their own.
She was an Ao3 founder?! WHAT. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS. I'm a terrible fan, wow.
Agree, her style and versatility outclass many of the top 5 on these lists.
@@eryavielik what???? This is crazy
Fonda Lee’s Green Bone saga is legit one of the greatest set of books ever. Great call Dan. It’s exceptional.
Exceptional for some. Definitely not for all. Read the first book and had no real desire to continue. It had a good twist, I'll definitely give props for that. It's what got me through it. But as someone who doesn't really care for mafia stories, not the right match for me.
@@BirdMorphingOne No man, it's exceptional, that's it. It may not be to everyone's taste, but the trilogy as a whole does something really unique. If you've only read the beginning you understandably wouldn't know that, but trust me, I read a lot of fantasy and this one is a major accomplishment. If someone did something like this in say an epic fantasy style world, it would have been equally exceptional even if it was to different people's tastes. It's not really a mafia story, it's essentially a fourth branch of government that is necessary due to their magic system.
Good to hear Brandon is a big Robin Hobb fan! I fell in love with fantasy because of her, and Brandon is the first author with the potential to unseat her works as my favorites.
Robin Hobb is my #1. Fitz and the Fool cemented that for me
THRILLED that Fonda Lee gets Dan's #1. Green Bone is my favorite trilogy I've ever read
I for sure liked it. Jade city was fantastic.
Michael Moorcock is still alive. Talk about impact on the genre and versatility; Pretty much created diesel-punk with the Bastable series. Science fiction psychedelia. The Multiverse. Literary fiction. Prog rock musician. How many of the authors on your list will name MM as one of their influences?
Moorcock and Ursula K Le Guin are my favourites. The new wave writers took the genre which was weird fiction + Tolkien and showed what could be done. Moorcock's early stuff is probably too free flowing and experimental for modern audiences, and some of his series are almost beat by beat rebuttals of JRR's style and worldview, but if I'm remembering right, the first Elric stories and multiverse building were put out within two years of Multiverse Theory being known/published to the public at all. I also like Epic, but those New Wave authors, including Ballard on the scifi side, really expanded the scope of what the genre could achieve for me.
A valid point and an embarrassing oversight on our part.
@@BrandSanderson It was a great episode, I don't think there were oversights so much as jumping off points to bring up more great authors.
I really thought it was going to be a discussion about which author is living the best life
😂
That would be "best-living"; hyphens matter. :)
@@AMortalDefiantWell, not every TH-cam channel uses perfect punctuation. 🙄
@@Rennies-World It's
This is a writer's TH-cam channel
@@rinnest😮 I'm aware. That doesn't mean they have to be perfect. Relax a little. 😁
This was a great episode! My top 5 living are:
1. George RR Martin
2. Brandon Sanderson
3. Jim Butcher
4. Stephen King
5. Terry Brooks
I included King because I think he’s written enough fantasy books to justify being eligible for the list. But I judged him solely on his fantasy novels. If you include his total body of work, he’s #1.
Authors that stand out to me as deserving a spot on the list (who I've read enough of, and also who aren't super mainstream) are definitely Glen Cook for Black Company, and Michael Stover for the absolute genius that is the Acts of Caine. I really wish more people read both of those series, glad I've seen Cook mentioned in the comments a few times, but people need to talk about Stover too. Caine does dance on the edge between sci-fi and fantasy, but it does so many things incredibly. (And for my money did a lot of the concepts in Frugal Wizard to a whole other degree of craft and execution.)
Glen cooks black company being referred to as Vietnam war stories on peyote is one of my favorite descriptors ever.
1. Brandon Sanderson
2. Joe Abercrombie
3. Scott Lynch
4. Brent Weeks
5. Steven Erikson
Honorable Mentions: Peter V. Brett, James Islington, J.K. Rowling, George Martin, Jim Butcher (Urban Fantasy), Neil Gaman.
This reads like Reddit's most recommended in aggregate
Yes, I feel like there is a difference between writing great books and actually changing the arc of the genre. Lee, Gaiman, GRRM, Jemisin, and Wilson have all definitely done that. I think, arguably, that Butcher probably has too…the more I think about it. The landscape of urban fantasy has really changed since Dresden broke through so maybe Butcher deserves more credit. Urban fantasy often gets the short end of the stick and if shouldn’t.
