If you enjoy reading books by Lin Carter then you might also like the following authors:
If you like Lin Carter's adventurous stories of fantasy heroes and epic quests, Robert E. Howard is a natural choice. Howard is best known for creating Conan the Barbarian, a powerful warrior in a savage and mythical world.
His stories emphasize action, bravery, and mysterious worlds filled with ancient secrets. Check out The Hour of the Dragon, a classic Conan adventure packed with supernatural threats and thrilling battles.
Clark Ashton Smith creates lush, strange worlds full of wonders, horrors, and dark enchantments. He writes vividly, painting mystical scenes filled with ancient magic, lost civilizations, and eerie creatures.
A good book to start with is the collection The City of the Singing Flame, which showcases Smith's talent for richly imaginative worlds and exotic storytelling akin to Lin Carter's fantastic realm-building.
Fans of Lin Carter's combination of myth, fantasy, and humor will appreciate L. Sprague de Camp. He often blends imaginative storytelling with wit and a touch of historical inspiration.
His fantasy novel, The Incomplete Enchanter, written with Fletcher Pratt, features time travel, vibrant adventure, and clever humor, making it a charming choice for Carter fans.
Fritz Leiber is famous for his vivid characters and urban-flavored fantasy tales. Leiber often places his heroes and anti-heroes in fascinating cityscapes bursting with intrigue, magic, and cunning plots. His writing is stylish and quietly humorous.
Try Swords and Deviltry, the first book featuring the iconic pair, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, two memorable adventurers whose misadventures resemble Lin Carter's energetic and lively storytelling.
Michael Moorcock's writing is intense, imaginative, and layered with complex characters and shifting realities. He created the legendary figure Elric of Melniboné, a brooding anti-hero struggling with destiny, duty, and morality.
Elric's adventures capture the darker and moodier side of fantasy. If you're drawn to Carter's fantastic worlds but crave a darker and deeper exploration, try Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné.
Fans of Lin Carter who enjoy imaginative worlds and myth-inspired adventures might appreciate Poul Anderson. His storytelling blends fantasy and science fiction seamlessly, often exploring themes like heroism, adventure, and intricate societies.
In The Broken Sword, Anderson delivers an exciting tale of Norse-inspired mythology, magic, and epic struggle.
Andre Norton crafts engaging stories filled with adventure, exploration, and captivating worlds. Her characters frequently embark on quests and journeys of discovery, encountering otherworldly creatures and civilizations.
Readers who enjoy Carter's rich, adventurous narratives might be drawn to Norton's Witch World, a thrilling tale about a hidden realm where magic is real and danger lurks around every corner.
Jack Vance is known for his vivid imagination, distinctive characters, and exotic worlds full of intrigue and wonder. His sharp, precise writing style presents adventure and exploration in fascinating detail.
Fans of Lin Carter's colorful storytelling will likely find enjoyment in Vance's The Dying Earth, a book that brings readers to a far-future Earth filled with magic, unusual creatures, and eccentric figures.
For readers who enjoy Carter's tales of richly-imagined fantasy worlds and compelling characters, C. L. Moore is a strong choice. Moore weaves imaginative plots with poetic, powerful prose and intriguing characters.
Her stories often tackle themes of courage, adventure, and strange forces. Her novel Jirel of Joiry gives readers a strong female hero exploring magical worlds filled with both wonder and peril.
Gardner F. Fox brings entertaining fantasy adventures filled with action, magic, and imaginative storytelling—all qualities that fans of Lin Carter appreciate. He offers fast-paced narratives where heroes face cosmic dangers, magical artifacts, and otherworldly beings.
His novel Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman is an entertaining sword-and-sorcery adventure sure to please those seeking fun escapism with depth and creativity.
Karl Edward Wagner writes dark fantasy that mixes epic adventure and horror. His writing creates eerie atmospheres filled with powerful characters, suspense, and unexpected twists.
Readers who like Lin Carter's flair for sword and sorcery will enjoy Wagner's novel, Bloodstone, featuring the antihero Kane in a sinister and action-packed tale.
H.P. Lovecraft is known for his unique approach to cosmic horror. A master at creating creepy stories about terrifying otherworldly beings and forbidden knowledge, Lovecraft's style emphasizes the unknown and the unimaginable.
Fans of Carter's imaginative worlds should check out Lovecraft's classic, The Call of Cthulhu, a haunting narrative of mysterious ancient entities hidden just beyond human understanding.
August Derleth crafted tales filled with weird fiction and supernatural themes. He is also famous for building upon and expanding Lovecraft's mythos with his own narrative style.
Anyone who appreciates Carter's blend of myth and mystery would enjoy Derleth's collection, The Mask of Cthulhu, a set of chilling short stories that develop eerie themes and otherworldly creatures.
E. Hoffmann Price writes vivid, adventurous fiction that blends exotic settings with elements of fantasy and horror. His clear storytelling and exciting action scenes might appeal to readers who enjoy Lin Carter's dynamic fantasies.
His notable work, The Devil Wives of Li Fong, tells a vibrant story set in China, mixing fantasy, romance, and folklore into a charming and imaginative tale.
John Jakes is best known for his engaging storytelling that combines adventure, rich historical settings, and vivid characters. While he became celebrated for historical fiction, he also wrote entertaining stories in the sword and sorcery genre similar to Carter's.
Fans of Lin Carter's adventure novels will find enjoyment in Jakes's collection, Brak the Barbarian, where the barbarian hero fights his way through danger and evil magic in an exciting fantasy world.