favorite science fiction/fantasy authors - what are yours?

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Miles" <d2dmiles at ...> wrote:
 
Geoff
> > Curiously, your grumble about internal logic follows your
> > comment about liking JKR's universe - flaws and all.
> >
> > Perhaps my suspension of belief leads me to be naive. I
> > have to admit that I like to take what I read at face
> > value and I also enjoy a lot of young people's fiction.

Miles:
> Same here. But I'm sure you have your own limits of naivety. For example, if 
> in a book playing in London, Clapham Junction would be described as near Big 
> Ben, you wouldn't like it. 

Geoff:
It depends on what you mean by "near". Clapham Junction is about 4 
miles from Big Ben. Within the grander view of Greater London  - a 
basic circle about 25-30 miles in diameter, this could be classed as 
near.

BTW, to validate my London geographic credentials, I lived within 
a couple of miles of Clapham Junction for 40 years.

I remember being amused when I first moved to the Exmoor area 15 
years ago and was doing some supply teaching in one of the local 
schools. When I commented that I had lived in London for many years, 
a pupil told me that he was going to London that weekend. I asked 
where and got the reply "Reading". A town which happens to be 40 
miles west of the capital!! Perhaps he grew up to be the writer of the 
book you mention....
:-))

But I must admit that I find the geography and towns of the UK as 
interpreted by some writers across the "pond" be lacking. Probably 
younger writers who haven't spent time with reference material.

Das ist Leben, nicht war?