I'll just list authors:
Jack McDevitt-archaeology and sci-fi! How can you miss?
Robert Jordan (of course) - epic fantasy
Larry Niven - epic hard sci-fi
David Weber - epic military sci-fi
Peter F. Hamilton - epic rock hard sci-fi
John Scalzi - just plain fun sci-fi
Neil Gaiman - weird fantasy, brilliant writing
Harry Turtledove - epic alternate history
Alastair Reynolds - rock hard sci-fi, verging on cyberpunk
Connie Willis - hard sci-fi, high emotional impact
Terry Pratchett - well written, dry comic fantasy
