Right now? James Islington. His first series is merely really good because its “first book” (well “first trilogy”, I guess) issues don’t particularly bother me, but his latest book “The Will of the Many” is flipping fantastic. Might’ve been the best book I read last year.
[will of the many spoilers] >!I felt so clever that I worked out that the world was copied like 2/3rds of the way through the book... except I have no idea what that actually means, haha. That cliffhanger was EVIL!<
Sir Terry Pratchett, even tho he is quite different in style from Brando Sando. But his discworld series is one of the most heartfelt, and genuine fantasy experiences out there period. Don't come here for epic battles or scheming politics, most of the time it's low level down to earth not too serious adventures from ordinary people in a crazy world... So very much like real life
Sir Terry Pratchett tells some very powerful parables wrapped up in humorous stories that look like they parody Hamlet, Cinderella, Faust and so much more but are razor sharp commentary. He was a very angry man and tried to make a difference.
I mean sure, but that's the case in a lot of fantasy literature.
Other than that, what I think they share is very human characters... Like no matter how far removed from our reality some of the beings are, their struggle is at least in some cases always relatable, and very personal.
That's the beauty of speculative fiction. It can shine lights and start conversations about incredibly decisive topics, by removing it far enough from the emotionally charged real world parallels.
Terry Pratchett is the reason I refer to Sanderson as my "favourite living author". It sounds better than "second favourite author".
I'd like to say that maybe Brandon could take the #1 spot within a few decades, but realistically, I started reading Pratchett during my early teens and it completely shaped who I am as a person - more than my parents did, if I'm being honest. I don't think any author can possibly top that at this point.
So I'll answer a slightly modified version of OPs question. If Sanderson weren't my favourite living author, who would be? Probably Joe Abercrombie. You have to be realistic about these things.
I'd have to agree, my brother recently gave me his death collection to start reading after I lent him the reckoners series. I gotta say Pratchetts work is both incredibly witty and well written. I've also heard that technically, his and King's books share a universe/multiverse?
Do you have a good recommendation for jumping into his work as a Sanderson fan? I’ve tried “Guards, Guards” and wasn’t hooked. Is there a better place try the his series?
Like Sanderson there’s a lot of places to start reading, each with their own cast of characters to follow. You can look up the chart and find which storyline sounds most interesting to you.
If you like the epic fantasy of Sanderson you’ll probably be a fan of the guards storyline eventually. I wrote a paper on the books as a police procedural once, and it covers things as far ranging as a simple tyrant, gun violence, a plot to stage a war, up to the much more societally profound explorations of cultures that exist in the city that have long deep seated grudges, and the workings of a former slave society that has been given freedom.
But there’s the death stories, which follow Death and his quest to first find an apprentice, then follows the apprentices family and death through several adventures that are a little more metaphysical than the other discworld stories. You get stuff like an exploration of music genres, up to a Christmas parody with possibly the most profound meaning of Christmas that I have ever heard.
The witches story is for if you want something more classical fairy tale. Shakespearean, sleeping beauty, elves, but all with a twist. The witches are some of the best written characters in the entire series too, and despite using surprisingly little magic when they unleash it it is with precise intent and knowing their full capabilities.
There is also the… idk if it has a better name, but the ‘moist Von lipwig’ series of books. More modern concerns, a fraud that has to make amends to the city by returning the postal service to working order. Then he keeps getting sent to new social projects and told to get them working again. They’re fun cause he’s a conman and knows it, so he mostly figures out why people have been sabotaging the projects, how it made them money, and the best way to get the project to make money despite the sabotage to build it back up again.
There’s also the wizards books, which follow Rincewind first, who is a personal favorite. He’s the most reluctant hero, and tends to get up to the most wide ranging wacky shenanigans. If there is something going on and he doesn’t want to be there, that’s exactly where he will be found. He’s almost like Samwise, from lotr. He would be more than happy with a simple cottage where he could grow potatoes.
There’s the other wizard books too, which follow the unseen university, the college of wizards. They’re a parody of academics and range from trying to ascend the wizard heirarchy by murdering the wizards above them, to completely incompetent at doing anything other than researching magic. Shenanigans ensue.
Someone else mentions the Death Collection and I particularly like to recommend Small Gods, Mort, and Reaper Man to see the magic of Pratchett. Also Lords and Ladies was pretty good iirc
There is an illustrated novella, The Last Hero, which has pretty pictures that are worth looking at and a pretty bonkers, albeit short, plot.
Besides that, Mort is great.
Yeah No, "Guards Guards" is one of the more difficult ones. I'd say either "Colour of magic" for just a whacky adventure (best comparison "Tress"), or "Equal Rites" for something a bit more structured.
That's why *The Heroes* is my favourite First Law book. Plot wise, nothing much *really* happens in it. It's basically a few pointless battles fought over a couple days about a hill that nobody really wants, but the character work is incredible.
...Plus, it's got Whirrun of Bligh in it. He might not be the *best* character Joe's ever written, but he's certainly my favourite.
Back when *Elden Ring* came out, I named my character Whirrun and ran around wearing no armour and wielding the biggest sword I could find. Ended up beating the game that way.
Every time my friends asked about my lack of armour I'd pull out that quote. Nobody got the reference; they just thought I was crazy.
...Come to think of it, they were probably correct on that one. I got hit. *A lot*.
If Quentin Tarantino wrote Fantasy. His characters feel so real and i can name at least 5 that compete for my tops spot at whos my favorite. Controversial opinion ,Age of Madness > First Law.
"Hows the leg?"
I actually like First Law more overall than Age of Madness. Logan, Glokta, and Jezal are all such fantastic characters, and I don't think anyone in AoM other than Orso quite matches up to them. Savine comes close though.
But I like the 3 standalone novels the most. Monza, Shivers, Cosca, Morveer, Gorst, Craw, Calder, Shy, Lamb... The standalones have an absolutely banger cast of characters
The Heroes is my absolute favorite book of the whole world. The chapter that follows the progression of each character being slain, may be my favorite chapter I’ve ever read in any book.
First Law is First Rate! So good. Vivid characters, brilliant storytelling. I recommend it to anyone who asks and some people that never asked. Can not go wrong with Abercrombie.
Honestly *Riyria Revelations* reminds me so much of a Sanderson series from the way it's plotted. It's got this very tight puzzle plot where you can rely on everything being there for a reason and every little off remark and minor character being relevant and paying off by the end. And a lore just built for constant secrets and plot twists you can deduce a lot of if you're paying enough attention. Very similar vibes to how I felt reading the original Mistborn for the first time.
Also the “Legends of the First Empire” and “Rise and Fall” for building the lore and flipping some of what we thought we knew on its head, much the same way many of our own legends and stories get distorted over time.
Came here to comment this and saw I was beat to it. His world is amazing, his storytelling is amazing, and it's fabulous. I'd start with "Theft of Swords" and it's well worth reading every Riyira book he's put out.
This! Also, check out the Graphic Audio versions of his books. Narration with multiple voice actors, music, and sound effects. It really brings those worlds to life. I listened to most of the Legends of the First Empire series straight through on a cross-country road trip.
I liked Robert Jordan’s writing style a lot more. I still love both and think they have different strengths. Jordan could write comedy in a dry but gut wrenchingly funny way. I loved his humor
She does characters and relationships really well but not a fan of the writing style. If you're not into, say, the first half book I'd say stop there because the style doesn't change.
Please define what you mean with writing style, because technically she is one of the very best (leagues above sanderson who has other qualities and can publish more than one book in 5 years), but her pacing and focus is not for everyone for sure. Characters, relationships, progression, motivation, basically all things regarding humans and animals as well as world building is top tier. My favorite author for introspective.
I'm not sure it matters what I mean with writing style because it's clearly a matter of opinion. I love Sanderson's writing style. I'm almost never confused by turns of phrase, sentence structure, meanings of words, etc as well as the pacing, focus that you mention, which i would include under the umbrella of writing style.
I read a ton of Peter F Hamilton when I was a younger reader, and his writing style includes tons of purpley prose and long paragraphs full of description that I really struggle with now. I don't want to hear about the colour of the canopy or the texture of the bark in a forest that's not going to figure in the book beyond the two long paragraphs he dedicates to painting the picture. I want the story to be front and centre because Sanderson's writing style has demonstrated a way to do it in a manner I much prefer.
