Ok so whos the best Sci Fi Writer???

[tohellwithconvention]

There are some amazing Sci Fi writers out there that can have you believing the most outragious concepts as if you've grown up with them. But there are also some incredibly lame writers who still seem to sell books?!?
So...
Sticking to my personal fave genre, Sci Fi, the question is whos the best? Obviously we all have our own way of reading, accepting or absorbing ideas and concepts so theres really no such thing as 'The' best, mearly various perceptions of mind.

I'm really liking Peter F. Hamilton. He can take you places and then explain how and why in such a way that theres no imaginative effort at all when I read. He enables me to flow through a cinima of mine own imagination as easily as watching a brilliant and compelling movie. The difference is of course the images that come to mind are, all though triggered by his imagination, entirely of my own making!

[Dan]

JMS.

He writes for TV but I've yet to see someone with better skill to write a SF epic than Babylon 5.

[Ed]

Iain M Banks, definitely. SO GOOD :D

[AElf]

Robert Heinlein
Isaac Asimov
Gordon R. Dickson
Jules Verne
H.G. Wells

I don't rate them in that order, they are just my five favourites.

[bunnyrabbit]

Jules Verne, HG Wells, Asmov and Arthur C Clarke

Agree. 

[bunnyema]

I would have to add Frank Herbert.. ( Dune  )

[simonalexander2005]

So many to choose from!

Philip K Dick, if you want old-school sci-fi
Orson Scott Card, just for Ender's game
Iain M Banks and Alistair Reynolds for space-opera and large-scale sci-fi
Neal Stephenson with Snow Crash
for some more lighthearted reading, I like Douglas Adams; and Jules Verne if you think of it as sci-fi

[genxnaturist]

AELF,

LIke your choices, a lot in common with mine.  I do admit i am also fan of Frank Herber and dune series of books.  I also enjoyed the first movie, not so much SyFy Channel version

[mcibear]

I personly enjoy Lerry Niven.  Beyond having interesting plot lines the story arch he has created is possible based on science as we know it, and very forward looking.  The time line he has covered over 4000 years, i find it just fastenating.

[Bobbert]

Hmm, I dunno if they're be best, but I really enjoy Asimov, Bradbury, Heinlein, and Clarke.

[Jann]

It is very hard to pick out a best author, or even a favourite author, the best I can manage is to choose my favourite science fiction.  This is the Ringworld created by Larry Niven, absolutely brilliant science fiction as well as a fascinating scientific concept.  I once had a Ringworld poster on my bedroom wall . . . wished I could go there . . . tried to write some science fiction once . . . only managed a few chapters before I realized I had no idea where the plot was going . . . luckily the assignment was for a single chapter.

[simonalexander2005]

Hmm, I dunno if they're be best

that's a very good point to make, actually - what I put was what I enjoy, which isn't neccessarily the "best"

what defines the best, anyway?

[mcibear]

It is very hard to pick out a best author, or even a favourite author, the best I can manage is to choose my favourite science fiction.  This is the Ringworld created by Larry Niven, absolutely brilliant science fiction as well as a fascinating scientific concept.  I once had a Ringworld poster on my bedroom wall . . . wished I could go there . . . tried to write some science fiction once . . . only managed a few chapters before I realized I had no idea where the plot was going . . . luckily the assignment was for a single chapter.

  Glad to see Im not the only one who likes Lerry Niven.

[nudesailor]

William Gibson
JG Ballard

[Gman707]

THats a tough one. Brian aldis I think