Brent weeks over Steven Erikson is crazy
@@reflexjat3822 Hard agree.
@@reflexjat3822 Sanderson over Erikson is crazy to me🤷♂️ I'm biased cause I'm a total Malazan addict and it's my favorite series, but imo Erikson is the best author I've ever read.
Surprised there wasn't even a mention of Joe Abercrombie. I know at least Sando knows him personally
I'm pretty sure he was mentioned in the "honorable mentions"
Very hot, unpopular take: Joe Abercrombie is over rated 😬
@yremogtnomnad agreed. He's good! Not near top of genre for me though.
@@yremogtnomnadalso agreed, he's a good writer, but I find his books unsatisfying
he's my favourite author by far, no one does it like him
I haven't watch the whole video yet but I wanted to point out that, tho I understand since most of his work hasn't been published in english, I think that Sapkowksy is a fearly versatile writer. Outside of The Witcher, he has written some short stories with horror, sci fi and other elements that I think are really good. He also has some historical fiction short stories and books.
To anyone wishing to explore Guy Gavriel Kay's works (and you should!), Lions of Al-Rassan is probably the best starting point. Personnal favourite is his Sarantium Duology: "Sailing to Sarantium" and "Lord of Emperors". Breathtakingly beautiful take on the Byzantine era around the time of Justinian. The ending will leave you in pieces!
I have not read those but The Fionavar Tapestry was one of my all time favorites for sooooo long and I have not read any of his other books. I'm not sure why but I think it might be because I was not a fan of historical fiction, just Fantasy.
@@vampirelogan Fionavar is great "high" fantasy for sure! It's how I got into Kay's works :) If you were to open Kay's recent books and compare them with Fionavar (which was, AFAIK, his first series), you'll see that his writing has aged like the finest of wines - but like Brandon and Dan said, his writing his very contemplative. I like to say that Kay's art is both in the substance and the form!
If you want to give a try to more some Kay that veers more to the "Fantasy" than "Historical" side, give a try to either Tigana (second-world fantasy) or Ysabel (more of a urban sort of fantasy... in which you may recognize faces from Fionavar ;-) )
Lions of Al-Russian is my favorite of his books absolutely great from start to finish
I might recommend Tigana over LoAR for first time readers but I believe that’s an ongoing debate among the fans 😂 both are incredible
Sad to not hear Mercedes Lackey at all, has been writing for decades has several long series and an upcoming tv series. Valdemar got me into fantasy
Like Dan, I also heard Brandon's number 2 and confusedly thought 'Huh, Robin Hobb and George RR Martin can't both be his number one....'
I was amazed at the lack of Robin Hobb from either list too.
I asked Fonda Lee if Jade City were set in an alternate 1960 and she said it was. So my elevator pitch for that series is “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets The Godfather starring the Asian Rat Pack.”
And the magic system of that series is so cool it blows my mind. It would be a natural fit for TV.
I'm sooo glad Dan shouted out Fonda Lee! I read Green Bone Saga just a couple months ago and it's a top 5 series of all time for me. Go read it if you haven't!
Steven Erikson, author of Malazan, would be my choice for #1, but I can understand why people bounce off his style of dropping you in the middle of a complex world without much exposition or context.
I just started Gardens of the Moon a few days ago. I love it so far. I was actually surprised they didn't even mention him.
@@ADHDlanguages Malazan isn't really well known. I think it's sold only like 3 million copies, which is still a lot, but that's NOTHING compared to many of the other powerhouses they talked about today.
Yeah. I don't fault Brandon for not putting him on his list, since his criteria are very legitimate and would definitely hurt Erikson's rating. But it's kind of a travesty that Erikson isn't in the conversation at all for most fantasy fans.
His description is odd too. Sometimes I can’t tell what’s even going on.
I like the decision Terry Brooks made. He is getting older and so made sure that he wrapped up all of his stories, so that if he died it wouldn't leave his work unfinished. He said he may write a stand alone story or two, but his series are all done.
I'm also reading Priory of the Orange Tree right now as my first Samantha Shannon book, and she has absolutely gotten my attention. I'm looking forward to reading more of her.
I prefer her Bone Season series! Gritty dystopian fantasy.
Mine are:
1. Robin Hobb
2. Brandon Sanderson
3. James Islington
4. Steven Erikson
5. Joe Abercrombie
Solid list
Yea I don’t think I’ve ever heard either of them mention Erickson at all.
