I think a topic like this could be nice. And since this forum is about improving your writing we could focus this topic on the ones that have inspired you the most instead of just your favourites.

So, I´ll start:

As you probably know my favourite author is Tolkien but he hasn´t really inspired me much, perhaps when it comes to my fascination of languages though... But I tend to leave out creatures created by him in the worlds that I create... I guess it´s because elves, orcs or what not is a bit too sacred for a lowly writer like me to use :rolleyes: Seriously though I just can´t see them anywhere else than in Arda...

When it comes to my style of writing I think most of my inspiration comes from a Swedish author called John Ajvide Lindqvist. I don´t think his books have been translated to english but if they have I really encourage you to read them, at least the first one; Låt den rätte komma in (Let the right one enter..?). That one is about a vampire in Stockholm during the 80s. It has an interesting plot but before all his style of writing is really nice...

And when it comes to the world that I am working with right now (Daincyr) Mary Stewart is my primary source of inspiration. She has written four books about the Arthurian myths that I really like.
I guess I could count Marion Zimmer Bradley as well since The Mists of Avalon is based on a book by her but I haven´t actually read it (what a shame!).

I think that´s all... but when it comes to good authors overall I can recommend Anne Rice (must read for any and all vampire fans), Homer(os) (just for the heck of it ;)), Oscar Wilde, Lian Hearn and J.K Rowling.

HG Wells. All the way.

Enough said.
:P

Now that was informative :rolleyes:

Quite.

Right if Maedhros and Formendacil are the resident Tolkien freaks, then I'm the resident George RR Martin freak.

Besides being my all time favorite writer, his style is very similar to my own, which is one of the main reasons I like him. His world's all have a dark depressing atmosphere, where everyone from the lowliest peasant to the highest king have problems. There is no stormtrooper affect or anything like that here. He makes it very clear that everyone is mortal. Good, well meaning characters are killed off so frequently that with each passing book, the suspense in every action scene is through the roof. Another connection between him and I is that we both lean towards the medieval war/horror genre.

Other authors who I have found to be very inspiring are:
Robert E. Howard-Creator of Conan the barbarian, I think he was the first one to inspire me to write anything.
Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman-The main Dragonlance authors, when I look back they seem very amateurish, but the DL were the first real epic fantasy books I read.
Robert Jordan-Originally a favorite for the sheer scope of the Wheel of Time. But with a decline in the quality of books, he is now just a living example of one of the greatest dangers when writing epic fantasy.
And last of course is Anthony Sava. I'm still wondering why I can't go into a store and buy Ikros the way it was meant to be. :orcSweat:

I haven´t read Martin but from what you said it surely sounds interesting... might have to check it out...

I´ve read 9 books or so of Robert Jordan as well but I tired of him since it was simply too much... now I´m not too fond of most fantasy at all though..

And about Anthony Sava, Ikros is probably the best LEGO story out there (since it´s brilliantly illustrated) but I don´t ever see myself reading Ikros in bookform...

And while I´m at it I could mention Dark Ages: Fae. It´s actually a sourcebook for RPG but it´s full of good inspiration for medieval myths... The Fae of Daincyr are heavily inspired by that book...

Originally, I thought to write more, but I think it sounded most like gibberish, I think my mind has woken up a bit more, even though it is in the middle of the night here.

I read most of the "original steampunk"- HG Wells and Jules Verne.
However, HG Wells description of the martians (and their machines, and demise) is what inspired me to many of the horrific creatures in my stories. It might not be medieval, but the description from one bystander's eyes of those unearthly creatures, unbelievable by a victorian's eyes. I made a similar thing in the beginning of one of my old cancelled story, with a mysterious race that harvested human graveyards and used the corpses as bodies, but alot more to it.

I am sure people will try to direct me to Lovecraft, but, while I do admire some of his work, I refuse to read racist and/or sexist literature.

Never heard of Lovecraft... what is this?

