Authors who started their careers in the 20th century.
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American
- Lloyd Alexander
- Sherman Alexie
- Jo Harvey Allen
- Steve Allen
- Aaron Allston
- Steve Alten
- Catherine Anderson
- Kevin J. Anderson
- Matthew Tobin Anderson
- Poul Anderson
- V. C. Andrews: You can tell the books are popular when they keep being written after the author's death.
- Maya Angelou
- Piers Anthony: Creator of Xanth and the Incarnations of Immortality.
- K. A. Applegate: Creator of Animorphs, Everworld, and Remnants.
- Catherine Asaro
- Isaac Asimov: Prolific founder of modern Science Fiction.
- Janet Asimov
- Robert Asprin
- Sonny Barger: Outlaw biker, occasional actor and author known for his guest appearances on motorcycling-related media such as Sons of Anarchy and novels centered around the outlaw biker subculture.
- Polly Bergen
- Anne Bishop
- Holly Black
- James Blish
- Judy Blume: (born February 12, 1938), Author of teen-age novels dealing straight-forwardly with the problems of growing up. The best known are Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
- Dale Brown
- Dan Brown: (born June 22, 1964) Author of mystery-thrillers; Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code are the best-known. Particularly noted in some circles for his insistence that his books are factually accurate even though they are riddled with factual errors.
- David Brin
- Brom
- Fredric Brown
- Algis Budrys
- Erma Bombeck: Newspaper columnist and author of humor books
- Anthony Boucher
- Joseph Payne Brennan: Creator of the Occult Detective Lucius Leffing.
- Jimmy Buffett
- Charles Bukowski
- Emma Bull
- Edward Bunker
- Edgar Rice Burroughs: Creator of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars, among other works.
- Candace Bushnell: Author of Sex and the City, better known for its successful TV series adaptation, also a journalist and television producer.
- Jim Butcher
- Bill Bryson: American-born author raised in England.
- Betsy Byars
- James Branch Cabell
- Paolo Bacigalupi
- David Baldacci
- James Baldwin
- Dave Barry: Syndicated newspaper humor columnist, he is largely responsible for the popularization of the memes "I am not making this up!" and "..., which would be A Good Name for a Rock Band."
- Wayne Barlowe
- John Barth
- L. Frank Baum: Creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Peter S. Beagle
- Greg Bear
- John Bellairs: Author of The Face in the Frost, a work mixing humor and horror, and many scary novels for children.
- Carl Bernstein
- Peter Benchley: Author of Jaws and numerous other maritime novels.
- Gregory Benford
- Alfred Bester
- James P. Blaylock
- Robert Bloch
- Lawrence Block
- Larry Bond: Author of Possible War and spy-thriller novels; a sometime associate of Tom Clancy.
- Sandra Boynton: Children's books
- Leigh Brackett: Speculative fiction, crime, and western author; also, screenwriter.
- Ray Bradbury: prolific in a wide number of media, but best known for his speculative fiction like Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles.
- Marion Zimmer Bradley: (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) Speculative fiction author, most well-known for the Darkover series and The Mists of Avalon, her version of the Arthurian legend told from the perspective of the female characters.
- Richard Brautigan
- Patricia Briggs
- Poppy Z. Brite
- Tom Brokaw
- Terry Brooks: American fantasy author, best known for the Shannara franchise.
- Steven Brust
- Pearl S. Buck
- William F. Buckley Jr.
- Lois McMaster Bujold
- William S. Burroughs: Author of the influential but incredibly controversial Naked Lunch, a novel that ended literary censorship in the United States.
- Octavia E. Butler
- Meg Cabot
- Anne McCaffrey: Author of the Dragonriders of Pern series.
- Martin Caidin
- James M. Cain
- Rachel Caine
- John W. Campbell, author of Who Goes There? and influential editor of Astounding Science Fiction
- Janell Cannon
- Truman Capote
- Eric Carle
- John Dickson Carr
- Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game and its continuation series.
- Lin Carter
- Diana Serra Cary, a.k.a. Baby Peggy, author of Hollywood's Posse and several biographies for former child actors, herself included.
- Michael Chabon
- Jack Chalker
- Raymond Chandler
- Paddy Chayefsky
- C. J. Cherryh
- Tom Clancy: While not the first to write techno-thrillers (that was Craig Thomas), Clancy defined the genre.
