Yesterday I listed 11 writers that I always read. Today I’m going to list 5 writers that I keep meaning to read. These are authors who are active and who I may have read once or twice before and who I may have even met, but for some reason, I just really haven’t read their stuff. I’ve meant to, but just haven’t gotten around to it. There are only so many hours in a day. Don’t judge.
1. Elizabeth Bear
I’ve only read two things by Elizabeth Bear: “Tideline” and “Sonny Liston Takes the Fall.” The latter I heard at a reading at Readercon and was blown away by what I heard. I’ve followed her blog for years and met her once or twice at conventions. You’d think I would have read more of what she’s written but I haven’t. I want to.
2. Robert Reed
A few years back I read Robert Reed‘s novella “Marrow” and it was another one of those stories that blew me away. Somehow I managed to miss it in its original appearance in Science Fiction Age. I have on occasion read a Reed story here and there and I’ve always enjoyed them. I want to read more. The thing that amazes me about Robert Reed is how prolific he is. His name is everywhere and I am always reading and hearing good things about his stories.
3. Mike Resnick
I love Mike Resnick‘s Dialogues column which he writes with Barry N. Malzberg in the SFWA Bulletin. But I don’t believe I have ever read any of Mike’s fiction. (I can hear that sucking in of air as those reading this post gasp in shock.) This is not because I don’t like Mike’s fiction; I have no means to judge. I simply haven’t gotten around to reading him, despite always wanting to. Mike is one of those writers that I’ve been holding in my back pocket, so to speak. He is incredibly prolific and his stories and novels are wildly popular and so I figure that when I do finally get around to reading him (hopefully soon), it will be like gorging on a midnight buffet.
4. Kristine Kathryn Rusch
The first “personal” rejection letter I ever received was from Kristine Kathryn Rusch when she was editing F&SF. That was a big moment for me. I know it sounds funny to speak of rejection in such a positive way. Writer’s out there will understand. That was back in 1995 or so. In all the time since, I’ve read only one piece of fiction by Rusch: “Rescuing Apollo 8”–and I absolutely loved it! Naturally I want to read more. Once again, it just comes down to finding the time to read more.
5. Michael Swanwick
Michael Swanwick is another popular and prolific author of whom I have read nothing. I’ve met Michael, chatted with him at some length at Balticon, and many of his story titles and novel titles are familiar to me. But I still haven’t read them. But once again, I want to.
Some of these writers I’ve been wanting to read for years and simply haven’t gotten around to it. If anyone out there is willing to recommend a good place to start with one or more of these writers, please leave your suggestions in the comments. I would really appreciate it. In a way, I think it is exciting that I haven’t read these authors yet. You never know when you are going to find something that is new to you, that you love and that you just want to keep reading. Five possibilities like this exist out there for me right now.
Tomorrow, I’ll talk about some writers whose work I’ve attempted to read and struggled with for one reason or another.
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