First thing I always check out in the Science Fiction/Fantasty section is the selection of ST novels. sheepish grin The SW books haven’t really hooked me as much as the Trek books. There are bound to be Trek folks even among 2,300 in Montana, I suspect. 
At least you can get an assortment of the many series; then if there’s interest, you can order more. If not, then you can offer em to me and I’ll buy em from ya … honest. 
I’ve been pimping K.J. Anderson lately for fantasy. I’ve only read the “Fencer” trilogy, but I just ordered the first in another series from Amazon today.
George R.R. Martin’s “Wild Card” series isn’t new but might sell well with the current superhero boom in the movies going on.
Just about anything by Dave Duncan is worth stocking. His latest books are the “King’s Blade” series, but he’s got lots of other recent and not-so-recent books to choose from.
Thankfully the “Liad” books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are back in print. The series had only three or four books printed almost 20 years ago that were unavailable for the longest time. Those are back along with a bunch of other stuff set in the same universe. See if you grab some of those to get people hooked.
You must have the “Narnia” series by C.S. Lewis as they’re not only classics but a movie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, based on the book of the same title is coming out soon.
Vernor Vinge was married for a while to a very talented writer, Joan D. Vinge, who has quite a few things out. She’s been working more on novelizations like the Star Wars universe lately, but definitely check out her books.
Barbara Hambly has some recent fantasies along with a couple of Star Wars novelizations and some fiction. She’s darn good. Check out her “Walls of Air” series or her recent vampire books.
Joel Rosenberg (the fantasy writer, not the political thriller writer) is continuing his “Guardians of the Flame” fantasy series as well as producing some mystery fiction recently. There are only two books in the “D’shai” universe, but both of them are good, and one is pretty recent, The Hour of the Octopus.
Tad Williams has a couple of new series out, “Otherland” and “Shadowmarch.” His “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn” series was very popular not too long ago, for good reason.
[QUOTE=Sleel]
I’ve been pimping K.J. Anderson lately for fantasy. I’ve only read the “Fencer” trilogy, but I just ordered the first in another series from Amazon today.
Um, I think the Fencer trilogy is by K. J. Parker, not K. J. Anderson…
Trudi Canavan’s series is a good, recent seller - Magician’s Guild, Novice & High Lord.
Larry Niven’s been mentioned, but it was sort of an aside. He’s still producing, both alone and in collaboration with a half-dozen other authors, and his “Man-Kzin war series” is up to its 10th volume.
Jack L. Chalker died recently, but a lot of his stuff is still in print. One of my guilty pleasures.
Hal Clement also died not too long ago, and I believe some of his stuff is still in print, too. One of my unguilty pleasures.
There are plenty of old-time SF writers whose stuff is great, but is out of print, and i have no idea how well it will sell with new readers unfamiliar with their stuff. (No matter how much it deserves to sell). Nevertheless, you oughtta try reprints or anthologies to give these guys exposure. I think that the Science Fiction Hall of Fame is still in print – at least the first volume. The first two volumes of this deserve to stay on the shelves.
Crap, you’re right!
Preview alone doesn’t help.
<affirmation>I will proofread my posts when I preview.</affirmation>
Yep, Trickster’s Choice & Queen are the most recent books with Queen coming out in paperback this October, along with the start of a third series in her Circle books. (Circle of Magic & The Circle Opens series with The Circle Reforged starting in October) and several books planned for the coming years, set in a past Tortall.
For a YA section you also need Robin McKinley’s The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword.
Another recent Fantasy author is Jaqueline Carey with her Kushiel series (Kushiel’s Dart, Chosen and* Avatar*) and she has started a new series called The Sundering.
Uhm… Jennifer Fallon’s Hythrun Chronicles, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and EE Knight’s Vampire Earth series. The last is slated for 12 books, and he’s starting a new series called Age of Fire.
Tanya Huff’s Keeper series is a really amusing look at the balance between good and evil, and the people who help keep it. You get caught off guard sometimes when she refers to things evil has done in our world (signing a new contract for Barney* for instance…)
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head right now Hope that helps.
[sub]*Yes, the purple dinosaur[/sub]