Just curious: You have Robin as first. That shows what kind of writing you like (very deep, character driven and emotional but zero action). But then Sanderson is the opposite of that (plot and action driven). Same with James Islington. Then Steven is entirely different. Same with Joe. How do you even compare them in the same scale? :) For me: Robin is right at the top. But then Sanderson will probably not make my top-5 (he will still make my top-10 or at laest top-15). Actually I find Tad Williams somewhat similar to Robin Hobb and to me he is likely the second.
@@PrunthabanKanthakumar That would be my living author list. All authors it would be Tolkien and Robert Jordan first and second respectively. The diversity of the list is probably why they are on the list. I don't necessarily want to read more of the same. My rating scale is in five categories; world building, characters, plot, prose, and themes. Hence why vastly different authors can be on my list.
This may be my favorite episode so far. I hope you do more of these favorites lists.
110% agreed with Fonda being at the top of the game right now, her being the next big thing and Green Bone having a huge impact, that's totally true.
'Tad Williams' - surprised he wasn't at the very least a mention.
I'm surprised about this as well, especially since they spoke about George so much. I'm finishing To Green Angel Tower now, and it's clear that George owes a lot to Tad for his legacy in Fantasy.
I agree I feel like Tad Williams in some ways might be even more influential than George R. R. Martin as even he took HEAVY inspiration from MS&T.
@@TheUnsmartGamerrI think George even said that ASoIaF would flat-out not exist without the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series.
Honestly, MS&T always feels like the missing link between Tolkien and GRRM. Its wild for me, that Williams flies so much under the radar in the US. (He is super popular here in Germany for very convoluted reasons)
@@davidjames8828 I've read both authors and there's a lot of influence there, but George's writing of characters and politics is what carries the series. It definitely influenced George and showed him the kind of things that were possible, but Tolkien was influenced by early writings too, it doesn't mean that he didn't accomplish something uniquely his own, and George did the same. George stood on the shoulders of giants for sure, but A Song of Ice and Fire is outstanding. I'm sure Tad Williams would end up on George's top 5 though.
I was so happy that Dan said Fonda Lee, I listened after finishing Jade Shards and thought she wouldnt get a mention for being too new of a series but what an impact the Green Bone Saga has.
These secret projects have been awesome! Thanks so much! I've been really enjoying this time period in my life, heavily because of your books. You're the man!
lovely episode. i would also include daniel abraham, since everyone knows the expanse but his fantasy deserves to be read, pierre grimbert, who is french but awesome, christoph marzi, who is german but awesome, and naomi novik, just for her impact on fanworks.
I don't know if I would put Daniel Abraham on a top five list if I was trying to be quantitative in the way Sanderson is here (don't think he has the influence, and I don't think his prose are on the level of folks like Martin, Hobb, or Lynch), but The Dagger and the Coin hit me personally in a way that I don't think anything else ever has.
Needs more Joe Abercrombie. Something about his style really speaks to me.
He's good; but he's too new so he hasn't had time to anything much other than grim dark. It's why my list has Glen Cook instead of him. :D
Same here! Love that guy! "Body found floating by the docks."
he is my favourite author by far, his writing is fearless where i feel most writers have an editor looming over their shoulder, abercrombie is a breath of fresh air, he's my number 1
As someone who has not read a lot of fantasy or books in general, its very hard to make a decent list. But if i had to try it would probably be this
1. Eiichiro Oda
2. Kentaro Miura (I know he died recently, but I feel it was recent enough for it to be ok)
3. Stephen King
4. Rick Riordan
5. Brandon Sanderson
Oda good but No Tolkien sad
If you include the Meghan Lindholm books it adds a lot more to Robin Hobb's versatility.
lol, i haven't seen one of these for a good while and the switchup of Brandon with facial hair and Dan without was a trip
FONDA LEE IS AWESOME! Yes yes yes on number one. It is the best cross cultural book ever!
And she handled integrating the magic system into an urban fantasy setting better than anyone I've ever read, including creating what is essentially a fourth branch of government. Most just take the easy way out and hide magic from the muggles.
I just clicked on the old episodes to re-watch the food heist. It is funny that Dan had a beard and Brandon not back than. Now it is the other way around! Now it look weird to see Brandon without one.... On an other topic. There are to many books I want to read and not enough time😢
Can't believe that Piers Anthony didn't even make the honorable mention list as he's still kicking around at 83.
