Neil Gaiman

[whiskygalore]

Just started getting into his books and using that as a jumping-off point, can you please recommend other authors? I've tried a few Terry Pratchetts, but never got into his stuff, so any other referrals appreciated.

[Octavius]

You could try Michael Moorcock or Tom Holt - although I find Holts books extremely overlong.

Alternatrively look at Gaimans influences such as Samuel R. Delany, Roger Zelazny, Robert A. Heinlein, Harlan Ellison, H. P. Lovecraft, Thorne Smith, and Gene Wolfe.

Although I'm afraid I couldn't vouch for any of them. I'm a Pratchett fan.

[Octavius]

Just as an aside, you might get more response in the general A&L secton as some people don't venture into the sub-topics.

[LeMarchand]

A bit late to the party, but I love NG's stuff while TP leaves me cold too. Anyway, I'd recommend:

Peter S. Beagle - especially "The Last Unicorn".

Jasper Fforde - writes books set in fiction, including such conceits as a "Wuthering Heights" self-help group where they all complain about that nasty, brutish Heathcliff.

George R R Martin - all his stuff is good, but I'd start with the short stories.

China Mieville - my faves are "Perdido Street Station" and "The Scar".

Kim Newman - particularly the "Anno Dracula" series, full of literary and cinematic in jokes.

Michael Marshall Smith - mainly writes SF and (without the "Smith") thrillers, but his short stories (check "What You Make It").

Of the "influences" list Octavius posted I've read Zelazny (good, but I didn't rush out and read everything he's written), Heinlein (ditto, beware his strange politics), Ellison (his shorts are generally good, but by all accounts he can be a bit difficult to work with) and Lovecraft (brilliant!). I'd add Mervyn Peake as an influence, but "Gormenghast" is one of those works that I suspect that I'll still be "meaning to read" when I go...