You can’t go wrong with Steven Erikson’s Malazan Empire books.
Well, you can, in that the series covers about 300,000 years of history and all sorts of stuff in Gardens of the Moon doesn’t make sense for at least 300 pages and lots more stuff is still up in the air five books later. Erikson is writing a series, not a book. You have to just trust that he knows where he’s going. The writing is just heartbreakingly beautiful and his characters are indelibly printed in my brain. It’s truly an awesome job.
For background, Erikson and his writing partner Ian Cameron Esselmont were archeology students. They developed the Malazan Empire as a roleplaying campaign when they on a dig with nowhere else to go one year. Erikson is writing the events after the death of the emperor Kellanved (that’s not a spoiler) and Esselmont is writing the events leading up to it. Erikson’s a faster writer and got a publishing deal first. Historians play a major role in the series and they kick about 12 kinds of ass and … I was going to say they get all the girls but mostly they’re too busy being heroic. Deadhouse Gates (book 2) still takes my breath away.
I’ve raved about the Malazan books elsewhere, so I won’t go on again other than to second them for their scope, breadth and originality.
I always associate Sean Russell with Gene Wolfe, mostly because I first starting reading both authors about the same time. Russell’s stuff is probably a little less accessible, but I enjoy it.
There are a few other spec. fic. authors I make a point of picking up whenever something new comes out: Dave Duncan, David Weber (just finished his latest, Off Armageddon Reef), Steven Brust, Glen Cook (really looking forward to more in the Incarnations of the Night series), David Drake and Guy Gavriel Kay.
[QUOTE=Winston Bongo]
I second R.A. Lafferty, not because he reminds me of Gene Wolfe – he doesn’t – but because he shares Wolfe’s unique ability to write the type of story that doesn’t remind you of anyone. (In fact, Wolfe himself is a Lafferty fan.) And a lot of his work has been reprinted in the last few years, so it’s much easier to find than it used to be. I’d recommend trying his short stories before throwing yourself into a novel, though – his bizarre style/pacing is much better suited to the short form. Nine-Hundred Grandmothers is an excellent collection to start with.
Another SF writer in the “defies-categorization category” is Cordwainer Smith. You can get all his short fiction in a single collection, The Rediscovery of Man. Definitely worth the money!
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So–perhaps I ought to check out this Gene Wolfe fellow.
Cordwainer Smith won my heart with “The Ballad of Lost C’Mell” in Galaxy. Still have my copy, with illustrations by the wonderful Virgil Finlay. Beside the anthology you mentioned, the novel Norstrilia completes a collection of just about all the fiction he wrote (as “Cordwainer Smith”).
And I may love R A Lafferty even more. Fifth Mansions is my favorite Lafferty novel, but I agree that starting with his short stories is a good idea.
Avram Davidson was another author unlike other authors; therefore, he might appeal to those who appreciate the unique. And, like Lafferty, he died just a few years ago–therefore, many of his books are back in print. Or so recently out of print again that they’re still available at decent prices.
[QUOTE=Cerowyn]
I’ve raved about the Malazan books elsewhere, so I won’t go on again other than to second them for their scope, breadth and originality.
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I love these books too, but I think Erikson falls short when it comes to character development and depth.
The various plots, schemes, and machinations in the Malazan books are complex and well thought out, but many of the characters are just pieces on the board. They’re interesting but only because of what they do, not because of who they are. If there wasn’t a war going on, I’d be bored with them. Severian, on the other hand – he’s interesting even when he’s doing something mundane.
[QUOTE=AuntiePam]
Severian, on the other hand – he’s interesting even when he’s doing something mundane.
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Couldn’t agree more. I might argue that his interactions with other characters are more interesting than he himself (if that’s a valid distinction). but enouhg of the Wolfe Fan Party!
Malazan series, huh? I’ll pick up the first book in the series, and try it out. OK, Mereneith…I’ll read the 2nd one too!
Sean Russell…I’ll try one of those, and I’ll also try Cabel and Bramah (thanks, Reno!)
muzzynyc…I don’t know which Wolfe books you’ve read so far, but I like the newer ones…Knight and Wizard. As most of his work…easily accessible to even a child on one level, but much deeper if you’re willing to take the time to puzzle-solve. My favorites are the Long Sun series, closely followed by the New Sun series.
Exapno Mapcase…not sure you were asking me, but I think I’ve read everything Wolfe has published, down to short stories and chapbook items. Loved almost all of it.
I’ll try the CIA book, muzzynyc…I like that genre, too.
Keep it coming, people! I’m sure I’m not the only one getting a Library List out of this!
I recommend Tim Powers. His topics are completely different, but he’s got the depth, the inscrutability and bits that you pick up on reread, and his works are fun to read, too!
[QUOTE=NE Texan]
I recommend Tim Powers. His topics are completely different, but he’s got the depth, the inscrutability and bits that you pick up on reread, and his works are fun to read, too!
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Tim Powers is great…read about 90% of his stuff. I also kept up the Powers-thing, and am reading Richard Powers…good stuff.
Exapno Mapcase…not sure you were asking me, but I think I’ve read everything Wolfe has published, down to short stories and chapbook items. Loved almost all of it.
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I would expect that. But I quoted Merneith, so that’s who I was asking. Erikson would seem to be the utter antithesis of Wolfe, so I was puzzled by the recommendation.
I’m trying to figure out when I first encountered Wolfe. I know I bought Operation Ares (1970) and The Fifth Head of Cerberus (1972) when they first came out. He had already appeared in If, F&SF, and Orbit by then so I’m sure I would have known of his short work before I bought the novel. So sometime in 1968 or 1969, then.
I had lunch with him at the Worldcon in Chicago in 1982, when we were both on panels, he namedropped.
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase]
I had lunch with him at the Worldcon in Chicago in 1982, when we were both on panels, he namedropped.
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That’s the stuff I love to hear. I love how someone like GW would name-drop. I know it was 1982, but he had already gotten some fame, so I find it funny.
Not to hijack my own thread, but I played tennis several times with David Foster Wallace (another author) after Infinite Jest came out. He must have worked John Barth into the conversation about 1,000 times. I like John Barth, but I like DFW better…it seemed unnecessary.
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia]
I recommend The Second Coming. It operates on a number of levels.
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I nominate this as “best inside joke that will make absolutely no sense once the Google ads rotate.”
