♥ Nothing Better Than Reading!! ♥ discussion

Who is the most versatile author you've read?

I dont know. When i read more books by the same author it is because the have written a series. To answer this question I would have to say J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith. There is such a huge difference between the Harry Potter series, the detective series and the stanalone. I loved the standalone, the casual vacancy, because the entire book was written with an undertone of sarcasm and satire

I think that Stephen King is a very versatile author.
He doesn't only write rather realistic horror, or thriller, or crime, but he has also written fantastic fantasy books, and his book about writing is supposed to be very well done as well. So he clearly has a huge amount of different genres his books are about.

And Linda is right, JK Rowling does manage to write very different depending on the book/ book series she is writing. Harry Potter reads very differently then the Casual Vacancy does, as do her Cuckoos calling books. She clearly knows how to change her writing style to what she is writing about.

William Johnstone was versatile - he wrote a lot of westerns, but then a full line of supernatural horror.

Elizabeth Mertz wrote nonfiction Egyptian books under her name, several mystery series under Elizabeth Peters, and Gothic mysteries and romances under Barbara Michaels

I can't name one, as the most versatile.

But...

Harlan Ellison is one of the most versatile and awarded authors alive (or to live).

He has been nominated for or won awards for computer games, spoken word, written word, etc..

Nominated/won:
Emmy (spoken word recording)
Audie (audio book)
National Women's Committee of Brandeis University's Words Wit and Wisdom Award
Milford (editing)
P.E.N. International Silver Pen Award (twice)
Nova,
Best American Short Stories
ViRA (tv script)
Writers Guild of America Award (4 wins)

Edgar Allen Poe Award (mystery)
America Mystery Award

Bram Stoker Award (horror)
Deathrealm Award
International Horror Critics Award

And, in science fiction:
Hugo won/nominated 11 TIMES
Nebula won 3 times
Locus Poll won/nominated 18 TIMES
British Science Fiction Award
British Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award twice
Jupiter Award twice
Saturn Award
Georges Melies Fantasy Film Award twice
Asimov's Reader's Poll Award
SF Chronicle Award "Most Attractive Male Writer"
Gallun Award lifetime achievement

And others.

Is that versatile enough?

Jodi Picoult

Charles Dickens

ABSOLUTELY agree James!

James wrote: "I can't name one, as the most versatile.

But...

Harlan Ellison is one of the most versatile and awarded authors alive (or to live).

He has been nominated for or won awards for comp..."

I have joined the group recently. So, I am not sure whether we can include Indian authors as well. If we can, I will go for R. K. Narayan. Though he is more known for humor, those who have read 'The English Teacher' must be knowing how capable he is in portraying tragedy, love and paranormal stuff too.

The trouble is that nowadays authors are seen by their publishers as a brand and it's hard unless you are enormously famous to write anything away from your genre. I'm speaking a bit from experience as I try to get my publisher to accept something very different to my first two novels with them.

R.J. wrote: "The trouble is that nowadays authors are seen by their publishers as a brand and it's hard unless you are enormously famous to write anything away from your genre. I'm speaking a bit from experienc..."

I know they do that and it is a shame because it assumes the buyers don't want variety from authors

I think I'm going to say either AS King, or Robin Benway. I've read all of Benway's books, and loved them. They center on similar characters, but they're all different; and I especially loved "Emmy and Oliver".

I love AS King as an author, too. I wasn't super-crazy about her newest book, but I did like it...I think it was a bit ambitious, though. I've read all her other works, and I adore them: they're all very unique.

I also agree with RJ, though. If I ever go into publishing, I'll try my best to make it clear that I actually want variety! :)