Tim Powers

The Drawing of the Dark

Del Rey has reprinted some fantasy titles in a "classics" line and this title, first published in 1977, is my first encounter with the line. I found this book to be clearly-written and moderately clever (making it better than, say, Robert Jordan). The story is set in the 1500's and follows an (often drunk) Irishman named Brian Duffy.
The rest of this review is a SPOILER:

The best thing about this story is the amusing central role of beer in the plot. The worst thing is that it is another damn Arthur/Merlin knockoff. Seeing devices like this (and the classic "normal-youth-wakes-up-in-fantasy-land") makes me think the author is just plain lazy. I do not mean to denigrate Tim Powers' work but rather want to say that I feel cheated by this stuff. I am a demanding reader and I want creativity and originality, not rehashes. If you want good, original sci-fi/fantasy, go read Sean Stewart or Martha Wells.