I have heard these SF authors called the greatest SF Author of all time;Philip K.Dick,Gene Wolfe and Ray Bradbury.

[Dave Vicks]

Opinion please.


OT: Many people have said there favorite Author is HP Lovecraft. Including
Stephen King.

 

[JJewel]

Its all personal isnt it? for me H P Lovecraft is my go to choice but I would consider PK Dick or Ray up their and John Wyndham as well especially as his is barely remembered and yet his work resonates even now. I still consider And the walls came tumbling down a truly original idea in line with PK Dick`s.

 

[Elckerlyc]

It is for a large part personal. Yet the quality of writing will be clear, even if the genre or the style isn't your preference.
For me Gene Wolfe is the best (SF) writer. Period.
I am not into horror, really, and have never read anything from HP Lovecraft. I have read Ray Bradbury, looooong ago, and don't remember much about it. Perhaps I should reread something.
I never could get into Philip K. Dick's writing but that doesn't mean to say his writing wasn't any good. Just look at the number of his novels that have been made into a movie.

 

[nixie]

It's all down to personal taste. I've read both Gene Wolfe and Ray Bradbury, though I'm not really a sci-fi fan, fantasy and horror are my preference.
I've also read Lovecraft, are any these my favourites? do I consider any of them the greatest? No.

Sometimes I feel a lot of genre readers look down their noises at people who prefer the newer authors, yes the older works deserve their classic status but not everyone can relate to them, specially the younger generation. My 20 year old nephew couldn't finish At the Mountains of Madness, thought it was disgusting.

 

[JJewel]

It is for a large part personal. Yet the quality of writing will be clear, even if the genre or the style isn't your preference.
For me Gene Wolfe is the best (SF) writer. Period.
I am not into horror, really, and have never read anything from HP Lovecraft. I have read Ray Bradbury, looooong ago, and don't remember much about it. Perhaps I should reread something.
I never could get into Philip K. Dick's writing but that doesn't mean to say his writing wasn't any good. Just look at the number of his novels that have been made into a movie.

Interesting and strengthens the point doesnt it, we are exact opposites in our tastes and yet our reading taste is in the same zone.

 

[JJewel]

It's all down to personal taste. I've read both Gene Wolfe and Ray Bradbury, though I'm not really a sci-fi fan, fantasy and horror are my preference.
I've also read Lovecraft, are any these my favourites? do I consider any of them the greatest? No.

Sometimes I feel a lot of genre readers look down their noises at people who prefer the newer authors, yes the older works deserve their classic status but not everyone can relate to them, specially the younger generation. My 20 year old nephew couldn't finish At the Mountains of Madness, thought it was disgusting.

At the Mountains of Madness disgusting? LOL! Never heard that before tbh. It is one of my favorites yes but little in it has ever shocked or disgusted me, what disgusted him so?

 

[nixie]

He said it was racist and sexist couldn't understand why I recommended it. Have to say I don't remember it being either.

(Sorry, probably shouldn't have gone into the above and its not an invitation to discuss either)

 

[JJewel]

@nixie Worry not I hate that negative bull we get when people take the past and try and judge it now. Next time I read it I will consider his words and see if I can spot the signs. They were probably hiding behind the giant penguins!

Have to say Nixie you can be quite sharp, you remind me of my scottish grandmother and her legendary snap attack, she was small and spent most of her time hitting people over the head, my grandfather spent most of his time escaping to the pub.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Not to open a can of worms but increasingly I read women-written sf which was invisible when I was young. Much more to my taste, unapologetic about writing about people. So I’ll add Pat Cadigan and Lois McMaster Bujold

 

[JJewel]

Hey Jo (where you going with that gun in your hand?), invisible female writers, cool trick.
I tend to not mind who I am reading as long as it is good, tend to find that is the best rule.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Hey Jo (where you going with that gun in your hand?), invisible female writers, cool trick.
I tend to not mind who I am reading as long as it is good, tend to find that is the best rule.

On the Chrons we’re not allowed to talk about social politics/world affairs so I’ll leave my post where it is and not stray further

 

[JJewel]

On the Chrons we’re not allowed to talk about social politics/world affairs so I’ll leave my post where it is and not stray further

My words could not have been more PC correct if I had tried and weirdly I wasnt trying, just very trying.

 

[BAYLOR]

Ive read just about everything Lovrcraft ever wrote. I like his stories.

 

[nixie]

@nixieHave to say Nixie you can be quite sharp, you remind me of my scottish grandmother and her legendary snap attack, she was small and spent most of her time hitting people over the head, my grandfather spent most of his time escaping to the pub.

This reminds of my maternal granny, rarely did she raise her voice or hand but we all knew who was in charge, she gave you the look and if she said jump the answer was how high?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

My words could not have been more PC correct if I had tried and weirdly I wasnt trying, just very trying.

You misunderstand - we’re not allowed to talk about it at all, even if cordial and careful in our responses to each other

 

[JJewel]

Ive read just about everything Lovrcraft ever wrote. I like his stories.

I agree he is always a pleasure to read, I do fear that sooner or later he will be added to that list that includes Mein Kampf though, now their is an idea for a book censorship in literature, a re-write of Fahrenheit 451 with a theme change?

 

[BAYLOR]

At the Mountains of Madness disgusting? LOL! Never heard that before tbh. It is one of my favorites yes but little in it has ever shocked or disgusted me, what disgusted him so?

I wish Guillermo Del Toro had gotten to make this into a movie. He would have have done a great adaptation.

 

[JJewel]

This reminds of my maternal granny, rarely did she raise her voice or hand but we all knew who was in charge, she gave you the look and if she said jump the answer was how high?

Did we have the same gran? Sighthill in Glasgow for mine, are we related?

 

[JJewel]

You misunderstand - we’re not allowed to talk about it at all, even if cordial and careful in our responses to each other

Ah okay, should have read the rules better, Im not good with rules

 

[JJewel]

I wish Guillermo Del Toro had gotten to make this into a movie. He would have have done a great adaptation.

Or a Tarantino version, a group of thugs on the run hijack an aircraft to the Mountains of Madness? Tekeli-li!!