Well, here is the edited version based on some comments- Thanks Jai and Shankha 10 best authors ? Thats a difficult one - reading tastes vary and while it might be possible to rate authors in particular genres, it would be difficult to, for example, compare Stephen King to say, Tom Clancy, and in any case, Tom Clancy has lost it big time.... : )
My 10 favourite authors, all time are
*Fantasy*
J R R Tolkien
Author of The Lord of the Rings, Creator of Middle Earth. They say the English speaking world is divided in to those who have read Tolkien, and those who are going to - Qualification enough ? His epic tale - Lord of the Rings is about the saga of the eternal fight between good and evil which takes place in a mythical world called Middle Earth. The adventure spans from the discovery of the ring with great power, created by the Evil Sauron, to the ultimate destruction of this ring in the fires of Mt Doom. Now a major motion picture, winner of 11 Oscars and definitely has done good justice to the books. If you want to get started on Tolkien, Read the Hobbit
C S Lewis
Creator of a mystical world called Narnia - An adventure series where a group of children go to spend their summer vacation in the country side with an Uncle during the first world war. One of them hides in a wardrobe during a game of hide and seek - and discovers that all is not what it seems, and the back of the wardrobe is cold, and leads into a new world. Many thrilling adventures follow in which they meet the wicked white witch, and overthrow her with the help of Aslan, the Lion.
Terry Pratchett (Fantasy / Humour/ Satire)
The world is a disc, and it stands on the backs of four elephants who are standing on a huge turtle, swimming slowly through space. Discworld is a funny place, with unlikely heroes in the form of a Wizard, called Rincewind, the worst wizard, if you can call him one, who’s main idea of courage is running away, Esme Weatherwax, the witch and of course the indubitable Captain Vimes and Corporal Carrot, members of the Night watch that guard the city of Ankh Morpork (The river of Ankh Morpork is so polluted you could probably walk across). Terry Pratchett writes about this world, with humor and satire so sharp you could shave with it. Definitely worth a try, takes some getting used to - Try starting with ’’Feet of Clay’’, ’’Carpe Jugulum’’ and ’’Men at Arms’’
*Horror /Terror*
Stephen King
Stephen King is the creator of definitive terror - read my review on Salem’s Lot. His work makes your skin crawl, your hair stand on end, and makes you wonder whether it is safe to get out of your bed to use the toilet in the middle of the night. The kind of terror you would feel if you switch of your lights, slide into your covers, and discover you are not alone........Start with Salem’s Lot / Cycle of the werewolf
*Adventure / sagas*
Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Smith writes about Africa, with stories set in the period from 1500 to the early 1900’s and his magnificent stories that span family generations bring alive the beauty and savagery that is Africa. You become immersed in the story, and your hopes and despair rises and falls with every page, you feel the pain of the characters, your mind seeks revenge against the perpetrators of evil, yet these stories are realistic. Difficult to put down. Starting point - Seventh Scroll - For adventure, Birds of Prey - For a heart rending saga spanning several generations
*General*
James Herriot
James Herriot stories are true, about his experiences as a vet working in rural england, in Yorkshire, in the mid 1930’s. His stories are heart warming, and leave you with a good feeling - filled with great humour and love. Start with any book or All thing bright and beautiful
Richmal Crompton
’’Its gotter nugly face’’ - The remark made by a small girl looking in the display window of a tailors shop, where William is posing as a waxwork, trying to escape from the butcher who’s whistle he stole. These stories about the adventures of a schoolboy in England, in the 1930’s will leave you rolling on the floor with splits. William and his friends, the so called ’outlaws’ have a different look on life and an unassailable logic which will leave you breathless with laughter - very easy reading. Start with any book.
*Crime*
Arthur Conan Doyle
’’Elementary, My dear Watson’’, which in actuality, Sherlock Holmes never said in any of these detective Novels. Sherlock Holmes is an eccentric detective whose methods are those of observations - He knows that Dr. Watson is contemplating trading in shares in a south african company just by observing cue chalk on his fingers. Thrilling detective / adventure stories - Start with the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ’’The speckled band’’.
*Political Thrillers*
Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy used to be one of my favourite Authors, king of nail biting political thrillers with a superb eye for detail and plot, where putting down the book happens only when you know that if you dont, you’re going to lose your job, or get kicked out of school, or the house is going to burn down. Tom Clancy’s novels are generally political thrillers with a good deal of CIA, US Army involved, with tense plots. His recent novels have turned Jingoistic, portraying America as an unbeatable, unerring superpower. However, his earlier books are must haves- STart with ’’Sum of All Fears’’ and then ’’Patriot Games’’
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth is one of the best of his generation and genre, who has been writing political thrillers with bite - Most of you would have read the book ’’The day of the Jackal’’ or at least seen the earlier or later movie. Superbly researched books with tense dont-put-me-down plots are must reads. His best are ’’The day of the Jackal’’, ’’The Devils alternative’’. His short stories have a serious bite and twist at the end. Read him I command !
I know there will be a lot of arguments on a list like this, but hey, to each his own, a true bookworm will recognize this list, and the authors as masters in their genre.