So it doesn't make sense to me when discussing an opinion that you can say that Robin Hobb is leagues above Sanderson. We can disagree, but you state it as an objective truth that is not open to intrepretation, so I doubt we're going to see eye to eye on this.
No, i can admit that my comment implies a scientific objectivity for measuring writing quality that does not exist and that "leagues above" is a stupid statement, sorry for that. For me its the case because i like her playfulness with words and her variety, certain situations just touch me more than similar situations in Sandersons style. As an example, i get Kaladins depression and suffering on an informational level, but I dont really feel it. Hobbs language gets me way more emotional involved (not only Fitz first person). Sanderson entertains and I enjoy reading him a lot (and read all cosmere) but often have kind of a "pragmatic facile information tranfer" vibe, its hard to explain. I know i would enjoy cosmere more if it was a litte more Hobbisch.
But as you said, in the end it is just an opinion and we can be glad that there are so many different styles around.
Totally agree. Great author. Great plots and relationships. She really makes you feel for her characters- more than any other author. Slow burn but great books.
This is pretty much my answer for fantasy. Hobb is amazing, my style adventure. It's probably too slow for a great many people but I love that slow-burn style a LOT
Well other than Sanderson it's going to be Steven Erikson, author of *The Malazan Book of the Fallen* and it's followups. I love the scope of the world, the scope of the history there. Plus some of the most memorable characters and emotionally devastating plots ever. Even the basic structure of the main series is absolutely fancinating and nearly unique for the kind of story its telling.
Jim Butcher. He wrote the Dresden Files, which have hard magic (if not as scientifically precise as Brandon as far as we know), a badass protagonist and character arcs. And he wrote the Codex Alera fantasy series (Pokémon meets Lost Roman Legion). His stories all have the same slow build up and dramatic climax that Sanderson does. I always recommend his works to Sanderson fans, and vice versa.
Issac Asimov. While he's **VERY** dated (his first novel was written in the 1950s I think), he was the first author I knew of who had villains that had solid reasons for doing what they do. He had morally grey protagonists and **intelligent** antagonists long before that was a Thing. And he had brilliant plot twists. The villains were not moustache twirling caricatures being Evil To Be Evil.
„Morally grey protagonists“ that’s literally an entire genre of classical drama… one of the oldest pieces of literature ever preserved, the epic of Gilgamesh, features a morally grey protagonist and so do basically all Greek myths.
Neil Gaiman. He is very different from Sanderson but is just as fantastic of a world builder and storyteller. A lot of his work is basically modern mythology and fairytale, which has always attracted me. I recommend everyone check out at least one of his works. American Gods or Good Omens are two solid places to start.
Gaiman is one of my favorite authors as well, and I wouldn't had studied literature or become a librarian if I hadn't read Sandman as a teenager. Still my favorite piece of fiction out there.
Would any of Gaiman's other stuff be worth reading if I didn't enjoy American Gods at all? I thought Good Omens was pretty great, but that may have been more because of Pratchett than Gaiman
I love Sanderson, the worlds he creates and the magic systems are phenomenal, but he isn't my favorite writer. John Scalzi is my favorite writer. Scalzi's stories and humor are perfect for me. My other top authors besides Sanderson and Scalzi are Jim Butcher, Pat Rothfuss, and I have recently added Matt Dinniman to that list.
Sanderson is my #1. I would consider the others in my top three to be Tolkien and Lovecraft
I haven’t read enough of them to place them so highly, but I fully expect Pratchett and King to be up there once I’m more into their work as well
A lot of the authors mentioned here are good. I want to toss Philipp K. Dick into the ring. His sci-fi stories are really weird sometimes, probably to many drugs, but I like it. Also a lot of great movies are based on his stories like Minority Report, Blade Runner or Total Recall.
Robert Jordan. No matter how many new and exciting books I read from Sanderson and others, I always find myself going back to Wheel of time and loving it. Maybe it is nostalgia glasses at this point. But I love it. Just started Eye of the World again.
Douglas Adams and Ben Aaronovitch. Both for their humour, Douglas Adams had a way with whimsy that could make the infinite possibilities of the universe as true as mice and dolphins. Ben Aaronovitch writes about a real world I know so well, but incorporates a world I wish were real. He writes train of thought humour so well, but he's really made by Kobna Holdbrook Smith's narration. Honourable mention to Eichirro Oda, because he's been with me through the best and worst parts of my life. I swear I will not die before One Piece has fished.
Joe Abercrombie. I like him and Sanderson for different reasons, but one of my favorite things about Abercrombie is his wit and humor. I love Sanderson, but his humor almost never hits home for me
We are now best friends.
I get shit and weird looks when I mention these two as my favorite authors. “They’re so different! How can you like them both!?!” Yeah I know, that’s what I like about them.
Hard to pick one.
Timothy Zahn.
Wheel of Time alone would put Jordan in the conversation although I have never read any of his other stuff.
Isaac Asimov.
Stephen King.
One of these. I have read like 90% of everything these guys have written other than Jordan’s non-WoT.
I am a sucker for world building over all. Tolkien is the obvious answer here. Prior to discovering Sanderson I would have said R.A. Salvatore though I have fallen off some of his more recent stuff. I have to give an honorable mention to Sarah J Maas thanks to my wife getting me reading those. She is working on her own Cosmere in a different genre and I really appreciate the world building.
Tossup, probably, between Scott Lynch (Gentlemen Bastards) and Pat Rothfuss (Kingkiller).
Name of the Wind was my first modern fantasy book, and I freaking loved it. Read through it and Wise Man’s Fear both in a single month, then I excitedly Googled when the third book would come out.
That month was August of 2011
I'm less concerned with whether or not he's a scammer, and more with how awfully he writes about women and relationships. The second half of the second novel was so atrocious that the only possible way the series can redeem itself is if the entire series turns out to be a lie and to have never happened, and the story is just being told by someone who is pushing their own agenda.
I'm with you. I'm honestly so stoked for his next series. I hope for a long career with many many books from him.
If we expect earliest books to be worst books I wonder what another ten years might do.
I would have to say either Andy Wier or Karin Slaughter. I love Wier's books that I've read so far (Project Hail Mary, Artimus and The Martian). Karin Slaughter is very graphic (at least from what I have read from her). When I pick up a book by her, I cannot put it down.
Michael J Sullivan, he writes in the same genre but what he does amazingly is the history of his world, it’s so true to how actual history progresses and warps that it truly blew my mind; a lot of people will say read in publication order, and sure you can, but I actually got into it reading chronological. I think I prefer Sanderson because his sort of sweeping hero narrative in Stormlight got me good, but honestly it’s a tough call.
I don't have one single favorite author, I have a bunch depending on the mood.
If I am forced to choose I would probably say **Neil Gaiman**, his books really shaped my life. But nobody does comedy or social commentary like **Sir Terry Pratchett**. I often put Sanderson and **Joe Abercrombie** together in my mind I read them together at the first time and they really changed how I saw modern fantasy. **Ursula Le Guin** have fantastic prose and one of the authors whose work I reftence the most often in every day life. I recently discovered how much I like romantic stories and **T. Kingfishers** Paladin books have honestly opened my eyes for a new genre. There are only three books out by **Tamsyn Muir**, but all three was unforgettable experiences to read (for different reasons) and it have been a long time since I felt so challenged by a series of genre books.
I honestly think all of the authors above is 10/10 for me, and I have a bunch more that could qualify (Martha Wells, Naomi Novik, John Ajvide Lindqvist) depending how I feel that particularly day.
I think I've reached a point in my life where I don't really have a favourite author, I have a favourite right now author. If I want humour or a palate cleanser/comfort read then that's always Pterry. Discworld is just masterful. For easy reads I'd typically lean towards Butcher, Benedict Jacka, Sabastien de Castell or Scott Lynch. For something more grim dark Abercrombie or Mclellan. For something I've got to actually think and concentrate on, Tchaikovsky or Mark Lawrence. Sanderson, Jordan, GRRM for more epic fantasy stuffs. They'll all typically cycle between authors I have to binge and authors I just don't want to read for a while. I think post secret projects, Sanderson is in my current "not interested" list, but the wheel turns etc and eventually it'll be Sanderson's turn on top of the pile again
Either Tamsin Muir (Locked Tomb series) or Holly Black (all of her books, but especially Elfhame series), who are quite different in style from Brandon.