- Chris Claremont
- Mary Higgins Clark
- Jo Clayton: Speculative Fiction author.
- Beverly Cleary
- Hal Clement
- Harlan Coben
- Walt Coburn
- Nancy A. Collins
- Suzanne Collins
- Aaron Cometbus
- Michael Connelly
- Caroline B. Cooney
- Stephen Coonts
- Glen Cook
- Robert Cormier
- Patricia Cornwell
- Greg Costikyan
- Robert Coover
- Bruce Coville
- Michael Crichton: Author of Jurassic Park and various other techno-thrillers.
- Jennifer Crusie
- Henry Darger: Author of the longest novel in history, the 15,145-page In the Realms of the Unreal, which wasn't discovered until after his death.
- E. E. Cummings
- Clive Cussler
- Brian Daley
- Paula Danziger
- Peter David
- Avram Davidson
- Ossie Davis
- Pamela Dean
- L. Sprague de Camp
- Lester del Rey
- Samuel R. Delany
- Don DeLillo
- Troy Denning
- Tomie dePaola
- August Derleth
- Sarah Dessen
- Kate DiCamillo
- Philip K. Dick
- Eric Jerome Dickey
- Gordon R. Dickson
- Thomas M. Disch
- Stephen R. Donaldson
- Tim Dorsey: Just barely squeezes in here, publishing his first book in 1999. His works primarily concern an eccentric Floridian Serial Killer named Serge Storms.
- David Drake: Scifi and fantasy author. Known for his realistic portrayal of combat.
- Sharon Draper
- Diane Duane: Fantasy author most well-known for her Young Wizards series and several of Star Trek's best (and best-loved) novels, including Spock's World, The Wounded Sky, Doctor's Orders, and the Rihannsu series.
- Lois Duncan
- Roger Ebert: Extremely well-known film critic; also a screenwriter, and wrote several books about film.
- David Eddings: Took most of the High Fantasy tropes, smushed them together, and wrote four rather excellent quintets with them. They're so good mostly because he knows he's using them, so he doesn't take himself very seriously. Airport Fantasy at its finest.
- Clifford Martin Eddy Jr: A minor horror writer who was a friend of H. P. Lovecraft's from childhood.
- Teresa Edgerton
- Edward Eager
- George Alec Effinger
- Michael Eisner
- T. S. Eliot
- Bret Easton Ellis
- Harlan Ellison: Noted not only for his works and influence, but also for his temper and tendency to sue at the drop of a hat. He once posted a dead gopher to a New York publisher because said publisher placed cigarette ads in a collection of short stories, in violation of contract.
- Ralph Ellison
- James Ellroy
- David Farland
- Nancy Farmer
- Philip José Farmer: Taboo-busting sci-fi and fantasy writer with a wild array of original ideas. Best known for the Riverworld and World of Tiers series.
- William Faulkner
- Raymond E. Feist, author of The Riftwar Cycle
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Sid Fleischman: Author of children's books including the Newbery winner The Whipping Boy.
- Eric Flint
- Michael Flynn
- Vince Flynn
- James Fogle
- Phil Foglio
- Mick Foley – Most famous as a professional wrestler, but wrote three best-selling autobiographies and several well-received novels.
- Betty Ford
- John M. Ford
- William R. Forstchen: Author of science fiction and historical fiction novels.
- Robert L. Forward
- Al Franken: Comedy writer, political satirist, U.S. senator.
- Leo Frankowski
- Jonathan Franzen
- Kinky Friedman
- Ben Friesen (Alexander Wales)
- Esther Friesner
- Robert Frost: Poet, probably best known for "two roads diverged in a yellow wood."
- Alan Dean Foster: Sci-fi author, and responsible for some truly awesome novelizations
- Alan Furst
- William Gaddis
- Stefan Gagne
- Erle Stanley Gardner
- Randall Garrett
- Henry Louis Gates Jr..
- Jean Craighead George
- Tess Gerritsen: Best known for the book series that inspired Rizzoli & Isles.
- David Gerrold
- William Gibson: Grandfather of Cyberpunk.
- Dorothy Gilman
- Allen Ginsberg: Poet, creator of "Howl".
- Newt Gingrich: Also a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Louise Glück
- John Grisham
- William Goldman
- Barry Goldwater
- Terry Goodkind, author of the popular fantasy series Sword of Truth.
