Michael Hoeye - Time Stops For No Mouse.
Terry Brooks - The Sword of Shannara, without this book Its likely I would never have started reading fantasy novels way back in the 70’s.
So a big ‘Thanks’ to Mr. Brooks.

Terry Brooks - The Sword of Shannara. Jeez, it's been 41 years since I first read that book. One of the rare fantasy books that I have enjoyed and I read it in one sitting (well, lying in bed actually). I finished it just as the sun came through my bedroom window and my eyes were burning. Read the other two books in the original trilogy as they came out and then my attention started to wane as he churned out more and more books set in that world.

James Herbert - The Fog
Stephen King - 'Salem's Lot

"You are more than welcome to add your favourite book by the authors I put forward." should read -

You are more than welcome to add your favourite book by the authors I put forward and/or list your one favourite book from other authors.

Thanks Dendra for pointing out my boo-boo.

[Dendra]

Ilona Andrews--Burn For Me (Hidden Legacy series). I love the Kate Daniels, Hidden Legacy and Innkeeper series she and Gordon have written. I re-read all them annually. But if I'm a loose ends for a book to read, I often come back to this one.
Jayne Ann Krentz--The Golden Chance. The first JAK title I ever read from her contemporary romance books. The heroine makes me laugh each time I read it, and the supporting character of Techumseh makes me smile when I envision the former Marine in one of his garish Hawaiian shirts.

The Book of Three - Lloyd Alexander
Elric of Melnibone - Michael Moorcock

Both books are totally enjoyable reads despite been different in tone.
The Prydain Chronicles are aimed at 11-14 year olds but shouldn’t be dismissed.
I was totally mesmerised by these books as a kid growing up in the 70’s, to me they were far more entertaining than the Narnia books.

C.J. Cherryh - Downbelow Station (first book I read by her).
William Gibson and Bruce Sterling - The Difference Engine (first, technically speaking, book I read by Bruce Sterling).

[Dendra]

Mark Dawson--Ghosts. It's the 4th book in the John Milton series, where a former top British agent (assassin) is trying to make up for a long and successful career. He's no angel and has some serious emotional baggage thanks to his career, but he's a man of his word. If he says he'll help you, he will. No matter what it takes.

Shelly Laurenston--The Unleashing. The first book in the Call of Crows trilogy, and a popcorn read. Set in modern L.A. with lots of fun, swearing and Norse mythology. I think I've read it 5 or 6 times and I'm already planning on another re-read.

This time it's -

Kate Wilhelm - Let the Fire Fall (first book read).
Robert Heinlein - Space Cadet (see above).

Today's authors -

Reay Tannahill - Flesh & Blood: A History of the Cannibal Complex.
George R. R. Martin - Tuf Voyaging.
Personally, you will not see any of his books from the "A Song of Ice and Fire" cycle listed because no matter how hard I try I cannot get past page 28 of A Game of Thrones. There is something about it that just annoys the hell out of me even after twelve years and multiple attempts.

I can’t read A Game of Thrones either.
I think it’s having chapters named by characters that’s the problem for me.
I think ‘shit, not Sansa again’ and just skip it, enventually I just give up altogether.

A number of the books I want to list as favourites almost always happen to be parts of trilogies which can be rather frustrating. So I'm going to start including titles from trilogies or the trilogy itself.

C. J. Cherryh - Faded Sun Trilogy.
Isaac Asimov - The Foundation Trilogy (no surprise there).

[Dendra]

Anne Bishop--Written in Red. First book in "The Others" series. Alternate North America built on an intriguing question: when the Europeans 'discovered' America and tried to colonize it, what if the locals were shapeshifters/vampires/primal forms of life, and a LOT better at fighting back? Settlement eventually happens, but on very different terms. I love this series.
Anne McCaffrey--Dragonsong. First book in the Harper Hall trilogy set on Pern, and the book that introduced Menolly plus her troop of firelizards to the world.

Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland - The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.
It's a rarity for me but I would like to see a sequel to this book.