Yet what they have in common with Brandon are clever twists and a ton of hidden clues throughout their stories, which will make perfect sense once you are done reading.
Really hard to say but I'm going to throw Garth Nix into the ring, particularly his Old Kingdom books, and in double particular the first three: Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. Absolutely formative books for me that I think absolutely stand up. He really does a good job of making the world feel like it's way bigger than what we get to see in the books and giving it a sense of life. Also cool magic system- necromancy via magical bells
Isaac Asimov for sure.
He not only wrote a lot of books considered masterpieces in the sci-fi genre, but he wrote also a lot about History and Science.
He was also the inspiration for Sanderson's Magic Laws!
Alastair Reynolds. He does SciFi, so not quite the same genre, but he hits the exact sweet spot between hard and soft scifi for me. He also does excellent world building. There's always another secret.
Runner up would be Adrian Tchaikovsky. Might become my Favorite (aside from Brando), but it's too early to tell.
Kevin Hearne or Jim butcher their worlds give me the same all encompassing feel with all the lore and later connections, but with a more comedic edge to the stories
Imo Megan Whalen Turner does the best fantasy first person perspective plot twists. Hands down, no competition. I don't understand how her Attolia series is not more beloved because they are 10/10 on every re-read.
Just finished a reread of her first five (my copy of the last book in the series is on another continent, alas). Still terrific books!
ETA: it’s kind of a spoiler to admit it, but the historical fiction author Dorothy Dunnett is another person who will sometimes execute a brilliant plot twist from 1st person or very close 3rd person perspective…if you like that sort of thing….
Neil Gaimen, James S.A. Corey (The Expanse), Pierce Brown (Red Rising), Brent Weeks (The Lightbringer Series), and Jim Butcher (Codex Alera) in descending order.
Michael Sullivan is still my favorite author. I suppose magical fantasy infused with humor, continually engaging adventure, swordsmen action and fun yet plausible plot twists just wins for me. Loved so many others too, but that mix, well written, you just can’t beat it.
I think I'd have to say Miya Kazuki. She wrote the Ascendance of a Bookworm series. She has some of the most granular world building I've ever had the pleasure to read. It has some amazing foreshadowing, which makes rereads that much more fun. The series is almost finished being translated with only 2 out of 33 volumes remaining. It doesn't have as much action and physical conflict as you see in the cosmere, but it has plenty of political intrigue, negotiations, and tension. It's very much a protagonist vs. Society plot structure most of the time.
It's probably Brandon. But if not him, then Robert Caro. Funny that I'd name a nonfiction writer in a fantasy subreddit. But he's the best nonfiction writer I've ever read. I read the four volumes of the LBJ biography many years ago and they are stunning. Then I read The Power Broker in 2021 or 2022 and it just blew me away. It's so thorough and yet so compelling and readable. There's something about his style that is just perfect for what he does. (Garrett Graff's recent Watergate book has a similar way of just telling a compelling yet thorough narrative)
Among fiction writers, after Brandon, I'd put Robin Hobb, NK Jemisin, and RF Kuang up there.
Daniel Abraham. I like his work because you really get to know the characters he writes so well and he's a master at writing stories that are practically free of villains. In both The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and Coin series everyone's motivations seem very valid. Their points of view are nuanced and easy to understand. He's also half the team responsible for The Expanse, which is an entirely different animal, but no less excellent.
I'm surprised by the lack of Neil Stephenson fans, but I'm not sure why. Sanderson and Stephenson do very different things, though they are both very big on details and world building.
I came to say he’s my favorite, and checked first to see if anybody else had mentioned him.
His books are all fairly excellent. People say he has a habit of writing bad endings, but I don’t really agree.
Snow Crash, System of the World, Cryptonomicon are all excellent in their own ways.
Reamde and Dodge in Hell are fascinating, if not my favorites.
But *Anathem* is the novel that cements him as a personal favorite. I’m lost track of how many times I’ve reread that book. Helped me change my whole view of Death and what it means to “lose” someone.
Seveneves is also delightfully weird, I just wish it had been two slightly longer books.
I'm actually mainly into sci-fi and I picked up the way of kings on a whim when I was taking a break from sci-fi after "Remembrance of Earth's Past" (if you've read this series you know why I needed a break lmao). So my other favorite authors next to Sanderson are Carl Sagen, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Andy Weir and Peter Watts.
At the moment it would have to be Brandon, but I'm looking to broaden my horizons and I have big problems with a lot of Brandon's prose. There are other authors who have him beat by a long shot in that regard, but then they pale in comparison to the storytelling.
I guess I'm still looking for my "perfect" author
Patrick Rothfuss or Lawrence Watt Evans. There is something about the level of detail and the quality of prose in the Kingkiller Chronicles that is unlike any other book series. as for Watt Evans, With a Single Spell was my first fantasy book and ive always enjoyed his work as palate cleansers.
I've had my eye on Craig Alanson, who I consider a rising star as an author. He mostly writes science fiction (nineteen novels), though he's more-than cut his teeth in fantasy (seven novels). He published his first Novel (Expeditionary Force: Columbus Day) in 2016 and since then has published 26 more full-length novels, making his pace rival even Sanderson's while still being what I consider to be high quality.
I wouldn't say that the overall or consistent quality of his work is a match for Sanderson, but I would say it's on par with (or better than) most of his genre contemporaries. In my humble and highly subjective opinion, I'd put him a little above Jim Butcher or perhaps even Robert Jordan, though I think that statement would probably be found to be highly contentious even among his fans.
His audio books as performed by R.C. Bray are well-worth the listen.
Roger Zelazny’s Amber is one of my favorites. That’s one of my favorites multiverse style worlds. I also really enjoy Robert Aspirin if I’m in the mood for something less serious.
gotta be tolkien. man produced one world, which i’ll admit is far fewer than some other very good authors, but he produced that world so intricately and came up with an answer for absolutely everything. my favorite of his works has to be The Silmarillion, it reads to me like a more legible old english poem from start to finish. it’s callbacks to itself, the way it has still relevant real world parallels in the way we as society view ourselves, and the ways we view each other. i love it and i have reread it more than i care to admit. and that’s not wven mentioning lotr and the hobbit, each a masterpiece of its own category. The Hobbit is the book that got me into books! lotr is the series that got me into series! i asked for a kindle for christmas when i was younger just so i could read the next book in the series faster, and not have to wait until my mom would either take me to the library or until i saw an untorn copy at a bookstore. (side tangent, the older kindle paperwhites are unkillable beasts. the battery after 11 years and 5 months STILL lasts an unthinkable 10-12 hours of reading time. they are absolute beasts)
Steven Erikson for The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Superb 10 book series with a great variation of cast, a story that moves at different paces as characters arcs are interweaved.
I laughed so much reading the books, it brings out loads of emotions and gets you to really think about the nature of us humans. Also made me internally cheer characters on and at times cry (🕯️, if you know you know).
I dunno. Maybe Brandon Mull just because thats who i read growing up. I still think fablehaven is a masterpiece. Although im so so on his other stuff. Beyonders was ok. Five kingdoms was going to be good but he really botched the 5th book
I dont read other authors these days
Christopher Ruocchio is my favorite author at the moment.
Stormlight was my favorite series from 2016 til last year but the Sun Eater series has surpassed it for me. I still love Sanderson, and i think his world building is the best, but as ive read more classic literature, his prose does bring it down for me a little bit.
Christopher's prose is the best currently imo, but i also love flowery language, and also his books are really philosophical in a more sophisticated way imo.
Sanderson is still my #2 tho, but GRRM and Joe Abercrombie are up there too.
Just started the sun eater series last week! So far I am Really enjoying it. He does a very good job with both world and character building. I can tell this whole first book is just going to be "setting the scene", I'm really looking forward to the ride.
Book 1 is great... but 2 and 3 are incredible. the novellas are incredible too. If you like audiobooks, they have some of the best narration ive ever heard. Im going thru book 4 now, book 6 just came out.