It'd be unfair to rank dead authors, Tolkien would probably just get 20/10 on impact.
Yup. The discussion would be all about #2.
Saying right at the start that if Francis Hardinge's name doesn't come up, it will be a huge miss. If you boys haven't read her, you simply must. Every book stands alone, and is AMAZING
Lois McMaster Bujold is clearly on my list. In addition, I'd replace everyone (taste is) and add Elizabeth Moon, David Weber, and probably Mercedes Lackey and Raymond Feist. Steven Brust and Glen Cook are honorable mentions.
I want to very respectfully say that perhaps Steven Erikson deserved an honorable mention :(
An extraordinary omission!!
Dan probably hasn't read Malazan, look at his top 5, Malazan is obviously not his kind of thing. Brandon had his criteria and Erikson doesn't necessarily fit the influence or recognition categories. Dude is a very versatile author though, I kind of wish the Malazan books hadn't been so long so he could have given us more new worlds. A bit hypocritical of me to say though since I also still want him to finish Walk in Shadow.
@@calebmauer1751 Sanderson has recommended Erikson as an exemplar of world building and quality writing in his leactures on writing, so whatever the reason for the omission, it's not because he doesn't like/respect his work.
I'm kinda surprised Steven Erickson wasn't mentioned especially as a future grandfather or influence on the genre.
Basically tells me all I need to know about Sanderson. Was debating whether I should continue reading his books. Now I know.
@@alexwallachian7720 lol what? Judgy much
Erikson is by far the greatest fantasy writer, not even in the same league as the ones mentioned. So Sanderson not mentioning him is all I need to know.
@@alexwallachian7720uh ok that's a fine opinion to have but not everyone has to share it. Sanderson broke it down into categories to help him rank the authors, some of them would make it hard for Erickson to make his list. He also mentioned some other authors that started in the early 2000s ish time frame haven't had a long enough career yet to judge their impact etc for his list.
I'm guessing because this was the basis for his list and the other list had a bit more of a focus on niche writers (and put together quickly) is the reason Erickson wasn't given the mention I said above. Or who knows maybe neither of them have read any of Erickson's books yet and so can't judge.
Erickson has been between a niche and somewhat popular author for a while now with him gaining more popularity recently as people are finding the malazan books.
I loved Malazan and was really curious on Brandon opinion...
For someone who became a “reader” as an adult and really only am familiar with a few authors, this episode is fantastic research material for future authors to read. Lovely topic, thanks guys!
I appreciate that GRRM is at the top of your list despite not really vibing with the GoT style, still acknowledging that he's done so much more. I remember reading the series and it just blew my mind, I really didn't feel that sense of immersion outside of Tolkien or the Stormlight series
Also man, I have not heard of so many of these authors, looks like I'm going to be taking a lot of trips to the library soon
Martin doesn't belong on the list until he proves he can stick the landing IMO - write a great ending to ASOIAF. After starting the Wheel of Time not long after it came out, I refuse to read a long series by an older author until it is complete. Maybe not fair, but I'm not going deal with the frustration of an unfinished epic.
@@torc7424Wheel of time was finished though.
To be brutally honest: I am a big fan of ASoIaF, however it does have a few flaws:
1) It is, and likely will remain, unfinished;
2) The choice of structure of Books 4 and 5 was not a great decision (each focussing on different characters and plot lines to the exclusion of the other). I don’t feel like this was the original intent and reflects some questionable editorial and/or publishing decisions;
3) Although the first 3 volumes are excellent, even they are not perfect: eg, at times the narrative gets bogged down with too many characters ensnarled within so many families and houses, to the extent that the reader can become distracted and frustrated.
This series has many strengths but in my opinion, and for these reasons, does not belong at the top of any such list.
Daniel Abraham is in my top 5, though he is known mostly for the Expanse series, but his fantasy books are great as well.
My audible wishlist just exploded. Thanks guys.
When Dan announced his #1 I leapt for joy. Fonda Lee completely upended my expectation on fantasy books. I had sleepless nights working through her Greenbone books.
Here's my list, based on personal preference rather than fame or impact on the genre:
1. George RR Martin: Even if he never finishes ASoIaF, it still stands out to me as the greatest fantasy work since LotR
2. Steven Erikson: Great characters and world building. Bonus points for having a giant 10-book epic fantasy series that's actually finished.
