Who do you think is the most memorable author of our era?

[Jamash]

Question: why can't non-fiction writers be considered good?

Answer: Their lack of imagination? (not my opinion, just saying...)

If it's not your opinion then who's is it?

It's more of a statement than an opinion. I just thought that compared to fiction writers, non-fiction writers appear to have a lack of imagination since they write about thinks that have already happened & their source & subject material is already laid out for them in history.

For example, it would be much easier to write a book about World War 2 than a book about a fictional war, where you would have to invent the characters, sides, nations, politics, battles, weaponry etc.

Of course I don't necessarily believe that non-fiction writers have a lack of imagination, it can be shown in their creative use of language & metaphors when recounting the facts.

I suppose I was playing Devil's Advocate in a way & presenting a reason why a non-fiction writer may not be considered to be the best author of our era.

 

[Graustein]

Question: why can't non-fiction writers be considered good?

Answer: Their lack of imagination? (not my opinion, just saying...)

SHAME ON YOU.
Read Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" and tell me that non-fiction writers lack imagination. It's one of the wittiest books I've read in a good long while, and I've been reading a lot of Pratchett recently.

Anyway, like the bleating sheep I am, I will put in another vote for Pratchett. Bleak political statements have never been so funny. Look at the (fairly) recent movie adaptation of Hogfather and you can see that Pratchett has some incredibly dark themes in his books, which are made child-friendly by being hidden behind layers upon layers upon layers of wit and charm.

 

[K_Dub]

My favorite authors have gotta be Kenneth Oppel who wrote 'Ariborn' and 'Skybreaker', two really great books that. Another author would be John Green who wrote 'Looking for Alaska' and 'An Abundance of Katherines', both of which I recommend. And lastly would be Lee Child who's done the Jack Reacher series, which is just awsome.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

ok i'll divide it into 2 and in no particular order

dead

Tolkien
Vonnegut - he set a new standard for grumpy old man, watch his Daily Show interview
Phillip K Dick
Arthur C Clarke
Orwell
Douglas Adams
Anthony Burgess
Hunter S Thompson

alive

Clive Barker
Neil Gaiman
Richard Matheson


haven't read a lot of the other ones mentioned, just stuff from my personal list of authors i can think of

 

[tklivory]

My favorite authors(meaning, I actually buy the hardcovers rather than wait for paperbacks!):
1) Patricia McKillip
2) Terry Pratchett
3) George R.R. Martin

However, this addresses my personal preference for fantasy. I think they are among the best authors of our era, but if you really want the authors that help define what good writing actually means in the modern era, not just the people who write ripping good yarns, I'd put forth a different list:
1) Umberto Eco
2) Ayn Rand
3) Margaret Atwood

The first list is, if not escapism, then extraordinarily good writing that addresses many ethical and social issues, but doesn't challenge levels of our assumed thinking and cultural indoctrination. The second list challenges not just the imagination, but the intellect and the ethical & moral implications of that intellect and our place in society. I read the first list more often, but wouldn't want to go without those on the second list.

 

[Geamo]

Maybe I should have confirmed a bit more of this:
-I only chose Fiction authors because that was the point of this topic-just to see who's favourite fiction author of our time was e.g. that would be remembered as well as say Golding.

-I've changed it from "Best" to "Most Memorable" to try to keep political corectness, as many can't choose.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams; with the assumption that "our era" is the previous century.

I would have said Garth Nix, as he can come up with some great concepts and beginnings, but he never seems to be able to conclude a book properly.

Also, credit must go to Sam Harris for "Letter to a Christian Nation"; which was a more polite, readable, and less attacking version of "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins.

 

[darthsmily]

Terry Pratchett (Though I have only started reading his books)
Douglas Adams
Ernest Hemingway
Tolkien
Abraham Stoker
H.G Wells

 

[dangerousdave_42]

Dan Simmons or Orson Scott card

 

[LogicNProportion]

EDIT: Didn't see this was bumped, delete if necessary

 

[dontworryaboutit]

Stephanie Meyer.

JK!

I hope...


My vote's Oscar Wilde.

woah shit this is old my bad