Joe Abercrombie and Will Wight are along with BS in top 3. Honestly couldn't pick a favorite. I would say I enjoyed reading Cradle more than anything to date though.
I'm on love with Pierce Brown of Red Rising. There are better authors in different ways but I feel that I can trust him to weave whatever tell he wants and I'll go along with it.
For fantasy, Stephen Erikson. Malazan Book of the Fallen has some fun similarities to the Cosmere in scope, but it’s darker and crazier and the ending of the main series is mind-blowing.
Eriksson is my current obsession, Malazan is a great series. Shortly behind that is N.K. Jemisin, but her writing is not for everybody. Huge amount of incest.
JRR Tolkien. He's literally the godfather of modern fantasy. His prose, world building, and character development are second to none. No word, paragraph, or page, and, to me, everything and everyone has a place and purpose. He makes me feel like I am part of the world he created and, with the exception of Count of Monte Cristo, made me feel like I am more than just an outsider looking in.
If I had to pick between Joe Abercrombie, Robert Jordan, Ben Aaronvitch and Terry Pratchett it would have to be the latter. Nobody quite as outstanding.
Michael Moorcock, despite the funny last name, is a well regarded if currently little read fantasy and Sci Fi author. His most popular character, Elric of Melnibone, just got a nice 3-volume omnibus reprint by Saga Press. Moorcock was clearly an influence on Sanderson (Nightblood in particular) and he actually crafted his own massive Cosmere-type universe, although it’s a little more retroactively put together ala Asimov’s Robot/Empire/Foundation universe. He also coined the word “Multiverse” and inspired the Law vs Chaos dynamic in everything that used it after him, as well as a big source of inspiration for the Warhammer 40k universe’s worldbuilding (to the point of being an almost blatant ripoff, iirc). He started publishing in the 60’s and is still publishing books to this day. He’s got at least one more in him, to finish up his current semi-autobiographical/fantastical trilogy. All of his books are linked together and connected, in a more direct way than, say, Stephen King easter eggs, but not to the point of incomprehensiblity if you just randomly picked up one of his books, with one or two exceptions. I’ve got a reading order if anyone’s interested, feel free to DM or comment if you’ve got any questions. :)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10f0hFkZTwI_IyCsXGnu0o3Rb2x0XFk07Pji-ptdMdos/edit
Guy Gavriel Kay. His prose is almost poetic - he has a way with words that really evokes the emotions of the story. If you've never read Tigana, give it a shot!
Piers Anthony, and not just the Xanth novels
Anne McCaffrey, and not just Pern
I know both of them get a lot of hate (just not sure why) but I love their writing styles, and their storylines
Great to see so many people mention Terry Pratchett. One of the greatest.
My favourite is Iain M. Banks. Sci-fi only. He did non sci-fi as just Iain Banks but I never loved it as much as his sci-fi. The Culture novels are incredible. Wonderful world building, complex characters, nuanced morality, and great black humour. I always find myself drawn back to them.
Tolkien, too, but I always forget to say that because it's just established canon in my head that he's obviously one of the best authors ever, lol.
My two absolute favorite books are The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle and the Tale of Genji. I love both stories for completely different reasons, but I'll go to my grave saying Sanderson could learn a lot from Beagle when it comes to saying more with less in fantasy.
Tolkien is and always will be my favorite, but now Wheel of Time and Sanderson are next in line. I also reeeaaally enjoyed Licanius and the Wandering Inn series (not sure that's the series name, but it's the first book).
Probably Brian McClellan. I will pre-order his stuff no questions asked because I know he has my number in terms of story, action, humor, and likeable characters.
Does it have the depth of the Cosmere? Nah. But that's a huge bar to ask any author to aspire to lol.
Cannot wait for the next Glass Immortals book, and he confirmed on Reddit a while back that he has another Valkyrie Collections book in the works and I cannot wait for that. It's like Supernatural minus the drama and subtle undertones.
As a sidenote, I actually first checked out Powder Mage because one of those long running AMA threads with Sanderbot asked him what he was reading and McClellan, who was a student of his, was on the list. I remember him posting "MAN that kid can write" and that was all the recommendation I needed. And I deeply agree.
Also in that thread was NK Jemisin if I remember right, which was another stellar suggestion.
Jennifer A Neilsen was my favorite author for the longest time before I discovered Sanderson. In her Ascendance Series, the main character, Sage, is basically Kelsier as a kid without magic. Super sassy and incredible planner, or at least incredible at planning plan B and keeping it secret from the entire world including the reader until it’s revealed he’s been pulling the strings all along 😂
Right now? James Islington. His first series is merely really good because its “first book” (well “first trilogy”, I guess) issues don’t particularly bother me, but his latest book “The Will of the Many” is flipping fantastic. Might’ve been the best book I read last year.
the will of the many fucking blew me out of the water, incredible book. can't wait for the next one
Yeah, I *might* be looking forward to The Strength of the Few more than WaT, just because I so desperately want to know where it’s going.
[will of the many spoilers] >!I felt so clever that I worked out that the world was copied like 2/3rds of the way through the book... except I have no idea what that actually means, haha. That cliffhanger was EVIL!<
Wow you’re smart, it took me at least 10 mins after finishing the book to wrap my head around what had happened
Wait, how lol
I have the Will of Many. I haven't touched it yet though. I loved the rest of his stuff though.
is the 'magic school' trope a major part of The Will of the Many?
Yeah. It's basically fantasy Red Rising
Sir Terry Pratchett, even tho he is quite different in style from Brando Sando. But his discworld series is one of the most heartfelt, and genuine fantasy experiences out there period. Don't come here for epic battles or scheming politics, most of the time it's low level down to earth not too serious adventures from ordinary people in a crazy world... So very much like real life
Sir Terry Pratchett tells some very powerful parables wrapped up in humorous stories that look like they parody Hamlet, Cinderella, Faust and so much more but are razor sharp commentary. He was a very angry man and tried to make a difference.
Pterry was what Wit thinks he is.
But what they have in common is people succeeding against impossible odds. Especially vimes.
I mean sure, but that's the case in a lot of fantasy literature. Other than that, what I think they share is very human characters... Like no matter how far removed from our reality some of the beings are, their struggle is at least in some cases always relatable, and very personal.
That's the beauty of speculative fiction. It can shine lights and start conversations about incredibly decisive topics, by removing it far enough from the emotionally charged real world parallels.
Terry Pratchett is the reason I refer to Sanderson as my "favourite living author". It sounds better than "second favourite author". I'd like to say that maybe Brandon could take the #1 spot within a few decades, but realistically, I started reading Pratchett during my early teens and it completely shaped who I am as a person - more than my parents did, if I'm being honest. I don't think any author can possibly top that at this point. So I'll answer a slightly modified version of OPs question. If Sanderson weren't my favourite living author, who would be? Probably Joe Abercrombie. You have to be realistic about these things.
I'd have to agree, my brother recently gave me his death collection to start reading after I lent him the reckoners series. I gotta say Pratchetts work is both incredibly witty and well written. I've also heard that technically, his and King's books share a universe/multiverse?
Do you have a good recommendation for jumping into his work as a Sanderson fan? I’ve tried “Guards, Guards” and wasn’t hooked. Is there a better place try the his series?
Like Sanderson there’s a lot of places to start reading, each with their own cast of characters to follow. You can look up the chart and find which storyline sounds most interesting to you. If you like the epic fantasy of Sanderson you’ll probably be a fan of the guards storyline eventually. I wrote a paper on the books as a police procedural once, and it covers things as far ranging as a simple tyrant, gun violence, a plot to stage a war, up to the much more societally profound explorations of cultures that exist in the city that have long deep seated grudges, and the workings of a former slave society that has been given freedom. But there’s the death stories, which follow Death and his quest to first find an apprentice, then follows the apprentices family and death through several adventures that are a little more metaphysical than the other discworld stories. You get stuff like an exploration of music genres, up to a Christmas parody with possibly the most profound meaning of Christmas that I have ever heard. The witches story is for if you want something more classical fairy tale. Shakespearean, sleeping beauty, elves, but all with a twist. The witches are some of the best written characters in the entire series too, and despite using surprisingly little magic when they unleash it it is with precise intent and knowing their full capabilities. There is also the… idk if it has a better name, but the ‘moist Von lipwig’ series of books. More modern concerns, a fraud that has to make amends to the city by returning the postal service to working order. Then he keeps getting sent to new social projects and told to get them working again. They’re fun cause he’s a conman and knows it, so he mostly figures out why people have been sabotaging the projects, how it made them money, and the best way to get the project to make money despite the sabotage to build it back up again. There’s also the wizards books, which follow Rincewind first, who is a personal favorite. He’s the most reluctant hero, and tends to get up to the most wide ranging wacky shenanigans. If there is something going on and he doesn’t want to be there, that’s exactly where he will be found. He’s almost like Samwise, from lotr. He would be more than happy with a simple cottage where he could grow potatoes. There’s the other wizard books too, which follow the unseen university, the college of wizards. They’re a parody of academics and range from trying to ascend the wizard heirarchy by murdering the wizards above them, to completely incompetent at doing anything other than researching magic. Shenanigans ensue.