3. Guy Gavriel Kay: Just beautiful writing. I especially love Tigana. I only discovered him relatively recently and need to read more of his stuff.
4. Brandon Sanderson: Great at world building and plot. Very consistent and prolific. Hot take: Warbreaker is his best book.
5. R Scott Bakker: He only has the one series and it's more grimdark than most readers can stomach, but to me Second Apocalypse is the only work of modern fantasy that rivals Ice and Fire. Drusas Achamian is the best character in all of fantasy.
Some honourable mentions: Joe Abercrombie (Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say that he's amazing at character voice), Robin Hobb, Jim Butcher, Jacqueline Carey
This was a great conversation, loved that both are Anne Mccaffrey fans. Moreta Dragonlady of Pern was the first adult book I read as a child and my introduction to scifi/fantasy.
Great work. My reading list wasn't running out anytime soon but this added even more cushion. Names that I personally would add:
Lois McMaster Bujold - known more for her SF than her fantasy so I guess she could be excluded for the same reason as King, but quality stands out even among other top authors and has written a solid amount of fantasy. One of two writers with 4 best novel Hugos.
Ken Liu - better known for his translations but the Dandelion Dynasty is excellent. Probably in the up-and-coming category, not as prolific an author as most of the others but quite good.
Steven Brust - the Vlad Taltos series is outstanding and To Reign in Hell is a personal favorite. One of the older authors who I think gets overlooked.
Tamora Pierce - I wanted to include one YA author and for me it clearly had to be her. Between the Circle of Magic and Tortall she was, and continues to be, a titan of fantasy YA.
Yeah kinda sad Steven Erikson wasn’t mentioned, but I have an idea based on the criteria he put that Erikson wasn’t on the list
Wait, which criteria doesn't he meet?
@@IdRatherBePipingHe's lacking in all of them except quality as far as i know
@@GoldenMechaTiger Erikson has done some horror and sci-fi but not as famous as Malazan. I’d say he hasn’t done anything immensely impactful for pop culture, which is likely because Malazan isn’t an all audience type of series ie its vast style of various storylines and certain content warnings. I think it wasn’t really the focus, but yeah that’s the major strike of him not being mentioned
@@qliphalpuzzle5453 Yeah, I haven't seen anyone else writing a Malazan-style book yet, so hard to say there was influence on the genre. And it'll probably never be super popular unfortunately.
Wow I need to read The Jade City now after Dave's glowing review. Sounds right up my alley.
Great Episode. As someone that like science fiction and fantasy, I would love to hear your top 5 science fiction authors. I added a few authors to my fantasy list. Thank you!
I read Sandkings as part of an anthology. Totally missed who the author was. It is nuts that George R R Martin wrote it. Really good story
I just finished The Greenbone Saga. So worth it. No middle book slump. Satisfying conclusion. Mystery along the way. Excellent outside perspective from the main characters. Definitely a great recommendation.
The Green Bone Saga is just awesome. I enjoyed it very much. I was fortunate enough to have a brief back and forth with Fonda via email, and she was very kind and gracious throughout. I will always sing praise for Fonda Lee.
The grimdark arguments are kinda classic, because it's one thing to be the "first" (how do you even judge that) and another thing to be the first popular. Obviously Glen Cook was there before Martin, the same way E. T. A. Hoffmann was there before E.A. Poe, but the latter guys are more popular.
I would love a top 6 dead fantasy author list. Mainly because Tolkien will be on both lists so we need 6.
listening to brandon talk about how he isn't in the running for best fiction authors.. This man is so humble.. Journey before destination, theses words will out live us all.
I started reading Robin Hobb books a month ago. I'm on the third book already and I'm absolutely loving them!
Robin Hobb has no parallel in the genre in my opinion.
You guys should do an episode on authors who you think are underrated.
Brandons modesty is amazing. And Rothfuss is incredible
Yeah I’d have scored Hobb highly. Especially after adding in the Megan Lindholm books. I also expected Tad Williams to feature. But it’s good, because now I have names to investigate and check out. Looking forward to the list of authors sadly gone. Great episode 👍🏼
I just had to google Steven Erikson to see if I missed that he died. He is alive! But he isn't even in one of your honorable mentions?
But I enjoyed you chat about the authors, thx!
