If I already like ...

Daniel Petersen · 17 Apr 2012, 23:27 · from 2012-April.txt.gz

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From: danielottojackpetersen at gmail.com (Daniel Petersen)
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:27:11 +0100
Subject: (urth) If I already like ...
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Let's see, what's left?  I'm only just starting to check out Michael
Bishop, but he looks like he could be of interest to those into the cluster
of authors we're talking about.  Walker Percy - a sort of existential
Catholic novelist - try his *Love in the Ruins* - fairly science fictional,
though a contemporary setting - great novel.  Actually, did anyone mention
Flannery O'Connor?  She's a must.  I'm honour bound to add Cormac McCarthy
- I don't believe he's been mentioned.  He, I think, has lots of regional
sort of overlap with Lafferty (and somewhat with Wolfe in that regard with
his Texas background).  Start with his *The Road* for a gripping tale
that's slightly science fictional.  Then try* No Country for Old Men* for a
brisk-paced but philosophical thriller, then *Blood Meridian *for something
shocking and apocalyptic now that you've been shown the ropes.  He's one of
the few that stand up well in terms of prose-craft next to the likes of
Lafferty and Wolfe for me.  (And don't worry about trying to 'understand'
it all - just let it flow over you and get what you get on the first read,
not unlike Wolfe.)  I don't think anyone's mentioned John C. Wright, whom I
haven't read yet, but is supposed to be a recent Catholic convert with a
very erudite and original approach to s.f.  William Hope Hodgson is great
background to some of Wolfe's horror elements - I'm loving getting familiar
with him.  (Lovecraft goes here too, of course.)  Also, Lord Dunsany who is
a huge precursor to some of what Wolfe's doing, especially his pseudo Sword
and Sorcery sort of elements.  I don't think we've mentioned Neil Gaiman, a
devoted fan of Wolfe, whose influence you can see on his work - I recommend
*American Gods* and even more so *Anansi Boys*.  Dan Simmons I think can be
quite good - but more on the level of Tim Powers than Wolfe.

-DOJP

On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 6:47 PM, Antonin Scriabin
<kierkegaurdian at gmail.com>wrote:

> Wolfe, Lafferty, Powers, MacDonald, and Tolkien, what else will I like?
> This email list has good taste, and I was wondering what other hidden
> authors you guys might enjoy, given preference for those mentioned.  I
> initially discovered Lafferty through this list some time ago, for
> example.  I know there has to be more!
>
>
>
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