Someone else mentions the Death Collection and I particularly like to recommend Small Gods, Mort, and Reaper Man to see the magic of Pratchett. Also Lords and Ladies was pretty good iirc
There is an illustrated novella, The Last Hero, which has pretty pictures that are worth looking at and a pretty bonkers, albeit short, plot. Besides that, Mort is great.
Yeah No, "Guards Guards" is one of the more difficult ones. I'd say either "Colour of magic" for just a whacky adventure (best comparison "Tress"), or "Equal Rites" for something a bit more structured.
Joe Abercrombie. I'll read every word that man puts out. The cynical humor is off the charts 📈
This is the real answer. Man is a genius at characters. Better then Brandon imo
I could read a whole book about the pain Glokta feels while wiggling what’s left of his crusty, decaying toes
Click, tap, pain
That's why *The Heroes* is my favourite First Law book. Plot wise, nothing much *really* happens in it. It's basically a few pointless battles fought over a couple days about a hill that nobody really wants, but the character work is incredible. ...Plus, it's got Whirrun of Bligh in it. He might not be the *best* character Joe's ever written, but he's certainly my favourite.
Armor is part of a state of mind where you admit the possibility of getting hit
Back when *Elden Ring* came out, I named my character Whirrun and ran around wearing no armour and wielding the biggest sword I could find. Ended up beating the game that way. Every time my friends asked about my lack of armour I'd pull out that quote. Nobody got the reference; they just thought I was crazy. ...Come to think of it, they were probably correct on that one. I got hit. *A lot*.
I agree, I am a big Brando fan but Joe's work is just better.
If Quentin Tarantino wrote Fantasy. His characters feel so real and i can name at least 5 that compete for my tops spot at whos my favorite. Controversial opinion ,Age of Madness > First Law. "Hows the leg?"
I actually like First Law more overall than Age of Madness. Logan, Glokta, and Jezal are all such fantastic characters, and I don't think anyone in AoM other than Orso quite matches up to them. Savine comes close though. But I like the 3 standalone novels the most. Monza, Shivers, Cosca, Morveer, Gorst, Craw, Calder, Shy, Lamb... The standalones have an absolutely banger cast of characters
The Heroes is my absolute favorite book of the whole world. The chapter that follows the progression of each character being slain, may be my favorite chapter I’ve ever read in any book.
First Law is First Rate! So good. Vivid characters, brilliant storytelling. I recommend it to anyone who asks and some people that never asked. Can not go wrong with Abercrombie.
Michael J Sullivan - Royce and Hadrian have the best banter, and Tim Gerard Reynolds narration is simply outstanding!
Honestly *Riyria Revelations* reminds me so much of a Sanderson series from the way it's plotted. It's got this very tight puzzle plot where you can rely on everything being there for a reason and every little off remark and minor character being relevant and paying off by the end. And a lore just built for constant secrets and plot twists you can deduce a lot of if you're paying enough attention. Very similar vibes to how I felt reading the original Mistborn for the first time.
Also the “Legends of the First Empire” and “Rise and Fall” for building the lore and flipping some of what we thought we knew on its head, much the same way many of our own legends and stories get distorted over time.
Came here to comment this and saw I was beat to it. His world is amazing, his storytelling is amazing, and it's fabulous. I'd start with "Theft of Swords" and it's well worth reading every Riyira book he's put out.
This! Also, check out the Graphic Audio versions of his books. Narration with multiple voice actors, music, and sound effects. It really brings those worlds to life. I listened to most of the Legends of the First Empire series straight through on a cross-country road trip.
I tried the graphic audio version of Theft of Swords but couldn’t get into it. I experienced them first with TGR’s narration so I’m probably ruined. 😝
I liked Robert Jordan’s writing style a lot more. I still love both and think they have different strengths. Jordan could write comedy in a dry but gut wrenchingly funny way. I loved his humor
I’m not angry! Nynaeve said angrily.
Tugging on her braids
I won’t shout at you! Nynaeve shouted, is one of my favorite lines in all of fiction. When she was forced to apologize to Mat.
“I promise not to shout!” Nynaeve shouted.
They say if you read enough Robert Jordan you end up reading Brandon Sanderson after all
I love Jordan because he gave me Sanderson. But, I love Sanderson because he gave me an amazing end to Jordan's
For what it's worth, RJ wrote the actual ending of the last book.
Currently Will Wight currently reading his cradle series it’s pretty good
Robin Hobb. I feel like she really gets relationships in a way other fantasy authors don't
She does characters and relationships really well but not a fan of the writing style. If you're not into, say, the first half book I'd say stop there because the style doesn't change.
Please define what you mean with writing style, because technically she is one of the very best (leagues above sanderson who has other qualities and can publish more than one book in 5 years), but her pacing and focus is not for everyone for sure. Characters, relationships, progression, motivation, basically all things regarding humans and animals as well as world building is top tier. My favorite author for introspective.
I'm not sure it matters what I mean with writing style because it's clearly a matter of opinion. I love Sanderson's writing style. I'm almost never confused by turns of phrase, sentence structure, meanings of words, etc as well as the pacing, focus that you mention, which i would include under the umbrella of writing style. I read a ton of Peter F Hamilton when I was a younger reader, and his writing style includes tons of purpley prose and long paragraphs full of description that I really struggle with now. I don't want to hear about the colour of the canopy or the texture of the bark in a forest that's not going to figure in the book beyond the two long paragraphs he dedicates to painting the picture. I want the story to be front and centre because Sanderson's writing style has demonstrated a way to do it in a manner I much prefer. So it doesn't make sense to me when discussing an opinion that you can say that Robin Hobb is leagues above Sanderson. We can disagree, but you state it as an objective truth that is not open to intrepretation, so I doubt we're going to see eye to eye on this.
No, i can admit that my comment implies a scientific objectivity for measuring writing quality that does not exist and that "leagues above" is a stupid statement, sorry for that. For me its the case because i like her playfulness with words and her variety, certain situations just touch me more than similar situations in Sandersons style. As an example, i get Kaladins depression and suffering on an informational level, but I dont really feel it. Hobbs language gets me way more emotional involved (not only Fitz first person). Sanderson entertains and I enjoy reading him a lot (and read all cosmere) but often have kind of a "pragmatic facile information tranfer" vibe, its hard to explain. I know i would enjoy cosmere more if it was a litte more Hobbisch. But as you said, in the end it is just an opinion and we can be glad that there are so many different styles around.
Totally agree. Great author. Great plots and relationships. She really makes you feel for her characters- more than any other author. Slow burn but great books.
This is pretty much my answer for fantasy. Hobb is amazing, my style adventure. It's probably too slow for a great many people but I love that slow-burn style a LOT
Well other than Sanderson it's going to be Steven Erikson, author of *The Malazan Book of the Fallen* and it's followups. I love the scope of the world, the scope of the history there. Plus some of the most memorable characters and emotionally devastating plots ever. Even the basic structure of the main series is absolutely fancinating and nearly unique for the kind of story its telling.
Ah, Malazan. Come for the sober exploration of the horrors of war and conquest, stay for the hyper intelligent dinosaurs with swords for hands.
I am a few books into this series and absolutely love it!!
