My ten best, anyway!

1. Laurell K. Hamilton: LKH writes about Anita Blake, the Vampire Hunter. In a world where the law has legalized vampires and werewolves and all monsters have civil rights, Anita is an animator, someone who raises the dead for a living. She also kills rogue vampires. LKH combines these elements with excellent plots because Anita is called upon to solve supernatural crimes. The books start with Guilty Pleasure and The Laughing Corpse. LKH is at book 11 now by popular demand, and rabid fans will be happy to know she has plans for more.

2. Jim Butcher: Jim’s Butcher’s character, Harry Dresden, is the only wizard in the yellow pages. ’Nuff said. This book is from Harry’s perspective and the laid-back wizard’s dry humour and sarcastic comebacks are just one reason to crack open this book (Storm Front). Fool Moon is the second book.

3. Terry Pratchett: On Discworld, Pratchett spins out the stories of colourful characters who are remarkably down-to-earth at the oddest times. Jingo was my favourite so far, with the sour Captain Sam Vimes as the reluctant hero.

4. Sharon Green: Her Blending series is amazing. The only problem I had with it was that each book ended in the most nail-biting cliffhanger! Lucky for you, all five are out by now. Set in a world where every person has power over one of the elements- earth, fire, spirit, water or air- it’s a story of three men(Lorand, Rion and Vallant) and two women(Jovi and Tamrissa) who reluctantly travel to the capital city to take part in the Blending competition, in which five people will be chosen to replace the rulers of the kingdom. But is that really the intention of the competition?

5. Patricia McKillip: Reading one of her books is like swimming in a dream of murky colours. When you turn the last page, you raise your head and shake it like you’re waking up. The Book of Atrix Wolfe was my favourite, but there are so many to choose from.

6. Stephen King: Wait! Before you say, why King? I’ll say- just for the Dark Tower series, I would recommend him as a fantasy writer. It’s so excellent, filled with so much character development that you want to sob.
Eddie: I shoot with my mind.
Oh and since I’m on King’s fantasy literature anyway, dig up Eyes of the Dragon. You won’t be sorry.

7. William Goldman: Just for The Princess Bride.
Inego: My name is Inego Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Classic.

8. Patricia Briggs: Ward is the heir of Hurog, and for fear of his father has played dumb for many years. Certainly he looks it. He’s huge and built. But Ward is a lot smarter than he looks. And he’ll have to be, to save the dragons of Hurog. One of my favourite writers, and Ward is sooo cool! All ’duh’ on the outside, but with a mind like a steel trap on the inside. hehe...I have such a soft spot for the Scarlet Pimpernel types!

9. Mercedes Lackey: Her Valdemar books are cool. All her female characters are strong, physically and mentally, and a bit arrogant about it. Some of her men are quite pretty, but sleek and strong still.

10. David Eddings: Garion is a farmboy...or so he thinks. But when he sets out on a mysterious journey with his Aunt Pol and her father who couldn’t possibly be 7,000 yr old Belgarath, disciple of the god Aldur, he discovers that even the world doesn’t exist for the reason he imagined. The Belgariad is a series of five books. The first one is Pawn of Prophecy. This series is a cherished favourite of readers and will be an instant hit. Really. :)

Well, there you are! Please comment and nurture my reviewing muse. :)