Other Greats Authors of Fantasy and Science Fiction
There are just so many greats out there that I could write about in great lengths — and maybe as time allows, I'll add to my pages. For now, I will , however, touch briefly upon some of them. This list is an attempt to list the most famous and influential science fiction/fantasy writers. Although this list certainly includes the giants of the field, it does not necessarily include all writers of outstanding literary merit.
I've also included information, such as awards won by these authors. Please note, however, that some of these authors, such as, Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne pre-date contemporary awards, and some authors may not have won major awards, but are quite popular.
Rather than painstakingly type out the awards won, I have color-coded as follows:
Isaac Asimov — Known best in the science fiction world for his Foundation series, (Hugo, 1966), including Foundation's Edge (1983), Asimov is one of history's most prolific award-winning authors that should be read at least once. Asimov has published in nearly every conceivable field. Other words include the Robots novels, including The Caves of Steel and I, Robot, as well as, The Stars Like Dust, Nightfall, Asimov: A Memoir, "Gold" (1992), "The Bicentennial Man" (1977), The Gods Themselves (1973) [also received the Locus Award], and The Mule (1946).
Ben Bova — Bova's well known as one of the best, most influential science fiction editors of the last few decades of the 20th century. He has won 6 Hugo awards in the "Professional Editor" category.
Ray Bradbury — What a wonderful, awesome writer and person Ray Bradbury is! I had the pleasure of attending a small private Young Authors Writing Workshop in 1990 held by Mr. Bradbury. For three hours, I sat there in awe of this man, raptly listening as he wove a story that night, incorporating each of us in that story. Some of his greats include Something Wicked This Way Comes and Fahrenheit 451. My copy of The Martian Chronicles with his autograph has its place of honor upon my bookshelf to this day. He also won the 1977 World Fantasy Life Achievement Award.
Marion Zimmer Bradley — Her wonderful novel, Mists of Avalon is a great novel to read, and read again, and read again... Other books of note are her Darkover series, The Colors of Space, and Tiger Burning Bright. She is the founder of her own popular fantasy magazine.
Terry Brooks — A remarkable writer whom I feel comes close to Tolkien with his Shannara series, with his colorful and wonderful tales of the fairy and elven folk. The Sword of Shannara (1977) was the first work of fiction to appear on the New York Time trade paperback bestseller list, remaining there for five months. Other works by Terry include: Magic Kingdom Of Landover series, including Magic Kingdom For Sale--Sold!, Witches' Brew, A Knight of the Word, and Running With the Demon; as well as his theatrical works: the best-selling novelization of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and the novelization of the movie Hook.
Edgar Rice Burroughs — His works include: Mars series (i.e., A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, etc.), Venus series, Earth's Core series, and the Tarzan books.
C.J. Cherryh — My personal favorites of this great author are Chanur's Homecoming and Cyteen. Other works and awards include: Downbelow Station (1982), "Cassandra" (1979), and Campbell Award 1977.
Arthur C. Clarke — The author of the award-winning 2001: A Space Odyssey, (1969 Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation), he is one of the top writers of science fiction, his novels can be rather difficult to read. Other works include: 2010 (1985 Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation), Transit of Earth, Fountains of Paradise, Childhood's End, The Fountains of Paradise (1980) [also: Nebula Award], Rendezvous with Rama (1974) [also: Nebula Award and Locus award], "The Star" (1956), and "A Meeting With Medusa" (1972).
Crichton, Michael — He is such a successful and popular novelist and has published so successfully in the non-genre press, that he is rarely labeled a "science fiction writer." Yet many of his novels are clearly science fiction, regardless of how they may have been marketed. His works include: A Case of Need, Airframe, Congo, Jurassic Park (1994 Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation), Disclosure, Eaters of the Dead, Lost World, Sphere, Rising Sun, The Andromeda Strain, and The Great Train Robbery.
Robert A. Heinlein — A master of classic sci-fi, he is one of my absolute favorite writers of all time. Heinlein's works include:
Frank Herbert — He is definitely one of my favorite writers, and is author to the the colorful and mesmerizing Dune series [also: Hugo and Nebula Awards.]
L. Ron Hubbard — The founder of Scientology is also an acclaimed science fiction writer, known for such works as Battlefield Earth [also: 1982 Golden Scroll Award]. Other works include: Mission Earth series, Fear, Typewriter in the Sky, The End Is Not Yet, The Kingslayer, Return to Tomorrow, and Ole Doc Methuselah (1992 Golden Scroll Award).
King, Stephen — My favorite novelist when I want a really GOOD SCARY read. King is normally classified a horror writer, although much of his work could certainly be classified as science fiction/fantasy. He is said to have created his own genre. His major works include: Bag of Bones, Carrie, Christine, Cujo, Cycle of the Werewolf, The Dark Half, his Dark Tower series, The Dead Zone, Desperation, Dolores Claiborne, Dreamcatcher, Firestarter, Gerald's Game, The Green Mile, Insomnia, It, Misery, Needful Things, Pet Sematary, Rose Madder, The Stand, The Shining, Salem's Lot, The Tommyknockers, and the insightful, Danse Macabre (Hugo for non-fiction, 1982). He also has compilations of short stories such as: Different Seasons, Four Past Midnight, Night Shift, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, and Skeleton Crew. He's also done screenplays, such as: Cat's Eye, Creepshow, Maximum Overdrive, Silver Bullet, Sleepwalkers, and Storm of the Century, and his works in collaboration with Peter Straub, The Talisman and The Black House. Also, he has written as his alter ego, Richard Bachman, such works as: The Regulators, The Running Man, Thinner, Rage and The Long Walk.
George Orwell — Thanks to Orwell and his two books, 1984 and Animal Farm (also: (1946)], we can all rest uneasily as we ponder "Big Brother." Mary Shelley— Her best-known novel, Frankenstein, was considered the first ever science fiction novel. She also wrote Last Man. J.R.R. Tolkien — High on my list of favorite authors, Tolkien ensured wonderful, fun dreams with his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Another of his great works includes Silmarillion (1978). Jules Verne — Known for his books 2000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Around the World in Eighty Days, and From the Earth to the Moon. H.G. Wells — Who can say that they didn't grow up reading The Time Machine and wishing they too, could travel through time? A master of classic science fiction, Wells is often called the "Father of Science Fiction." Other works include: Men Like Gods, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, The First Men in the Moon, The Food of the Gods, and In the Days of the Comet. Roger Zelazney — I remember receiving his book, Lord of Light (1968), through the book club I was a member of back in my teenaged years. Although the book was one of the hardest to get into, once hooked, I was forever a fan of Roger Zelazney. His works include: Chronicles of Amber [including Trumps of Doom (1986)], "He Who Shapes" (1965), "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth" (1965), "Home is the Hangman" [also Nebula Award (1965)], "Permafrost" (1987), "Twenty-four Views of Mount Fuji, by Hokusai" (1986), "Unicorn Variation" And Call Me Conrad (1966), A Night in the Lonesome October (1994 Nebula Nominee), and This Immortal.
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