- Dick Goodwin
- Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Michael Grant - Wrote the Gone and BZRK series on his own, and co-wrote Animorphs, Everworld, and Remnants with his wife, K. A. Applegate.
- Jess Gulbranson
- James E. Gunn
- Ernest Hemingway: Those who consider Purple Prose as the cardinal writing sin can take refuge in his work.
- Frank Herbert, author of the epic Dune series and more.
- Carl Hiaasen
- Tony Hillerman
- Edward D. Hoch
- Holling C. Holling
- Evan Hunter, a.k.a. Ed McBain
- Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Mary Downing Hahn
- Joe Haldeman
- Barbara Hambly
- Dashiell Hammett
- Edmond Hamilton
- Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket
- Victor Davis Hanson: Classicist, Military Historian, Farmer and Political Columnist. Writes mostly nonfiction but at least one fiction, The End of Sparta.
- Jack Handey: Humorist best known for his Deep Thoughts series.
- Lyndon Hardy
- Thomas Harlan
- Charlaine Harris
- Harry Harrison
- L.P. Hartley
- Robert A. Heinlein: Dean of Science Fiction; the man who perfected the young adult SF novel, assuming you believe he didn't invent it. Defined time loop/time paradox stories with —All You Zombies—.
- Joseph Heller
- Lillian Hellman
- Zenna Henderson: Best known for her series of short stories about "The People."
- His intellectual property is now under the auspices of Herbert Properties LLC, with Brian Herbert writing additional books.
- Joe Hill
- Sandra Hill
- Jim C. Hines
- Kenneth Hite
- Robin Hobb: Author of the Low Fantasy trilogy-of-trilogies the Realm of the Elderlings
- John Hodgman
- M.C.A. Hogarth
- Robert E. Howard: Widely regarded as the father of the Sword and Sorcery genre, he was the creator of Conan the Barbarian, Solomon Kane (long before he was a comic book character), Kull the Conqueror, and Bran Mak Morn, as well as making contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos. Along with J.R.R. Tolkien, he is one of the most influential figures in modern fantasy.
- Sarah A. Hoyt
- L. Ron Hubbard
- Arianna Huffington
- Langston Hughes
- Zora Neale Hurston
- John Irving
- David Ives
- Shirley Jackson, best known for her creepy but influential story "The Lottery".
- J.A. Jance.
- Gary Jennings: American author of Historical Fiction.
- K. W. Jeter
- James Jones: Lived through the worst of World War II and wrote prolifically about it.
- Erica Jong: Author of feminist erotica, best known for the term "zipless fuck".
- Robert Jordan
- William Joyce
- Janet Kagan
- Ezra Jack Keats
- Harry Stephen Keeler: Prolific writer of very odd books.
- Brian Keene
- William H. Keith, Jr.: Prolific author of science and military fiction.
- Helen Keller: Blind and deaf activist.
- Jack Kerouac: Spiritual father of the Beatnik counterculture movement.
- Ken Kesey: Author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Also major player in 1960s psychedelic culture.
- Jack Ketchum: American horror author.
- Alexander Key
- Alan King
- Stephen King: Hugely successful author of modern horror and fantasy.
- James Kirkwood
- Henry Kissinger
- Annette Curtis Klause (born in England, immigrated to and currently lives in America)
- Andrew Klavan
- T.E.D. Klein
- Richard A. Knaak
- Damon Knight
- E. L. Konigsburg
- Dean Koontz: Not quite so popular as Stephen King, but still, a successful author of modern horror and fantasy.
- Cyril M. Kornbluth: Science fiction author
- Nancy Kress
- Ellen Kushner: Fantasy author
- Henry Kuttner: Science fiction and fantasy author
- Michael Kurland: Writes mystery and speculative fiction.
- Katherine Kurtz: Writes historical fantasy, most notably the Deryni novels.
- Mercedes Lackey: Does fantasy (Heralds of Valdemar) and Urban Fantasy.
- R. A. Lafferty
- Tim LaHaye: Influential author of Christian techno-thrillers and science fiction.
- Donald Westlake
- Louis L'Amour: Western novelist.
- L. Jagi Lamplighter: Fantasy writer
- Ring Lardner: Best known as a sportswriter, his 1916 book You Know Me Al is considered one of the high-water marks in American humor.