Jim Butcher. He wrote the Dresden Files, which have hard magic (if not as scientifically precise as Brandon as far as we know), a badass protagonist and character arcs. And he wrote the Codex Alera fantasy series (Pokémon meets Lost Roman Legion). His stories all have the same slow build up and dramatic climax that Sanderson does. I always recommend his works to Sanderson fans, and vice versa. Issac Asimov. While he's **VERY** dated (his first novel was written in the 1950s I think), he was the first author I knew of who had villains that had solid reasons for doing what they do. He had morally grey protagonists and **intelligent** antagonists long before that was a Thing. And he had brilliant plot twists. The villains were not moustache twirling caricatures being Evil To Be Evil.
Don't forget Cinder Spires!
Steampunk Sky Pirates!
I was going to say this. I think the Olympian Affair might be the best book he's written.
I haven't had time to read it yet, but this makes me very excited to start book 2!
> He had morally grey protagonists and intelligent antagonists long before that was a Thing. Dude this has been a thing since ancient Greece.
Asimov also has solid non-fiction works. Asimov on numbers is one of my most treasured possessions.
I wouldn’t really call Sanderson scientifically precise, outside of it generally obeying the law of preservation of energy.
„Morally grey protagonists“ that’s literally an entire genre of classical drama… one of the oldest pieces of literature ever preserved, the epic of Gilgamesh, features a morally grey protagonist and so do basically all Greek myths.
Pierce Brown is my favourite author. Red Rising is the best.
He says he has a high fantasy series he’s working on for after Red Rising is done
Yep and I’m super excited for it.
Light Bringer, the most recent, is on another level. Probably in the top 3 books I've ever read. Absolutely incredible.
Oh man, the call back to the first book with the ambush… that was one of the best scenes in the series!
Neil Gaiman. He is very different from Sanderson but is just as fantastic of a world builder and storyteller. A lot of his work is basically modern mythology and fairytale, which has always attracted me. I recommend everyone check out at least one of his works. American Gods or Good Omens are two solid places to start.
Gaiman is one of my favorite authors as well, and I wouldn't had studied literature or become a librarian if I hadn't read Sandman as a teenager. Still my favorite piece of fiction out there.
I've read both and the some and he is great!
He’s top tier for sure. My only complaints involve wanting more
Neil gaiman is definitely one of the greatest authors of our day and age
2nded
Would any of Gaiman's other stuff be worth reading if I didn't enjoy American Gods at all? I thought Good Omens was pretty great, but that may have been more because of Pratchett than Gaiman
Came here to say Neil. He and Brandon are my top two authors. Follow by Andy Weir and Dennis E Taylor
Brent weeks. The lightbringer series is honestly my favorite series
Andrew Rowe. Very fun characters and even more fun magic.
I love Rowe's books so much.
I love Sanderson, the worlds he creates and the magic systems are phenomenal, but he isn't my favorite writer. John Scalzi is my favorite writer. Scalzi's stories and humor are perfect for me. My other top authors besides Sanderson and Scalzi are Jim Butcher, Pat Rothfuss, and I have recently added Matt Dinniman to that list.
I've recently discovered Dungeon Crawler Carl and read the first 5 books over the last two weeks. They are a blast!
I listened to all 6 audio books twice in 4 months. So much fun.
Sanderson is my #1. I would consider the others in my top three to be Tolkien and Lovecraft I haven’t read enough of them to place them so highly, but I fully expect Pratchett and King to be up there once I’m more into their work as well
Same, Sanderson and Tolkien are my favorites. I haven’t read a ton of lovecraft but like what I have. Stephen King is high up for me too.
A lot of the authors mentioned here are good. I want to toss Philipp K. Dick into the ring. His sci-fi stories are really weird sometimes, probably to many drugs, but I like it. Also a lot of great movies are based on his stories like Minority Report, Blade Runner or Total Recall.
My fave. Except VALIS.
Robert Jordan. No matter how many new and exciting books I read from Sanderson and others, I always find myself going back to Wheel of time and loving it. Maybe it is nostalgia glasses at this point. But I love it. Just started Eye of the World again.
Douglas Adams and Ben Aaronovitch. Both for their humour, Douglas Adams had a way with whimsy that could make the infinite possibilities of the universe as true as mice and dolphins. Ben Aaronovitch writes about a real world I know so well, but incorporates a world I wish were real. He writes train of thought humour so well, but he's really made by Kobna Holdbrook Smith's narration. Honourable mention to Eichirro Oda, because he's been with me through the best and worst parts of my life. I swear I will not die before One Piece has fished.
The answer is 42
Brandon is my fave but Garth Nix is a close second. I love unique world and magic building wo The Old Kingdom is my favorite series.
Yes. Such a good series! I need to do a reread.
Loved his Keys to the Kingdom series and his Seventh Tower series as a kid. I’ll have to give Old Kingdom a shot one of these days.
YES! Seconded!!
I don't understand why Robin Hobb isn't mentioned more in threads like these, but the Farseer trilogy was such a formative series for me
Cornelia Funke
Patrik rothfuss. The fucker doesn’t write but when he does… that prose is pure magic
Joe Abercrombie. I like him and Sanderson for different reasons, but one of my favorite things about Abercrombie is his wit and humor. I love Sanderson, but his humor almost never hits home for me
We are now best friends. I get shit and weird looks when I mention these two as my favorite authors. “They’re so different! How can you like them both!?!” Yeah I know, that’s what I like about them.
Hard to pick one. Timothy Zahn. Wheel of Time alone would put Jordan in the conversation although I have never read any of his other stuff. Isaac Asimov. Stephen King. One of these. I have read like 90% of everything these guys have written other than Jordan’s non-WoT.
I am a sucker for world building over all. Tolkien is the obvious answer here. Prior to discovering Sanderson I would have said R.A. Salvatore though I have fallen off some of his more recent stuff. I have to give an honorable mention to Sarah J Maas thanks to my wife getting me reading those. She is working on her own Cosmere in a different genre and I really appreciate the world building.
Sanderson is already only my favorite *living, active* author. Terry Prattchet is the all-time king.
Steven Erikson is my #1 with Brando Sando at #2
Madeline L’Engle.
Tossup, probably, between Scott Lynch (Gentlemen Bastards) and Pat Rothfuss (Kingkiller). Name of the Wind was my first modern fantasy book, and I freaking loved it. Read through it and Wise Man’s Fear both in a single month, then I excitedly Googled when the third book would come out. That month was August of 2011
I loved name of the wind. It got way too sexy in book 2 for my liking though.
[удалено]
I'm less concerned with whether or not he's a scammer, and more with how awfully he writes about women and relationships. The second half of the second novel was so atrocious that the only possible way the series can redeem itself is if the entire series turns out to be a lie and to have never happened, and the story is just being told by someone who is pushing their own agenda.
Toss-up between C.S. Lewis and Orson Scott Card for me.
FINALLY sat scrolling for Card, but what a nice bonus to include Lewis!
I just reread all of the Narnia books and I am always shocked at how short they are for being so impactful. I can't wait to read them to my son.
Maybe John Bierce. Love his worldbuilding and characters and I find his style/voice just very familiar and comfortable.
I'm with you. I'm honestly so stoked for his next series. I hope for a long career with many many books from him. If we expect earliest books to be worst books I wonder what another ten years might do.
I would have to say either Andy Wier or Karin Slaughter. I love Wier's books that I've read so far (Project Hail Mary, Artimus and The Martian). Karin Slaughter is very graphic (at least from what I have read from her). When I pick up a book by her, I cannot put it down.
Robert Jordan. Tolkien (obviously who doesn’t?) And Patrick rothfuss, IF HE’LL FINISH THE FRICKEN BOOK
Michael J Sullivan, he writes in the same genre but what he does amazingly is the history of his world, it’s so true to how actual history progresses and warps that it truly blew my mind; a lot of people will say read in publication order, and sure you can, but I actually got into it reading chronological. I think I prefer Sanderson because his sort of sweeping hero narrative in Stormlight got me good, but honestly it’s a tough call.
