I got this idea from Sabina of Victim to Charm a few days ago. As readers, do you read around every genre and a broad range of writers? Do you have a handful of writers to whom you keep coming back? I decided to explore this question. I have made a rough count of the number of titles, but it is more of an educated guess and I could have missed some.

James Herbert

Herbert, who passed away in 2013, was a prolific horror writer and arguably the best modern horror writer to come out of this country. I started with The Fog some 25 years ago and slowly worked my way through his books, including The Rats. There is just one title of his I have not yet read and that’s his final published work Ash. That means I have read 22 works by this author. I have not read any of his short stories or graphic novels.

I recommend: The Rats, Haunted, The Secret of Crickley Hall

 

Stephen King

Though he has had a prolific career, I have read just 17 works by the world’s most famous horror writer (as a side note, I’m genuinely surprised that I have read more horror than sci fi). He retired some years ago and came back stronger, producing work that was different from before yet still typically King themed. Though he has revisited older work by producing sequels to well known work (Doctor Sleep is a sequel to The Shining) he has also explored scifi with Under The Dome and prison drama with The Shawshank Redemption.

I recommend: 11.22.63, The Stand, Needful Things

 

Robert Rankin

One of the most famous writers of weird fiction has published some 35 books – most set in a weird alternate reality Brentford. After looking through his publication list, I think I have read about 15 of this titles. Not all of them are classics. I loved Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse but really struggled with The Brightonomicon. His books are a mixed bag and not everybody’s cup of tea but usually a fun read if you can take increasing levels of silliness.

I recommend: The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse, The Da-Da-De-Da-Da Code, Web Site Story

 

Lindsey Davis

Does she count? The only reason I ask is because all of her work I have read is from a single series. Her famous Falco novels is a 20-strong series of books centreing on the exploits of a private investigator in the 1st century Roman Empire. I have read 12 books so far of the 20 book series. I recently discovered that she has started another series following Falco’s niece. I will most likely carry on the series so she will most likely leapfrog Herbert and Rankin in future.

I recommend: All of them in order but the best are Venus in Copper, A Dying Light in Corduba, One Virgin Too Many

 

Alastair Reynolds

12 titles so far, the hard scifi writer is amongst my best authors list. I was recently approached by the publisher to review his novella Slow Bullets and found it very enjoyable. Not to everybody’s tastes, some of his work takes a lot of patience to get into but I always find his work satisfying along with the rare feeling of having accomplished something. If you like your fiction almost entirely about ideas then give his work a try.

I recommend: Century Rain, Chasm City, Diamond Dogs