My favorite author is Terry Brooks... I know that some people think he is a bit of a "copy-cat", but I think his stuff is pretty original, and the style he writes in is quite good - his books are very long, but I don't mind reading the books hour after hour - Terry Brooks was one of my biggest inspirations in writing LEGO Castle stories~

EDIT>> I checked out the author you noted Maedhros, but wasn't able to find much about him in English... I think your right about the lack of English translations~

As for the other authors: Anne Rice- Kind of embarassing that I haven't read anything from her yet (or seen the movies... she has some, right?). All of my friends like her a lot, and I think vampires are interesting, but I have yet to check it out.

J.K Rowling - I actually like her and her books... not to embarassed to say it either... it's really not so bad! :D

You have never heard of Lovecraft? I haven´t read anything by him either but.. you gotta know who he is :P

And about Anne Rice; first and foremost I recommend "The Vampire Lestat" and "Interview With the Vampire"... The Queen of the Damned is quite nice as well but the others are nothing worth of notice.. I haven´t read all of them though so I might be wrong.

And when it comes to the movies, Interview With the Vampire is really good. The other one (The Queen of the Damned) is done with a totally different cast etc though and should be avoided at all costs (maybe not as horrible as Blade or Buffy but you get the idea ;)).

And you should never be embarassed by liking Rowling.. I don´t understand where this idea that her books are childish comes from.. it´s a bit the same as with LEGO :)

Hmm. This is a good question.

I would have to say Mary Stewart. Her Merlin books are favorites of mine, (I like The Crystal Cave and Hollow Hills most, the last two are still good books, but I don't like them as much because that's when Merlin starts loosing his power and people start taking advantage of him :angry: ) and I really like her writing style. I haven't actually read anything other then her Merlin books (I'm not even sure if she's written anything else, but I would guess she has) but that's still enough for me to call her my favorite author. :horn:

Another author I enjoy is Lloyd Alexander. I really like his Prydain Cycle books, and while others may think they're a bit 'childish', they have some good stuff in them, and they've been good insperation to me. :)

BTW, I've never heard of Lovecraft either. Should I have?

Wikipedia entry! CLICKY!

Necromicon, Cthulhu, Dagon, Great Old Ones, that sort of stuff.

Another thing I do not like about his stories, more than the racial and sexist attitude, is the concept of magic = evil. In my stories, it is humanity's inability to use "written science" and paranoia over it bringing evil powers that corrupts man, and leads it to it's doom, but me is me.

He seems to have quite a mixed review, this Lovecraft... there is no doubt that he is a racist though... I wonder if his books are worth reading? I'm guessing no... but I must confess to buying a lot of books (political, social, etc) that I don't agree with, just to "review" the minds and thoughts of those who think differently than I do... I'll tell you guys if I decide to pick up one of his novels...

As for Myrddin's post, I was in the local bookstore yesterday when I saw all the books of Prydain (not the CWST, obviously :P ). I bought the first one and am loving it... haven't read it in years... but I've only read book one. After I finish re-reading it, I'm definatley going to buy the rest of the series - good of you to remind me of these books~

After doing a huge work about the Romanticism I have fallen in love with Edgar Allan Poe so I just have mention him here. A must-read for anyone who likes insanity and psychological terror.... mmmm B)

That's the best kind isn't it? :orcChase:

I remember that I got Poe with a bunch of other Halloween books one year when I was a little kid. Obviously, the Poe book was quite a bit different than the kid detectives who investigate a haunted house and find their cat or something instead of a ghost. The one Poe story that freaked me out the most was one about a man whose sister (?) or maybe... wife... (I can't remember) is dead but the character telling the story hears her waking and coming towards his room... the way Poe told this story was memerable to a young grade-schooler, to say the least! I can't remember the name of this story, but I'm sure it's online somewhere...

Otherwise, my favorite Poe book would have to be The Tell-Tale Heart...

I think it's amazing how he mixes madness with murder - he actually seems to get into the mind of a serial killer or something very well when he's writting, and a lot of the things he writes are what serial killers think/feel. Creepy... :ph43r:

http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/poe/

That one´s really good.. but I think my favourite is "William Wilson". That one´s about a decadent noble suffering from schizophrenia and seeing a copy of himself who mocks and lectures him all the time..

I remember reading some Poe, good times all around.


