Authors you like that seem to be disliked by others?

[Khephra]

I don't mean books or authors that are disliked because they aren't "literature" as they fall into one of the "genres", but, more or less, authors who are looked down on in their own field.

Mine would have to be Jack Chalker. His "Well World" novels are one of the best series that I've ever read, but he tends to overdo several of his pet ideas and some see him as being sexist.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. I like Thomas Pynchon and David Foster Wallace.....

But from seeing other threads on similar subjects, I know how a lot of DUers feel about those two (pretentious, too wordy, precious, meandering, etc.)

It's okay, I fucking despise Kurt Vonnegut, so it kinda evens out!

Also, my favorite Rock Critic, Joe Carducci, is something of a conservative.

[Khephra]

3. I think the problem with most Pynchon and Wallace readers

are that they don't really want to read the books--they want to be known to have read the books.

Some books should be read in bits and pieces, over an extended time. Pynchon and Wallace qualify for that. Too much P&W in one sitting will turn you off from their work forever.

[RandomKoolzip]

7. I read "Infinite Jest" in six days.

I thought it was goddamn great. (My wife hates both of them, too. She likes Barbara Kingsolver: ick!)

I'm just not a big fiction type of guy. Most of the books on my shelf concern politics, reference, and music. The fiction I like has to feel weird enough to compete with the weirdness in real life. (I don't like Science Fiction/fantasy for this reason, too)

[maine_raptor]

2. Harry Turtledove

and not his "D&D" stuff...........his Alt History stuff is tremendous. The American Empire series is epic work. He puts out one book a year, but well worth the wait.

[Khephra]

4. How is his "Darkness" series?

1 book a year? Are you sure? It seems like everytime I'm in the bookstore there's another book by him.

[maine_raptor]

10. The Darkness series is D&D

The book per year is the Am Empire series. Starts with "How Few Remain"....post civil war where south won and continues up to a WWII that takes place in North America with a "southern Hitler"... a total of 8 books so far.

[Khephra]

13. Darkness is D&D?

I thought it was his take on a world war where magic existed?

[maine_raptor]

22. It is

but being a somewhat un-mystical person I prefer non-magic story telling. Thus my calling anything with magic in it D&D. Sorry my own pref, prob'ly the result of a childhood fear of rabbits and high hats.

[Tangledog]

5. Chalker's a good choice

In fact, I've been meaning to write an essay for my SF web page describing him as the best author in the genre who doesn't get hardcover editions and doesn't get sufficient respect from the fangeeks. I haven't seen any of the "sexism" in the 4 or so books by him I've read. He does seem to write very quickly and no doubt repeats some of his themes, but he's a hell of a world-builder.

I haven't read mainstream literature in years, so I really can't add anybody to your interesting query. I mostly read history, science fact 'n' fiction, and some "issue books".

[Khephra]

11. Chalker reminds me a lot of Philip Farmer

Great worldbuilding, great dialog, and idea-repeating.

[BlueHandDuo]

6. John Irving

I like that his characters are, for the most part, survivors, but it seems there are a lot of people who wish they'd just go away and die already.

[RandomKoolzip]

9. I like some John Irving, but...

I think the movies based on his books were better than the books themselves (George Roy Hill did a tremendous job with "World According to Garp, IMO).

[kcwayne]

8. Carl Sagan

Fundies absolutely hate him, not that they ever read anything he has read, or read anything of intellectual substance for that matter.

[Khephra]

12. Did you know his son is now doing science fiction?

[kcwayne]

16. I did not know that. Is it any good?

[Khephra]

17. Dunno...I just found out that he was writing fiction a few weeks ago

[qnr]

18. I'm re-reading "The Demon Haunted World"

"Science as a candle in the dark" right now.

[kcwayne]

23. Then you will also like Broca's Brain

The Demon Haunted world was the last work of his I read. I also like Comet, and of course Cosmos.

[qnr]

24. Haven't read Comet

Have read Cosmos of course, and Broca's Brain, Pale Blue Dot, Dragons of Eden, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestorss, and probably others that I've forgotten

[TwilightZone]

14. Dean Koontz

He seems to be an author everyone loves to hate, but I love his dark, sarcastic sense of humor.

[Khephra]

15. In case you didn't know

Koontz's Frankenstein pilot is on USA this weekend.

[TwilightZone]

19. Might have to check it out. Unfortunately, his books often turn into

really bad movies. It's difficult to capture the psychological aspect of his books in movie form.

Kind of like Stephen King movies, with a couple of rare exceptions.

[Khephra]

20. Koontz is a weird one like King

I think the formula for their overall work would be this:

1 classic = 2 good novels = 3 average books = 4 not-worth-your-time or lower.

But to even be able to write ONE classic novel! Oh, the envy!

:-)

[qnr]

25. Used to

Live a couple of blocks from S. King, Would occasionally come across him shopping at the local Shaw's supermarket. Plus I worked for UMaine Orono that he and Tabitha are so involved with. Very nice, down-to-earth, compassionate guy, I must say.

[ismnotwasm]

21. I love Chalker

In fact, it might be time for a re-read. I think the perception of sexism was more part of the writing style of those times. To me, the worst offender for that was Heinlein--he always had some old fart with some young girl, in appearance at least. And he loved the incest theme.
But, let's see, I love Elaine Pagels, even though I know she dismissed as a radical theologian in some circles