- Erik Larson
- Keith Laumer
- Stephen R. Lawhead
- Richard Laymon: Prolific splatter-horror author from 1980 to 2000
- Ursula K. Le Guin: Prolific and influential science fiction writer and feminist.
- Dennis Lehane, best known for Mystic River and Shutter Island.
- Fritz Leiber
- Murray Leinster: Prolific science fiction author, pioneer of Alternate History fiction, coiner of the term "First Contact", and predicter of the Internet.
- Madeleine L'Engle
- Elmore Leonard: The Lay's Potato Chip of crime fiction — you can't read just one. His terse prose and chatty dialog make for effortlessly enjoyable reading.
- Helen Lester
- Julius Lester
- Jonathan Lethem
- Ira Levin
- Gail Carson Levine
- Sinclair Lewis
- Thomas Ligotti
- Rush Limbaugh: Better known for his talk radio career, but wrote two top-selling political commentaries in the 1990s and a series of children's novels in the 2010s.
- Jane Lindskold
- Holly Lisle
- Bentley Little
- Hugh Lofting
- Lois Lowry
- Frank Belknap Long
- H. P. Lovecraft: "Weird fiction" author who had a major impact on the horror genre; created the Cosmic Horror Story, and changed how we see "monsters".
- David Lubar: Young adult fiction writer.
- Robert Ludlum
- Zoë Lund
- David Macaulay
- R. A. MacAvoy
- Gavin MacLeod
- Elliot S! Maggin
- Gregory Maguire
- Norman Mailer
- Leonard Maltin: Film critic and animation historian; author of Maltin's Movie Guide and Leonard Maltin's Classic Film Guide.
- David Mamet: Pretty fuckin' good playwright/screenwriter.
- George R. R. Martin: Famous for A Song of Ice and Fire. He also helped kick-start the Wild Cards series.
- Lisa Mason
- Ann M. Martin: most famous for The Baby-Sitters Club series.
- Richard Matheson
- R. Jean Mathieu
- Julian May
- Mercer Mayer: Author of the Little Critter books.
- Robert R. McCammon : Author of Swan Song and Boy's Life, among many other novels.
- Cormac McCarthy
- Scott McCloud
- Carson McCullers
- Lurlene McDaniel
- Jack McDevitt
- Michael Mc Dowell
- Vonda N. McIntyre
- Patricia A. McKillip
- Robin McKinley
- Patrick McManus
- Terry McMillan
- Clare McNally
- Robert McNamara: 8th US Secretary of Defense.
- H. L. Mencken
- Miss Manners: Pen name of etiquette expert Judith Martin
- Fern Michaels
- Melisa Michaels
- James Michener
- Arthur Miller
- L.E. Modesitt Jr.
- Devon Monk
- Elizabeth Moon
- Christopher Moore
- C. L. Moore
- John Moore
- Daniel Keys Moran
- Toni Morrison
- Robert Munsch
- Walter Dean Myers
- Ogden Nash: poet, noted for wordplay and odd rhymes.
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Larry Niven: Author of Ringworld and the Known Space universe.
- Andre Norton
- Bill Nye: He wrote some nonfiction books.
- Flannery O’Connor
- Eugene O'Neill: acclaimed playwright.
- Jack Paar
- Alexei Panshin
- Chuck Palahniuk
- Robert B. Parker: Spenser (started in the 1970's); Jesse Stone (1997); Sunny Randall (1999). All three continued until his death in 2010, with other authors continuing the storylines after.
- Dorothy Parker: Poet, screenwriter, comedian, journalist and short story author.
- Katherine Paterson: Children's book author.
- James Patterson: Thriller writer.
- Gary Paulsen: Children's book author.
- Bill Peet
- S. J. Perelman: Humorist. Know that he wrote scripts for the Marx Brothers, and you get a pretty clear picture of his style.
- Frank Peretti: Author of Christian suspense/horror novels. Might be considered the codifier of the (Christian) genre, if not the founder.
- Tom Perrotta
- Steve Perry
- Julie Anne Peters
- Jodi Picoult
- Tamora Pierce: Fantasy author known for inverting The Smurfette Principle. Really likes writing quartets, although not so much lately.