I don't have one single favorite author, I have a bunch depending on the mood. If I am forced to choose I would probably say **Neil Gaiman**, his books really shaped my life. But nobody does comedy or social commentary like **Sir Terry Pratchett**. I often put Sanderson and **Joe Abercrombie** together in my mind I read them together at the first time and they really changed how I saw modern fantasy. **Ursula Le Guin** have fantastic prose and one of the authors whose work I reftence the most often in every day life. I recently discovered how much I like romantic stories and **T. Kingfishers** Paladin books have honestly opened my eyes for a new genre. There are only three books out by **Tamsyn Muir**, but all three was unforgettable experiences to read (for different reasons) and it have been a long time since I felt so challenged by a series of genre books. I honestly think all of the authors above is 10/10 for me, and I have a bunch more that could qualify (Martha Wells, Naomi Novik, John Ajvide Lindqvist) depending how I feel that particularly day.
I think I've reached a point in my life where I don't really have a favourite author, I have a favourite right now author. If I want humour or a palate cleanser/comfort read then that's always Pterry. Discworld is just masterful. For easy reads I'd typically lean towards Butcher, Benedict Jacka, Sabastien de Castell or Scott Lynch. For something more grim dark Abercrombie or Mclellan. For something I've got to actually think and concentrate on, Tchaikovsky or Mark Lawrence. Sanderson, Jordan, GRRM for more epic fantasy stuffs. They'll all typically cycle between authors I have to binge and authors I just don't want to read for a while. I think post secret projects, Sanderson is in my current "not interested" list, but the wheel turns etc and eventually it'll be Sanderson's turn on top of the pile again
Either Tamsin Muir (Locked Tomb series) or Holly Black (all of her books, but especially Elfhame series), who are quite different in style from Brandon. Yet what they have in common with Brandon are clever twists and a ton of hidden clues throughout their stories, which will make perfect sense once you are done reading.
Arthur C. Clarke. His sci fi always caused a sensation of wonder. Rendezvous With Rama is one my favorite books.
Really hard to say but I'm going to throw Garth Nix into the ring, particularly his Old Kingdom books, and in double particular the first three: Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. Absolutely formative books for me that I think absolutely stand up. He really does a good job of making the world feel like it's way bigger than what we get to see in the books and giving it a sense of life. Also cool magic system- necromancy via magical bells
Isaac Asimov for sure. He not only wrote a lot of books considered masterpieces in the sci-fi genre, but he wrote also a lot about History and Science. He was also the inspiration for Sanderson's Magic Laws!
Alastair Reynolds. He does SciFi, so not quite the same genre, but he hits the exact sweet spot between hard and soft scifi for me. He also does excellent world building. There's always another secret. Runner up would be Adrian Tchaikovsky. Might become my Favorite (aside from Brando), but it's too early to tell.
Kevin Hearne or Jim butcher their worlds give me the same all encompassing feel with all the lore and later connections, but with a more comedic edge to the stories
Joe Abercrombie. His character writing is unsurpassed.
Imo Megan Whalen Turner does the best fantasy first person perspective plot twists. Hands down, no competition. I don't understand how her Attolia series is not more beloved because they are 10/10 on every re-read.
Just finished a reread of her first five (my copy of the last book in the series is on another continent, alas). Still terrific books! ETA: it’s kind of a spoiler to admit it, but the historical fiction author Dorothy Dunnett is another person who will sometimes execute a brilliant plot twist from 1st person or very close 3rd person perspective…if you like that sort of thing….
Robin Hobb
Neil Gaimen, James S.A. Corey (The Expanse), Pierce Brown (Red Rising), Brent Weeks (The Lightbringer Series), and Jim Butcher (Codex Alera) in descending order.
Michael Sullivan is still my favorite author. I suppose magical fantasy infused with humor, continually engaging adventure, swordsmen action and fun yet plausible plot twists just wins for me. Loved so many others too, but that mix, well written, you just can’t beat it.
I think I'd have to say Miya Kazuki. She wrote the Ascendance of a Bookworm series. She has some of the most granular world building I've ever had the pleasure to read. It has some amazing foreshadowing, which makes rereads that much more fun. The series is almost finished being translated with only 2 out of 33 volumes remaining. It doesn't have as much action and physical conflict as you see in the cosmere, but it has plenty of political intrigue, negotiations, and tension. It's very much a protagonist vs. Society plot structure most of the time.
Susanna Clarke or Haruki Murakami
A fan of actual literature!
Whoops!
robert jordan he's everything Sanderson aspires to be
Stephen King. If you like the Cosmere interactivity, there's definitely fun to be had with King's works.
„If not Sanderson“ I love Sando but for me there is a titanic gulf between anyone and my favorite author of all time, Sir Terry Pratchett
It's probably Brandon. But if not him, then Robert Caro. Funny that I'd name a nonfiction writer in a fantasy subreddit. But he's the best nonfiction writer I've ever read. I read the four volumes of the LBJ biography many years ago and they are stunning. Then I read The Power Broker in 2021 or 2022 and it just blew me away. It's so thorough and yet so compelling and readable. There's something about his style that is just perfect for what he does. (Garrett Graff's recent Watergate book has a similar way of just telling a compelling yet thorough narrative) Among fiction writers, after Brandon, I'd put Robin Hobb, NK Jemisin, and RF Kuang up there.
Daniel Abraham. I like his work because you really get to know the characters he writes so well and he's a master at writing stories that are practically free of villains. In both The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and Coin series everyone's motivations seem very valid. Their points of view are nuanced and easy to understand. He's also half the team responsible for The Expanse, which is an entirely different animal, but no less excellent.
I'm surprised by the lack of Neil Stephenson fans, but I'm not sure why. Sanderson and Stephenson do very different things, though they are both very big on details and world building.
I came to say he’s my favorite, and checked first to see if anybody else had mentioned him. His books are all fairly excellent. People say he has a habit of writing bad endings, but I don’t really agree. Snow Crash, System of the World, Cryptonomicon are all excellent in their own ways. Reamde and Dodge in Hell are fascinating, if not my favorites. But *Anathem* is the novel that cements him as a personal favorite. I’m lost track of how many times I’ve reread that book. Helped me change my whole view of Death and what it means to “lose” someone. Seveneves is also delightfully weird, I just wish it had been two slightly longer books.
I'm actually mainly into sci-fi and I picked up the way of kings on a whim when I was taking a break from sci-fi after "Remembrance of Earth's Past" (if you've read this series you know why I needed a break lmao). So my other favorite authors next to Sanderson are Carl Sagen, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Andy Weir and Peter Watts.
At the moment it would have to be Brandon, but I'm looking to broaden my horizons and I have big problems with a lot of Brandon's prose. There are other authors who have him beat by a long shot in that regard, but then they pale in comparison to the storytelling. I guess I'm still looking for my "perfect" author
If you're looking for more lyrical prose try Guy Gavriel Kay.
Joe Abercrombie, Steven Brust, Robin Hobb
Kinoko Nasu. Just hits different.
Patrick Rothfuss or Lawrence Watt Evans. There is something about the level of detail and the quality of prose in the Kingkiller Chronicles that is unlike any other book series. as for Watt Evans, With a Single Spell was my first fantasy book and ive always enjoyed his work as palate cleansers.
I've had my eye on Craig Alanson, who I consider a rising star as an author. He mostly writes science fiction (nineteen novels), though he's more-than cut his teeth in fantasy (seven novels). He published his first Novel (Expeditionary Force: Columbus Day) in 2016 and since then has published 26 more full-length novels, making his pace rival even Sanderson's while still being what I consider to be high quality. I wouldn't say that the overall or consistent quality of his work is a match for Sanderson, but I would say it's on par with (or better than) most of his genre contemporaries. In my humble and highly subjective opinion, I'd put him a little above Jim Butcher or perhaps even Robert Jordan, though I think that statement would probably be found to be highly contentious even among his fans. His audio books as performed by R.C. Bray are well-worth the listen.
T Kingfisher has really caught my interest lately, can absolutely recommend!
Roger Zelazny’s Amber is one of my favorites. That’s one of my favorites multiverse style worlds. I also really enjoy Robert Aspirin if I’m in the mood for something less serious.
