I dunno about anyone else, but I'm taking notes from this thread.

Marion Zimmer Bradley - Mists of Avalon, this is now the last book in a trilogy ( she wrote it kind of backwards, or they decided that Mists.. was the only commercially viable book or something )

Anything by Lois Mcmaster Bujold, but I thoroughly recommend the Barryar books.

Terry Pratchet - again anything but I found "the science of Discworld" a nice mind warper.

Neil Gaiman - American gods (read it in two days)

Lindsey Davis - the Marcus Didius Falco series starting with The Silver Pigs.

The Moon Riders - Theresa Thomlinson

Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White, but the one that got me was The Moonstone

Dreams of Trespass - Fatima Mernissi, a fascinating memoir of a woman who grew up in a traditional Morrocan harem.

Anne McCaffrey - again anything, but I tend to prefer her earlier stuff.

The books about Don Camillo ( an italian preist with a difference ) but I can't for the life of me remember who wrote them. I must raid my mothers attic.

Nightlife of the Gods, The citadel & The stars look down. Again - I'm sorry - I can't remember who wrote them.

Good luck with everything Rick, including your booklist!

TTFN Lady P.