[Fist Gamet]

Well, we all know how hard this one is but I will attempt to choose just one writer of Fantasy as my favourite writer. I think that for sheer enjoyment of the stories, and the skill and passion of his writing, I enjoyed the Conan stories of Howard more than that of any other writer. This guy went wwwwaaaaayyyyyy before his time, and it's a little sad to think of the books he could have written.

[Kalahinen]

I just had to start a new topic.
What is the best sword and sorcery novel/novella you've read?
Who is the best writer?

Some of my own favorites:
Conan (for example Shadows in Zamboula and the Phoenix in the Sword)
Elric of Melnibone
Cyrion by Tanith Lee, anyone read Cyrion-novellas?
Dilvish the Damned by Roger Zelazny
Jack Vance's Dying Earth
Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar

[stone monkey]

I would argue that "Elric of Melnibone" isn't even the best Elric story. "Stormbringer" is way more fun and has a fantastic ending. If you want obscure Moorcock S&S you could try to find a copy of "Pheonix in Obsidian" (one of the Erekosse series) which has IMO the nastiest incarnation of the Black Sword.

[Kalahinen]

Some of the post-Howard SS-novellas are quite funny. For example Henry Kuttner's Elak, a pure Conan or Kull copy.

Has anyone read The Fortress of Darkness? Can't remember who wrote that...

[Kalahinen]

Well, I was referring to the whole Elric-saga actually. Haven't read much of the other Moorcock Eternal Champion series, because the demand exceeds the supply.

[gyrehead]

Writing now, I would say Gemmell. Though it will be interesting to see how he takes on the Troy cycle in his upcoming work. Surprisingly, Glenda Larke does a superb job with her first book (first published in the U.S.) that is with The Aware. A surprise because I just did not think it was that type of book from thecover and the blurb.

I always liked Tanith Lee. For me, though, it was the "Vis" books. I liked Moorcock as well, but Moorcock let his own cleverness impress himself a bit too much as he went on. Conan, to be honest bored me. I think because it read a bit like Burroughs when Burroughs was scarping the bottom of the barrell in terms of both Carter and Tarzan.

[Dagger]

Wow, I cut my teeth on Conan and REH still rules as a writer. The guy was no stylist but he was a first-rate world builder and could put the pedal to the metal like no one else.

Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar was incredible but towards the end his style became so dense it was almost impenetrable. Still, I would kill for a Fafred and Grey Mouser movie.

[polishgenius]

Eddings!
Don't hurt me. Though I have a fondness for Eddings as The Belgariad was what got me into fantasy. For a ten year old, it was great.


In seriousness, probably Gemmel although he tends to get predictable. Though there is the occasional surprise. I predicted the end of Midnight Falcon in the first 40 or so pages, but one I can't remember the name of really caught me off guard.