I tend to gravitate towards books in the fantasy genre, but I have been known to delve into science fiction and adventure books from time to time. My favorite authors (in no particular order) are:
1. David Gemmell -- In my mind, he was the undisputed master of heroic fantasy. His books, while painful to read (he puts his characters through some truly bad situations), really tap into that indomitable spirit we love in our heroes.
2. Terry Goodkind -- I really consider Terry Goodkind one of the most naturally talented authors I've ever read. He knows how to write emotion. His debut (Wizard's First Rule) stands as one of my favorite books of all time, and his writing has only gotten better with each subsequent novel.
3. R.A. Salvatore -- What can I say that hasn't been said by thousands of others. He is one of the most popular fantasy authors of all time, and for good reason. A lot of people focus on his characters as the strong point, but I think that the way he writes action scenes is what sets his work apart.
4. Clive Cussler (for when I want to turn my brain off and just enjoy a good adventure story) -- His work is just plain fun. It's predictable, but that's part of the allure. I liken his work to a good summer action movie.
5. Michael Crichton -- His work (back when I was around ten or eleven) was my introduction to reading for fun. My dad used to travel a lot, and Crichton was on of his favorite authors. One day, The Andromeda Strain was sitting there on the shelf, and I picked it up. It took me a while, but by the time I was finished with it, I was hooked on reading.
6. Eve Forward -- I've only read one of her books, but it was a doozy. Villains by Necessity stands as one of my absolute favorite books of all time. It's a shame she hasn't written more.
7. Stephen Lawhead -- Just as Crichton was my introduction to books as a whole, Lawhead introduced me to the fantasy genre. I started out with his Pendragon books, but quickly tore through his entire library (Song of Albion is his best, in my opinion).
8. J.K. Rowling -- Ah, Harry Potter. Yes, the writing is idiosyncratic. I know I might catch some flack here, but I absolutely love the world Rowling created. I picked it up The Sorcerer's Stone on a lark, and I read the first three books (all that were out at the time) within a few days. Just good solid world-building there.
