How has no one mentioned Isabel Allende yet? She practically created the magical realism genre. Adriana, I would highly recommend reading any of Allende's books if you are interested in surrealism/magical realism. And, although her memoirs are obviously non fiction, they are incredible, moving masterpieces of the human spirit.
There are some really great anthologies, though not so “contemporary”: Black Water, ed. Alberto Manguel; The Literary Ghost, ed. Larry Dark; What Did Miss Darrington See?: An Anthology of Feminist Supernatural Fiction, ed. Jessica Amanda Salmonson.
Most novels by Robert Rankin but especially The Da Da De Da Da Code. Equally anything by Douglas Adams. Although Clive Barker is generally thought of as a horror writer, his novel Weaveworld leans more towards fantasy. The Word and the Void trilogy by Terry Brooks is also excellent.
From African American authors try
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
Aimee Bender
Cesar Aira
Carol Maso
Haruki Murakami
Salman Rushdie
Joy Williams
How has no one mentioned Isabel Allende yet? She practically created the magical realism genre. Adriana, I would highly recommend reading any of Allende's books if you are interested in surrealism/magical realism. And, although her memoirs are obviously non fiction, they are incredible, moving masterpieces of the human spirit.
Fludd and by Hilary Mantell. She's now famous for Wolf Hall but this early book of hers is just wonderful. Also Into Black by the same author
The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break by Steven Sherill
Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaimon
Totally with you on Too Loud A Solitude - I spend a lot of my time in the Czech Republic and they love the surreal. Of course there is always Kafka
There are some really great anthologies, though not so “contemporary”: Black Water, ed. Alberto Manguel; The Literary Ghost, ed. Larry Dark; What Did Miss Darrington See?: An Anthology of Feminist Supernatural Fiction, ed. Jessica Amanda Salmonson.