Surprised I haven't seen people mention some of these.... Lighter stuff: Dave Duncan ... loved the _A Man of His Word_ series Melanie Rawn ... haven't read her new-ish series. The Sunrunner books seem to have a cast of thousands; I spend most of a book getting the names straight, and then half the characters die. $%*&! L. J. Smith ... leftover from my teen years :) Like several others on this list, I've found that some of the authors I loved when I was 13-15 haven't aged with me. Among these, I would have to include Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, and David Eddings. Loved them at the time, but I guess my tastes have changed. Also Cool: Jane Austen Mervyn Peake Mary Stewart Vernor Vinge I've also read some Gene Wolfe and C.S. Friedman, and I can understand why people like them. Recently picked up _The Great Book of Amber_; wouldn't mind reading more Zelazny when I get the chance. I also read a lot of the Project Gutenberg e-texts--usually history but also some Dickens. Gibbons, Plutarch, all that jazz. Great stuff. -- meersan