Alas, Steven is just not everyone’s preferred bag of bananas. I was part of a read-along a few years ago and marched through all 10 MBotF. By the end the vast majority, including the BookTuber who organized the read-along, dropped out at various points along the way.
Personally, while I enjoyed certain aspects of the series, other parts annoyed the shit out of me. It would never be near the top of my list either.
@@jayspeijer614 Was the booktuber Mike by any chance? Because I went through that whole series during his read-along, which I think was in 2020.
@@calebmauer1751 yes it was! He was a very gracious host/organizer/head cheerleader, but even he struggled, at times, to maintain a positive spin on some aspects of the series. I believe he dropped out near the beginning of Book 8, vowing to return at some point, but never has, ASFIK. That’s fine and I don’t blame him, but what perplexes me is that he seems convinced that this series, which he can not seem to finish, will be considered one of his favourites of all time. That seems unfair to other authors.
Other than some people mentioned here I would personally add Suzanna Clarke and China Mieville.
Which suzanna Clarke book should I read? 0:18
@@somefishhere Piransi if you want short and original book, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell if you want long story and love classics or the Ladies of Grace Adieu if you like short stories. You can’t go wrong with this author 55:46
There was a huge period of my life where I didn't read. I had outgrown the YA genre and the only Epic Fantasy that got handed to me was LOTR which I wasn't ready for. Robin Hobb was the author that got me back into reading. It was her cover blurb that made me pick up The Final Empire
Eichiro Oda is a best living high fantasy author.
Interesting how Brandon said Pat Rothfuss hasn't been around long enough. I had to read Name Of The Wind for a college class back during Covid. I guess he's definitely had an impact at least on academia then.
At this point, it's not so much the amount of time Rothfuss has been around as the fact he's averaging a book per decade now. His writing is top-notch; it's just his volume that keeps him an unknown outside fantasy circles, which is very depressing to see. Everyone I turn on to him gushes over him, and reads all his material up compulsively.
Love the love for Robin McKinley! She is one of my absolute favorites!!
I love how modest Brandon is. How can you hate him? But let me tell you something, Brandon is definitely top 5 in my books. Hope that one day he can surpass my absolute favorite fantasy author, George RR Martin!
Steven Erikson with Malazan Book of the Fallen is always there. Joe Abercrombie just getting even more attention with his movie adaptation of Best Serve Cold.
Something tells me that if Sanderson doesn't love Song of Ice and Fire because of grimdark/nihilism then I can only imagine how he would feel about malazan lol
@zenthepoet1319 yeah Erikson is very talented and smart but some of his stuff skews extremely cynical and pitch black. Worth reading, absolutely, but won't make my best of lists because I so often disagree with what he seems to be trying to say.
@@bigwhiffajw mostly he says “nothing”, he shows things and represents things, the war is real in it. About themes he gives you the option to decide. That’s the main difference, that’s why they say “not holding your hand”. It’s not cynicism to show the real war. Most of the hero based fantasy is taking it very lightly how the humanity behaves but that’s not true. Only in the last 20-30 years I could give you examples that proves, Erikson is right. Even from western countries.
I agree with dan. Fonda lee is skilled in a way ive never seen before. The charicters are so so good.
I would adore a collaborative top 50 for greatest (strictly) fantasy authors, alive and dead!!
I'm now listening to Jade City and reading Alif the Unseen because Dan doted on those. I'm kinda sad Brandon didn't really play up any specific novels by his picks, but I suppose that makes sense since Brandon's list is more of a data-driven selection.
I love how Brandon started off with a massive stack of paper which has slowly dwindles as they've chinwagged lol😂😅😁
I came for the list on the comment after listening to the episode, and wasn't disappointed. So many authors I haven't heard about.
As far as impact on the genre, Tad Williams is another one of those sneaky ones who completely changed the game in the 90's but somehow no one thinks of when they make these lists
There is a criminal lack of Susanna Clarke here.
Love the shout-out for Samantha Shannon . Priory of the Orange Tree is incredible.
I heard mixed things so I am happy to know that they will bring this series up in this episode!
No Abercrombie is disappointing, but I imagine it's just not to their tastes.
I'm guessing he'd be in that same category of Brandon's contemporaries that have not "broken out" enough by his standards.
Abercrombie is great but followed in a path laid down by GRRM. I feel like they emphasized authors who have pushed the boundaries or contributed in almost entirely new ways to the genre. GRRM, Lee, Gaiman, Wilson all being examples of this.
