Three of my favorites

I have read The Lord of the Rings at least twenty-five times. For me it's a once-a-year indulgence that I look forward to as much as a nice vacation. Sometimes I try to wait a little longer just to make the experience even more pleasurable, but most often I fail.

But there are three other authors I enjoy almost as much as Tolkien. I'm sure most of you have heard about them and read their work, but just in case ...

Stephen Donaldson: His epic fantasy series based on the character Thomas Covenant is a magnificent achievement. I highly recommend starting with Lord Foul's Bane (Book 1) and going from there. Donaldson's prose ranks with the best in literature -- of any genre. And as he's gotten older, he's gotten even better. Also, check out the "gradual interview" on Donaldson's website, where he answers questions from readers. Awesome.

George R.R. Martin: His ground-breaking series, A Song of Ice and Fire, is ground-breaking in its creativity, depth, and authenticity. In my opinion no one has done a better job of creating a world based on a medieval setting. His descriptions of battles, one-on-one fights, weapons, armor, clothing, food, castles, etc., are without top-notch. Start with A Game of Thrones.

Steven Erikson: Of the three, Erikson is probably the least known, but that won't last forever. His Malazan Book of the Fallen series is mind-boggling. Erikson's imagination is limitless, and his writing is almost as beautiful as Donaldson's. Start with Gardens of the Moon.

-- Jim