I suspect one reason Cherryh wouldn't do well in a poll like that is that she's got too many series for her fans to get behind one in enough numbers.

What would you suggest for a Tanith Lee in the fantasy category? (distinct from horror)

The Secret Books of Paradys. (Which are close to my favorite works by her, but the Blood Opera Sequence still tops them.)

I would definitely have plumped for Something Wicked This Way Comes though I think Bradbury's greater influence is from his short stories.

While I love Something Wicked This Way Comes with something near obsession, I still think his best work ever is the short story "Homecoming". Of course, my opinion is colored because in my heart of hearts, I believe I belong to that family. (And come to think of it, my Dad wouldn't argue that point.)

I don't remember reading "Homecoming," which means I need to read it again. Obviously, I was short on memory cells the last time, and it is something I should remember reading, barring brain damage or pollen.

I have mixed feelings about the list in general, but I'm glad they did it in the "it's a start" sort of way. Mostly I've been boggled that they didn't split fantasy and science fiction into two different lists.

(And come to think of it, my Dad wouldn't argue that point.)

How do we know your Dad isn't Uncle Einar?

How do we know your Dad isn't Uncle Einar?

Good question! I mean, I'd like to think that if Dad had giant bat wings and flew around at night, he would have told me by now, but I can't discount the possibility.

Please don't dismiss all of David's list.

Yeah! What? Were they?

I can go wrangle up Neil Gaiman's endorsement of Lud-in-the-Mist if that would help. I know some other Buffistas have read it - maybe Anne?

The Dying Earth has the best wizard stories I've read, with a really interesting angle on how magic works in that world.

Oh, I love Lud-in-the-Mist.

I'd love to see a horror list, myself.

I don't particularly look for wordsmithery in my fantasy, honestly. I don't mind it when it's there, but it's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for compelling reads, which means I read a fair amount of fantasy I'd objectively call bad or hackish, and enjoy it.

I quite liked The Left Hand of Darkness, but it took me many tries to get into it, and I don't remember much about it now.

I LOVE Bujold and would totally rank her above all of the authors I mentioned in a full fledged SF/Fantasy list. I still haven't read any Connie Willis, but I plan to soon.

Octavia Butler is one of those authors who writes works that feel like fantasy but have "scientific" reasons - even Fledgling, a vampire novel, spent a fair amount of time building up the scientific explanation for the vampirism. So I have a hard time placing her. It's also why I'm personally glad when lists like this don't split SF and Fantasy - they have plenty of overlaps that are hard to place.

I'd love to see a horror list, myself.

scoots closer to Amy