If it was a list with writing quality as the primary factor then, for me, Abercrombie beats out GRRM. No one writes character voice better than Joe. But if it’s writing quality than Suzanna Clarke, Robin Hobb, and Peter S Beagle all go onto the list. Wilson & GGK would have to stay too so it would be a very different list. All, of course, in my entirely-unqualified-to-be-making-any-such-pronouncements opinion. LOL.
@@arlissbunny Not sure how Wilson fits this unless you are just talking about DEI concerns. I've mostly just read her superhero comics though. Have not yet read Lee, but that strikes me as a "too soon too tell" in terms of influence and impact.
@arlissbunny Eh, I see what you mean, but I feel like there were plenty of writers in the honourable mentions that haven't done what you said. And as such I feel he would at the very least be in the conversation. I never expected him to be in either of their top 5, but I was expecting an honourable mention and I would argue, he is pushing the grimdark genre forward, and will continue to do so, assuming his next work, The Devils, falls into grimdark
@@robertdullnig3625 Read Alif the Unseen and Butterfly Mosque. That in addition to bringing in the character of Miss Marvel is quite a contribution and breadth of talent.
I would be interested to hear what Brandon thinks about R.A Salvatore , Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weiss, and David Gemmel
Absolutely agree with Dan’s take on Fonda Lee. Jade War blew my mind, hands down one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read.
My list: Raymond Feist; Piers Anthony; Glan Cook; Mercedes Lackey; and Steven Brust.
It's amusing to me that Brandon dismisses the idea of putting himself in the top 5, when he probably makes the majority of "top n living fantasy authors" lists
Let’s get some *Joe Abercrombie* in here! Some of the best character writing and addictive fantasy worlds around!
Even better, though the First Law Trilogy has maybe the most memorable character voices, the writing, especially for plot and of female characters only get better through the stand-alones and 2nd trilogy (up until the last book 😒)
Gallows humor, insightful snapshots of human nature, gut-busting action, memorable antiheroes… not to mention, some of the best-read audio books around, if that’s how you prefer to take your fiction!!
I bet they would say he isn't versatile. However, what he does he does so well. He and Sanderson are my favorite fantasy authors. You have to be realistic. haha.
i was guessing pratchett and then remembered he died just cant get used to him beeing dead
He is certainly the famous person whose death affected me the most in my life. I still occasionally read the tweet right after he died and start crying. It's also so sad how you can see his writing deteriorating in the last 3-5 books. He was racing against time for the industrial revolution arc and wanting to leave the disc in a better place and it's so painful knowing how many wonderful stories he would have loved continuing to write.
Let's also get an honorable mention to Will Wight as a highly promising up-and-comer.
Agreed, you read my mind with this comment. The Cradle series is one of my favorites of all time!
Also seconding this. I know everyone will point to Cradle, but I also greatly enjoyed the Traveler’s Gate trilogy
George R.R Martin also did the world building for Elden Ring.
Probably wouldn't be a name that anyone considers the best, but I absolutley adore the work of Drew Hayes.
I was waiting for Robin Hobb the whole time! She's my favorite next to Sanderson
In the show of Good Omens, I miss the 4 additional horsemen. They were so funny!
Sci Fi writers next week please?
I don't know about top five, but someone who is a brilliant fantasy author, who never seems to make these lists is John Crowley.
I guess he is seen by current readers as more literary, but he's absolutely a Fantasy author.
John Crowley is one of Gaiman's favorite writers, and also writes stories set in the real world but where magic or fae exist.
Honestly Greenbone Saga is amazing, that last book hits so hard and there's no weak book in the trilogy. Can't wait until a year or two goes by and I can justify a re-read. For living authors, it's definitely the best thing I've read recently.
I'm really happy they mentioned Holly Black since she's the writer that made me fall in love with reading when I was a teenager
Glad to see GRRM at the top spot. Despite not getting a book in 11+ years, A Song of Ice and Fire still has in my opinion the best character writing in all of fantasy.
I have it as the greatest fantasy series of all time. It will be sad if it never gets and ending, but those first 3 books are peak fantasy, in my opinion
@@dimitrijekulak4874 Me too! I think that the culmination of the first three books in A Storm of Swords may never be topped by another series ever. I really hope we at least get Winds even if Dream never comes out.