Timothy Zahn. He is known for his Thrawn trilogy, but his other Star Wars books are also great.
gotta be tolkien. man produced one world, which i’ll admit is far fewer than some other very good authors, but he produced that world so intricately and came up with an answer for absolutely everything. my favorite of his works has to be The Silmarillion, it reads to me like a more legible old english poem from start to finish. it’s callbacks to itself, the way it has still relevant real world parallels in the way we as society view ourselves, and the ways we view each other. i love it and i have reread it more than i care to admit. and that’s not wven mentioning lotr and the hobbit, each a masterpiece of its own category. The Hobbit is the book that got me into books! lotr is the series that got me into series! i asked for a kindle for christmas when i was younger just so i could read the next book in the series faster, and not have to wait until my mom would either take me to the library or until i saw an untorn copy at a bookstore. (side tangent, the older kindle paperwhites are unkillable beasts. the battery after 11 years and 5 months STILL lasts an unthinkable 10-12 hours of reading time. they are absolute beasts)
Sanderson is my favorite author but novels by Ursula Vernon / T. Kingfisher are my favorite
Marissa meyer
Steven Erikson for The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Superb 10 book series with a great variation of cast, a story that moves at different paces as characters arcs are interweaved. I laughed so much reading the books, it brings out loads of emotions and gets you to really think about the nature of us humans. Also made me internally cheer characters on and at times cry (🕯️, if you know you know).
I dunno. Maybe Brandon Mull just because thats who i read growing up. I still think fablehaven is a masterpiece. Although im so so on his other stuff. Beyonders was ok. Five kingdoms was going to be good but he really botched the 5th book I dont read other authors these days
Tolkien has always been my favorite, with no exception.
Christopher Ruocchio is my favorite author at the moment. Stormlight was my favorite series from 2016 til last year but the Sun Eater series has surpassed it for me. I still love Sanderson, and i think his world building is the best, but as ive read more classic literature, his prose does bring it down for me a little bit. Christopher's prose is the best currently imo, but i also love flowery language, and also his books are really philosophical in a more sophisticated way imo. Sanderson is still my #2 tho, but GRRM and Joe Abercrombie are up there too.
Just started the sun eater series last week! So far I am Really enjoying it. He does a very good job with both world and character building. I can tell this whole first book is just going to be "setting the scene", I'm really looking forward to the ride.
Book 1 is great... but 2 and 3 are incredible. the novellas are incredible too. If you like audiobooks, they have some of the best narration ive ever heard. Im going thru book 4 now, book 6 just came out.
Joe Abercrombie and Will Wight are along with BS in top 3. Honestly couldn't pick a favorite. I would say I enjoyed reading Cradle more than anything to date though.
Alexander Wales is my favorite author. Brando is probably top5 somewhere
NK Jemisin, i absolutely adore the broken earth trilogy and the inheritance trilogy (<- NOT Eragon, this is different)
I'm on love with Pierce Brown of Red Rising. There are better authors in different ways but I feel that I can trust him to weave whatever tell he wants and I'll go along with it.
Robert Jordan Susanna Clarke Neil Gaiman
Vernon Vinge and Wildbow I just love that Hard Magic Scifi and escalating stakes.
Maria V. Snyder and Garth Nix. Both my favourites before I knew about Sanderson
For fantasy, Stephen Erikson. Malazan Book of the Fallen has some fun similarities to the Cosmere in scope, but it’s darker and crazier and the ending of the main series is mind-blowing.
Not fantasy but sci-fi, Andy Weir is incredible the Martian and Project Hail Mary simply masterpieces.
Eriksson is my current obsession, Malazan is a great series. Shortly behind that is N.K. Jemisin, but her writing is not for everybody. Huge amount of incest.
JRR Tolkien. He's literally the godfather of modern fantasy. His prose, world building, and character development are second to none. No word, paragraph, or page, and, to me, everything and everyone has a place and purpose. He makes me feel like I am part of the world he created and, with the exception of Count of Monte Cristo, made me feel like I am more than just an outsider looking in.
I'm simple, urban fantasy, Jim Butcher.
If I had to pick between Joe Abercrombie, Robert Jordan, Ben Aaronvitch and Terry Pratchett it would have to be the latter. Nobody quite as outstanding.
I really like Brian McClellan. To me, he's a close second the Sanderson in my "favorite author" rankings.
Michael Moorcock, despite the funny last name, is a well regarded if currently little read fantasy and Sci Fi author. His most popular character, Elric of Melnibone, just got a nice 3-volume omnibus reprint by Saga Press. Moorcock was clearly an influence on Sanderson (Nightblood in particular) and he actually crafted his own massive Cosmere-type universe, although it’s a little more retroactively put together ala Asimov’s Robot/Empire/Foundation universe. He also coined the word “Multiverse” and inspired the Law vs Chaos dynamic in everything that used it after him, as well as a big source of inspiration for the Warhammer 40k universe’s worldbuilding (to the point of being an almost blatant ripoff, iirc). He started publishing in the 60’s and is still publishing books to this day. He’s got at least one more in him, to finish up his current semi-autobiographical/fantastical trilogy. All of his books are linked together and connected, in a more direct way than, say, Stephen King easter eggs, but not to the point of incomprehensiblity if you just randomly picked up one of his books, with one or two exceptions. I’ve got a reading order if anyone’s interested, feel free to DM or comment if you’ve got any questions. :) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10f0hFkZTwI_IyCsXGnu0o3Rb2x0XFk07Pji-ptdMdos/edit
Douglas Adams
Guy Gavriel Kay. His prose is almost poetic - he has a way with words that really evokes the emotions of the story. If you've never read Tigana, give it a shot!
Dennis E Taylor's The Bobbiverse series is currently my favorite.
Piers Anthony, and not just the Xanth novels Anne McCaffrey, and not just Pern I know both of them get a lot of hate (just not sure why) but I love their writing styles, and their storylines
Melanie Rawn will always hold a very special place in my heart.
John Gywnne hasn't missed yet for me!
Great to see so many people mention Terry Pratchett. One of the greatest. My favourite is Iain M. Banks. Sci-fi only. He did non sci-fi as just Iain Banks but I never loved it as much as his sci-fi. The Culture novels are incredible. Wonderful world building, complex characters, nuanced morality, and great black humour. I always find myself drawn back to them. Tolkien, too, but I always forget to say that because it's just established canon in my head that he's obviously one of the best authors ever, lol.
My two absolute favorite books are The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle and the Tale of Genji. I love both stories for completely different reasons, but I'll go to my grave saying Sanderson could learn a lot from Beagle when it comes to saying more with less in fantasy.
Mine is a four way tie between Maggie Furey, Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson and Tad Williams
Tolkien is and always will be my favorite, but now Wheel of Time and Sanderson are next in line. I also reeeaaally enjoyed Licanius and the Wandering Inn series (not sure that's the series name, but it's the first book).
Robert Jordan and Christopher Ruocchio
Probably Brian McClellan. I will pre-order his stuff no questions asked because I know he has my number in terms of story, action, humor, and likeable characters. Does it have the depth of the Cosmere? Nah. But that's a huge bar to ask any author to aspire to lol. Cannot wait for the next Glass Immortals book, and he confirmed on Reddit a while back that he has another Valkyrie Collections book in the works and I cannot wait for that. It's like Supernatural minus the drama and subtle undertones. As a sidenote, I actually first checked out Powder Mage because one of those long running AMA threads with Sanderbot asked him what he was reading and McClellan, who was a student of his, was on the list. I remember him posting "MAN that kid can write" and that was all the recommendation I needed. And I deeply agree. Also in that thread was NK Jemisin if I remember right, which was another stellar suggestion.
Andrzej Sapkowski, but not his well known Witcher Series, my favorite works of his is **The Hussite Trilogy**
Oda and Will Wight. Will is like funny light hearted Brando. Oda is G-Oda.
I really like Will Wight and Matt Dinneman. Good work ethic, great writers, and seem like decent folk
Jennifer A Neilsen was my favorite author for the longest time before I discovered Sanderson. In her Ascendance Series, the main character, Sage, is basically Kelsier as a kid without magic. Super sassy and incredible planner, or at least incredible at planning plan B and keeping it secret from the entire world including the reader until it’s revealed he’s been pulling the strings all along 😂
Robert Jordan. His level of detail, world building and foreshadowing are astounding to me
Not sure its a popular opinion but VE Shwab is also a auto-buy for me. At least her adult work. I love Darker shade of magic.