Vampire? Fantasy? Sci-Fi? Which Do You Choose For All Time Favorite?

I "got on" the Goth and Gore train along with the rest of the world in the 1980's...Anne Rice, after all...she is a powerful draw...although I entered, as usual, through a different door. I read "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice. I did not want to, not from the first three pages. I always read the first two to three pages standing in the bookstore; who doesn't right? Then, if it is any good (to me) I will take it home. From the start I was drawn into this horribly self revealing book I wish to this day I had never read!

There, that is it for telling on myself!

Then my daughter, at a very young age/too young/ I know! Found Anne Rice and read the vampire series, I love the movie, the movie is fine, the interview with the vampire book was fine, I managed that; had to didn't I? Had to be sure the same thing wasn’t happening to baby girl that happened to me! And of course it didn't, thank the stars for small favors.

But as far as vampire stories go Anne Rice is not my favorite, not by a long shot. Best vampire story I have ever read is called "Sunshine" by Robin McKinley.

Sunshine tells the story of a baker, she makes the most divine cinnamon rolls I swear I can taste them through the pages! She also has the ability to see and destroy vampires. OK Not so unusual of a story line you say with a sneer? Wait! Then she meets this one vampire and finds out he is not so very bad after all...still not impressed? Heard that already you say?

Then she discovers she can cloak him in the daylight. He gets to see the sun after eons of darkness; she gets to touch the other side. They both walk the others path and they both learn. It's just the best read.

As far as fantasy is concerned then Charles de Lint wins, hands down, no questions asked. He is the epitome of urban fantasy. If you do not know him...Dude! Are you in for a wonderful time! I envy all who find him for the first time. I feel sorry for all who find him for the first time. The former because reading him NEW is like the first Christmas you remember Before you know it’s your parents and the latter because you will be unable to read anyone else’s work for a while you will be so spoiled.

http://www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint/moonheart-desc01.htm

Man, his stories...they are so real...I wish I could be at the river where he drinks...even down river, to catch the dregs of the muse he has just tasted! OK That may be bit over the top. But, anyway, there is no one else.

Well, except for Tanya Huff. I just discovered her...She's really cool...I have NOT read her vampire series but the cover of "The Enchantment Emporium" that I just finished said the True Blood TV series was based on her novels. I don't know...I'm so over vampire...They mangled "Twilight," I'm done with it.

http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-the-enchantment-emporium-by/

Well, done until a rerun of Hugh Jackman as Van Helsing comes on :) But that doesn't really count; does it?

As for Sci Fi then I choose "The Doomsday Book" and again an author not as well known as some others and no, not on that the sci fi world lists Ms Willis as THE ONE ALL OTHERS ARE BASED ON. Sci Fi-ers can get so pushy at times, don't you think?

But to my mind, Connie Willis is the best Sci-Fi writer for all time! And her book The Doomsday Book is the best of all time travel, mad scientists; let’s find out all we can from the past to see if we can muddle up present and future a bit more than we have already types of books!

http://bfgb.wordpress.com/2007/05/25/the-doomsday-book-by-connie-willis/

"The Doomsday Book" is another story with a basic plot; mad scientists find a way to put people back in time... they, ostensibly, are to gather evidence only, do not touch, collect, kill all of the regular do not cause a time warp continuum thing. They even figured out how to get the clothing exactly right...but of course the heroine gets thrown into the wrong time period!

She ends up smack dab in the middle of the black death and has to walk across England to get to the spot where she can be rescued...just at the brink of death of course. And the story is about her adventures along the way. Actually a modern day Canterbury Tales I always thought but hey, it is the best to my way of thinking!

So there you have it...my favorites of the three genres that I love the most...well except for romance or suspense or horror or historical fiction or true life adventure stories or westerns or

OK OK I GET IT! I'M OUT OF HERE! :)