My favorite is the Black Cat, because it reminds me of my kitty and how much I want to twist his head off everytime he goes near my LEGO. :rolleyes:

:D

Although I don't have a cat anymore, I do know exactly what you mean...

Imagine what I felt when my dog ate one of my fenris wolves :P

haha wow you musta been PISED! hmm.. think the LEGO customer suppoert place could replace THAT?! lol. yeah my cat used to go for any of my shrom stuff and drag it off and eat it and he would get really mad and start hising if you tried to take it from him. I'de have to bag hime with a pillow case and wressle it out of his mouth lol.

ON TOPIC: um my favrite athors would have to be.. TOLKIEN!! C.S. Lewis, charles Ogden, Joheene asquez, Tim Burton and various maga writters though Charles, Johenen and Tim have been the ones to inspire my works the most. :D

Use the edit button instead of double-posting, please
- Your friendly neighbourhood admin

I have read a lot of Lovecraft's work and I enjoyed it all. But yes, he did take tradtionalism to a whole new level. He wrote stuff a century ago, so it is hard to read. But if you're into the genre, he is one of the Tolkiens of Horror.

I've read a lot of stuff since I posted last. I don't have the time to elaborate, but I recommend any of you pick up anything by:

Steven Erikson
David Gemmel
Richard A. Naak
Michael Moorcock

That's an unfortunate name... :rolleyes:

:lol: Agreed... he must have done some pretty good writing to get published with such a name on the cover.

Anyway, I think I've heard of Steven Erikson, but I can't say that the others are familiar to me... are they fantasy or sci-fi or...

Hmm...favorite author, and the one that inspires me Lego-wise the most, is G.A. Henty. His medieval books rock to the skies.

You so gotta click this link. :lol:

http://www.visionforum.com/boysadventure/p...?categoryid=161

As embarassing as it is I have to confess I have never heard of this... are they any good as literature or are they mostly good as historical sources?

Intriguing link Hordesman! This looks like it could be quite interesting/good for inspirational sources, and perhaps just good reading as well. I have to echo Maedhros's question here... what's it like?

Wait, what? Me? :blink:
Not sure what you're talking about, but Im certain it brings chocolate cream and strawberries.

:lol: You're right... why did I think it was you?


But I am still looking forward to the chocolate and what-not. B)

Okay okay.... Paleo, it's you who posted that... heh heh... sorry... but I now pose my question to you~

This was a great topic, we should get it going again.

To elaborate on who the Moorcock is, he is one of the top fantasy writers who grew up in Tolkien's shadow a couple decades ago. He's famous for his Eternal Champion books, which are supposed to be turned into movies a couple years from now.

He came out with a dozen good stories decades ago(i.e Elric Saga/Corum Saga....), everything he's done since then has been rather dry. That and he's become a complete snob. <_<

I noticed that The Ork mentioned Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I have to echo those two as my most inspirational authors ever and I'll tell you why. I recently came out of my Dragonlance "darkage, and started reading a newer triology by this duo. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis are two phenomonal authors who are great in their own right (and 2 of my favorites), but Weis and Hickman capture my imagination like no other. I highly recommend reading any DL novel by these two.

Dragonlance is one of my all time favorite epic fantasies, even if it is the literal equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon. ;)

Heh heh heh.... I agree. Well, I only read a few, which my friend said were not good ones, so I don't know how the level of writing is in all of them, but it's true that the level did seem quite low.. but it was a good story - light, interesting, relaxing!

There is something to be said for a book like that.

Although I love Terry Brooks, his books can be so deep/serious/dry, that I sometimes feel MORE tired than I did when I first started~

Michael Moorcock... interesting story there... I might want to check some of his early stuff out then... it's too bad about him becoming a bit of a snob...

If Dragonlance is the equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon?, then you all know what my favorite day of the week is :P I discussed this with Maedhros before that of the 60 plus books I've ever read, 51 or 52 are Dragonlance. It doesn't help that the movie that came out in January not only looks like it was made for the Saturday morning cartoon audience, but looks like it was also illustrated by the Saturday morning cartoon audience :angry:

I still stand by my comment that you ought to try something else every now and then ;)