Best living sci-fi author - Page 2

Venus · 02-25-2012, 10:14 PM

Orson Scott Card for Ender's Game and Larry Niven for A Mote in God's Eye even though it was a collaboration with Pournelle.

shootingMaNs · 02-26-2012, 02:25 PM

I second Jack McDevitt. He's my favorite author, anyways.

flipreads · 02-27-2012, 02:24 AM

Ted Chiang's fiction always impresses me.

Same goes for Kij Johnson, whenever she writes SF.

Ken Liu is also someone to watch.

Penforhire · 02-27-2012, 06:09 PM

This is tough choice. I'll point to Vernor Vinge (Charlie Stross gets honorable mention but Vinge really opened up the subgenre, at least to my eyes). Also China Mieville, for his unique works as well (steampunk plus extra-weird, or is that all in fantasy not SF?).

Lots of good nominations above as well. But McDevitt? I enjoyed his novels but the first five or six were rigidly formulaic. Maybe I need to check out his latest.

Ninjalawyer · 02-27-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I hope the best living sci-fi author is either still in diapers or flipping burgers somewhere anxiously hoping someone will finally accept their manuscript. That way, there's always room for improvement.

But in the spirit of the thread...

I have a great respect for Richard K. Morgan and Peter F. Hamilton's stuff.

As for relatively new authors, I'll go with: Paolo Bacigalupi, Hannu Rajaniemi, Will McIntosh

I'm only quoting the above to add my complete agreement about Hamilton and Morgan, at least as far as space opera and cyber-noir (if that's a genre) go, respectively. As for Hannu Rajaniemi, has he written anything other than The Quantum Thief (which I also enjoyed)?

I also have to agree with whoever said Bradbury, if only for Fahrenheit 451 which is still a favourite of mine.

DrNefario · 02-28-2012, 03:22 PM

I find Hamilton can be brilliant and awful pretty much at the same time. It's fairly infuriating, and it'd keep him far away from my top ten.

DiapDealer · 02-28-2012, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I find Hamilton can be brilliant and awful pretty much at the same time. It's fairly infuriating, and it'd keep him far away from my top ten.

I don't disagree at all. Except for the fact that I'm willing to overlook the infuriating parts... because the brilliant parts are just so... brilliant.

ebusinesstutor · 03-01-2012, 10:19 PM

Elizabeth Moon and Lois McMaster Bujold. Two ladies that I can't get enough of.

Moon's Vatta and Serrano/Suiza series and Bujold's Vorkosigan series are favorites of mine that I read again and again.

stonetools · 03-02-2012, 11:08 PM

Robert Silverberg is still alive so he definitely makes the short list. I'll also put Kim Stanley Robinson and Stephen Baxter on that list.

VaporPunk · 03-09-2012, 02:59 AM

I'd like to add my vote for -
Orson Scott Card
Neal Stephenson
Iain M Banks
Kim Stanley Robinson

Plus I would add Joe Haldeman to the list. Forever War is one of my all time favorite Sci-Fi books. Some of the authors mentioned above are new to me, so

for mentioning them! I'll have to check them out.

fantasyfan · 03-09-2012, 02:51 PM

Well, Jack Vance {born 1916} of The Dying Earth series and other remarkable imaginative literature is still alive!
There's also C.J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Alastair Reynolds, William Gibson, and Iain Banks to consider.

JeremyR · 03-10-2012, 07:16 AM

William Shatner - those Tekwar novels were the greatest thing ever...

(Just kidding, but sadly, the libraries in my local area have more of those, or his ST novels, than works by real greats...)

Rob Lister · 03-10-2012, 08:30 AM

I'm gonna +1 on OS Card. He can and does write fluff, like any writer needing a paycheck, but much of his work is downright literary in quality.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-10-2012, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSmithBooks

Honorable mention for Joe Straczynski for Babylon 5 while I'm at... He... gave us such immortal quotes as "Once the avalanche has started it is too late for the pebbles to vote."

That is a fantastic quote, I love it! Adding it to my list of favorites now.

I also vote for Jack McDevitt: His work feels more like realistic SF than any other living author I've read, and I love his style. (Reminds me of Clarke, my favorite non-living author.)

Rob Lister · 03-11-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

Robert Silverberg is still alive so he definitely makes the short list.

+1

and more letters.

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02-25-2012, 10:14 PM	#16
Venus Country girl Posts: 313 Karma: 1536686 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New York Device: Too many	Orson Scott Card for Ender's Game and Larry Niven for A Mote in God's Eye even though it was a collaboration with Pournelle.

02-26-2012, 02:25 PM	#17
shootingMaNs later... Posts: 199 Karma: 2832520 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Endicott, NY Device: Sony PRS-600, iRiver Story HD, Nook Color Kobo Libra H2O	I second Jack McDevitt. He's my favorite author, anyways.

02-27-2012, 02:24 AM	#18
flipreads Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 433632 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: iPad	Ted Chiang's fiction always impresses me. Same goes for Kij Johnson, whenever she writes SF. Ken Liu is also someone to watch.

02-27-2012, 06:09 PM	#19
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	This is tough choice. I'll point to Vernor Vinge (Charlie Stross gets honorable mention but Vinge really opened up the subgenre, at least to my eyes). Also China Mieville, for his unique works as well (steampunk plus extra-weird, or is that all in fantasy not SF?). Lots of good nominations above as well. But McDevitt? I enjoyed his novels but the first five or six were rigidly formulaic. Maybe I need to check out his latest.

02-28-2012, 03:22 PM	#21
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,203 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I find Hamilton can be brilliant and awful pretty much at the same time. It's fairly infuriating, and it'd keep him far away from my top ten.

03-01-2012, 10:19 PM	#23
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Elizabeth Moon and Lois McMaster Bujold. Two ladies that I can't get enough of. Moon's Vatta and Serrano/Suiza series and Bujold's Vorkosigan series are favorites of mine that I read again and again.

03-02-2012, 11:08 PM	#24
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	Robert Silverberg is still alive so he definitely makes the short list. I'll also put Kim Stanley Robinson and Stephen Baxter on that list.

03-09-2012, 02:59 AM	#25
VaporPunk Evangelist Posts: 409 Karma: 49204386 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Device: Kindle 4 + Asus Transformer	I'd like to add my vote for - Orson Scott Card Neal Stephenson Iain M Banks Kim Stanley Robinson Plus I would add Joe Haldeman to the list. Forever War is one of my all time favorite Sci-Fi books. Some of the authors mentioned above are new to me, so for mentioning them! I'll have to check them out.

03-09-2012, 02:51 PM	#26
fantasyfan Wizard Posts: 1,376 Karma: 28116892 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Oasis 3, iPad 9th gen. IPhone 11	Well, Jack Vance {born 1916} of The Dying Earth series and other remarkable imaginative literature is still alive! There's also C.J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Alastair Reynolds, William Gibson, and Iain Banks to consider.

03-10-2012, 07:16 AM	#27
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	William Shatner - those Tekwar novels were the greatest thing ever... (Just kidding, but sadly, the libraries in my local area have more of those, or his ST novels, than works by real greats...)

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03-10-2012, 08:30 AM	#28
Rob Lister Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 3293888 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Device: Nook Simple Touch	I'm gonna +1 on OS Card. He can and does write fluff, like any writer needing a paycheck, but much of his work is downright literary in quality.