What would you recommend?

[amanda]

I'm looking for books written by non-mainstream authors in fantasy and/or sci fi and or/horror. I seem to be stuck in a rut as far as authors go, so I'm looking for something different in order to start branching out a little. :)

Comments

[naraht]

Non-mainstream is in the eye of the beholder, but let me try offering some fantasy recs that don't fall into the Tolkienian epic fantasy mould...

"Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" by Susannah Clarke
"The Light Ages" by Iain MacLeod
"The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters" by Gordon Dahlquist
"City of Saints and Madmen" by Jeff VanderMeer
"Perdido Street Station" by China Mieville
"Gormenghast" (a trilogy) by Mervyn Peake
"Verdigris Deep" by Frances Hardinge (a YA book, but who's counting?)

Is that the sort of thing you're looking for, or is that still too mainstream?

[amanda]

Yeah, I left it intentionally vague just to see what others would come up with. By non-mainstream, basically I didn't want people recommending the big authors that a bookshop would try to push on me and I was curious to see what people would come up with. I've heard of Jeff VanderMeer, but not read his stuff, so I might give that a try. I read one book by Iain MacLeod (I don't recall which one). I found it ok, but not hugely my type. I should give him another try, though, instead of letting one book put me off. After all, some of my favourite authors have books/short stories that I find 'ok', so.

Thank you for recommending these. :D