who are some of your favorite sci fi authors?

[StJimmy]

and what are some of your favorite books? feel free to discuss why you like them!

i'll start things off with robert heinlein, who set my mind on fire as a kid. my cousins used to let me sit in on their ad&d sessions when i was around 6 or so, which got me interested in reading fantasy novels.

it was not till the ripe old age of around 9 or so that i discovered starship troopers. at that point i was mostly captivated by the mobile infantry suits, but anyone who's read it knows that's only the window dressing.

[qwerty]

Definatly anything by Asimov, for the creativeness. Other than that I love confusing and paradoxical books like the Illuminatus Trilogy. *fnord*

[OneBadMother]

Asimov is good, as is Ender's Game and Hitchhiker's Guide. I was more into fantasy and fairy tales as a kid, though.

[Twist]

Harry Turtledove. Of course I guess he's more alt history than pure sci fi. As for fantasy; Robert Salvatore hands down my favorite.

[rwyatt365]

Asimov, Ellison, Silverberg, Turtldove

H P Lovecraft for fantasy/horror

[Doppelbock]

Heinlein, Asimov, Baxter.

More recently, Neal Stephenson, especially The Cryptonomicon, although strictly speaking it is not sci fi.

DB

[TeleportThis]

Asimov's Robot stories. Not a big fan of his other stuff.
Ray Bradbury
Robert Heinlein
Dan Simmons
Kurt Vonnegut
George Orwell
Ursula K. LeGuin
Philip Jose Farmer

When I was younger I liked Piers Anthony, but not so much anymore

Ender's Game was awesome. Haven't liked much else by Card.

[Jbmontag]

My favorite is Ray Bradbury in case my moniker didn't give it away ;D

[ciphersort]

Phillip K Dick - my personal favorite.

Some I really enjoy and didn't notice above:
Frank Herbert - Dune of course, the Jesus Incident (Pandora Trilogy), Dosadi Experiment, others
Greg Bear - Eon, Infinity, Strength of Stones
Larry Niven - Ringworld, The Gripping Hand, Integral Trees, others