Authors whose work you read before they were famous...

[Trollheart]

I remember reading George RR Martin's Dying of the Light back when I were a lad. I recall I got it from the library (that used to be a building where you could go and they would loan out these things called books, kids!) - it was one of the old Gollancz series, anyone remember, with the yellow dust-jacket on a hard cover? Anyway this would have been long before anyone even began playing with thrones, so, yeah...

 

[.matthew.]

Mmm, there's plenty I've read at what could be the start of their careers (or at least a few), but non that I read before they were already a known quantity. I suppose I could claim Rachel Aaron or Joe Abercrombie for their early work, or even our own Toby Frost for Captain Smith - though whether he'd rate himself successful enough to be famous is another matter

I'm still hoping M.M. Stauffer gets enough attention to continue writing (his current series is bloody brilliant but sadly underexposed).

 

[HoopyFrood]

I read Harry Potter before it really started getting big. This was back when I was in primary school, and as class swot I tended to get put forward for various things, and one such thing was an Inter-School Library Quiz thing. Possibly late 1997, more likely first half of 1998. We had to read four books, on which we would be quizzed in one of the rounds, and one of these was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It wasn't my favourite of the four at the time.

 

[Vince W]

I read William Gibson's Neuromancer before he became a household name. I read most cyberpunk stories before the rest of the world had heard the term.

 

[AlexH]

Mine.

 

[Parson]

I started reading David Webber in 1994 with the first edition of each of the first three books: On Basilisk Station (1993), The Short Victorious War, and For the Honor of the Queen. They were such a thrill!! He would become famous probably in the next 2 years.

*My paperback copy of "On Basilisk Station" is really shabby and cheaply made. Price? $4.99 American, Ah, the good old days!

 

[JimC]

Lord of the Rings shortly after it was first published

 

[Vladd67]

There is a horror writer called Shaun Hutson I read in the early 80s who lives in Milton Keynes. I looked out for his books after I set up his self employed file when I worked for the Inland Revenue.

 

[Danny McG]

There is a horror writer called Shaun Hutson I read in the early 80s who lives in Milton Keynes. I looked out for his books after I set up his self employed file when I worked for the Inland Revenue.

Ditto, I think I started reading his books when he only had a couple published.
One of his had a gangster in a zombie outbreak, he got bit and changed but was still obsessed with tracking down a rival.
He was shambling down a country lane and found an unlocked car with the ignition keys in, he still retained enough motor skills (see what I did there? Car...motor skills) to drive so he began clambering inside.
But then he stopped (stopped dead?... I'm wasted in here!) and got back out because he'd noticed it was a Lada and even the undead have some pride

 

[hitmouse]

Read Unaccompanied Sonata by Orson Scott Card, and Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson, both in Omni magazine ( I think) published when they were unknown.

And of course there was that Shakespeare bloke.

 

[Vince W]

Read Unaccompanied Sonata by Orson Scott Card, and Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson, both in Omni magazine ( I think) published when they were unknown.

And of course there was that Shakespeare bloke.

I read that issue as well. Omni was brilliant.

 

[Astro Pen]

I read Charles Stross Accelerando back in the mid noughties. Absolutely loved it
He was kind of on the way up then so half a point on topic
( I was very disappointed with the Laundry Files and others, he was kind of a one hit wonder for me. )

@Vince W I agree that Onmi was indeed brilliant, both in concept and editorial quality. I'd always pick up the new edition at Waterloo station. Best commute of the month. A sad loss when it shut down

 

[Vince W]

I agree that Onmi was indeed brilliant, both in concept and editorial quality. I'd always pick up the new edition at Waterloo station. Best commute of the month. A sad loss when it shut down

Very sad. It looked as if they were trying to bring Omni back a few years ago, but nothing came of it.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I had similar experiences as others with George R. R. Martin (very good stories in Analog before he had any novels or collections published) as well as Card and Gibson. I said "Wow!" to myself about John Varley when I read a couple of his very early stories.

 

[Extollager]

Was Alan Garner famous in 1969?

 

[dask]

Read “Ender’s Game“ when it first appeared in ANALOG and liked it a lot. After a few more stories I wrote Orson Scott Card a fan letter.

 

[Trollheart]

Should have sent him a card!

 

[hitmouse]

Very sad. It looked as if they were trying to bring Omni back a few years ago, but nothing came of it.

I bought Omni with my hard-earned pocket money in the late 70s-early 80s. Pretty impressive stuff pre- internet, 3 channels on the black & white tv, early Thatcher recession Britain. I pored over those magazines. My mother threw them out when I was at university ( but kept my old copies of Nature). I have been picking them up again occasionally on ebay. I find I even remember the adverts. Very 1970s glossy American. Great fun.

 

[Narkalui]

6/7 years ago I read Justin Hill's Shieldwall but I'm not sure that counts because he's still not famous. Should be though, cracking writer!

 

[Trollheart]

FYI if anyone is interested I have a link where you can download the copies. 1979 to 1995. Looks legit; I use this site all the time. I won't post here in case it's against policy/rules but if anyone wants the link maybe PM me.