- Christopher Pike
- Dav Pilkey
- Daniel Pinkwater
- H. Beam Piper: Science fiction writer; worked out an extensive future history as well as several Alternate History stories. Committed suicide in 1964 because of financial problems. A check was literally in the mail.
- Sylvia Plath
- George Plimpton
- Frederik Pohl
- Ezra Pound
- Jerry Pournelle
- Tim Powers
- Mark Prindle
- W.H. Pugmire
- Thomas Pynchon
- Ellery Queen
- Julia Quinn: Regency romance novelist.
- Seabury Quinn
- Dan Rather
- Melanie Rawn
- Ishmael Reed
- Robert Reed
- Laura Resnick
- Mike Resnick
- Michael Rex
- Mack Reynolds
- Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Anne Rice
- John Ridley
- John Ringo: Started with Military Science Fiction works (the first book of the Legacy of the Aldenata was his authorial debut), but has branched out to other genres, including fantasy (urban and traditional) and adventure stories.
- Rick Riordan
- Geraldo Rivera
- Tom Robbins
- Nora Roberts: Synonymous with well-written romance.
- Kim Stanley Robinson
- Richard Roeper
- Fred Rogers
- Reginald Rose
- Philip Roth
- Laura Joh Rowland
- Greg Rucka: crime novelist, also noted for his work on Batman, Wonder Woman and his own comic book titles, such as Whiteout and Queen and Country.
- Rudy Rucker
- Matt Ruff
- Damon Runyon
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch (also pen names Kris Rusch, Kris Nelscott, Kristine Grayson, Sandy Schofield [joint works with husband Dean Wesley Smith], and Kathryn Wesley)
- Fred Saberhagen
- Louis Sachar
- Carl Sagan
- J. D. Salinger
- R.A. Salvatore: Primarily fantasy.
- Carl Sandburg
- John Sandford
- John Saul
- Dan Savage
- Richard Scarry
- James H. Schmitz
- Jon Scieszka
- Melissa Scott
- David Sedaris
- Erich Segal
- Hubert Selby Jr
- Maurice Sendak
- Dr. Seuss: The definitive picture-book author.
- Anne Sexton
- Ntozake Shange
- Roger Sharpe
- Richard Sharpe Shaver
- Robert Sheckley
- Sidney Sheldon: His tales of treachery amongst The Beautiful Elite made his books blockbusters from The '70s through the Turn of the Millennium.
- Sam Shepard: Cowboy playwright
- Jean Shepherd
- Josepha Sherman
- Neal Shusterman
- Robert Silverberg
- Shel Silverstein
- Clifford Simak: one of the best SF writers.
- Dan Simmons: Former public-school English teacher turned writer, he is responsible for the sci-fi epic, The Hyperion Cantos, as well as Ilium. Olympos, The Terror, and most recently Drood — among many others.
- Neil Simon: Playwright, screenwriter, and memoirist.
- Linnea Sinclair
- Gene Siskel
- William Sleator
- Jane Smiley: Pulitzer-prize winning author whose work often revolves around farming and horses
- Clark Ashton Smith: Known best for his dark fantasy short stories, but also wrote horror, science fiction, and poetry.
- Cordwainer Smith: Classic author of Science Fiction, also wrote the first definitive book on modern psychological warfare. His style is a generally excerpts from the Days of Future Past, and is nearly all set in his 'verse: The Instrumentality of Mankind. Philosophically, he fused Christian symbolism with Chinese philosophy. Studio Gainax have an affinity for his work and keep naming things after it.
- E. E. "Doc" Smith, author of the Lensman series. One of the first major science fiction writers. Ultimately responsible for, or provided some of the earliest descriptions of, a fair amount of the weaponry and gadgetry seen in modern SF, and some in reality as well.
- L. J. Smith, author of Night World, The Vampire Diaries, and The Secret Circle.
- Roland Smith
- Thomas Lee Joseph Smith
- Margaret Snyder
- Zilpha Keatley Snyder
- Suzanne Somers
- Mickey Spillane: Pulp crime author and creator of private eye Mike Hammer.
- Jerry Spinelli
- Norman Spinrad
- Michael Stackpole
- John Steakley
- Allen Steele
- Danielle Steel
- William Steig
- John Steinbeck: Pulitzer and Noble Peace Prize-winning author of many books such as The Grapes of Wrath commonly used in School Study Media. Influential in both his views and writing style. Responsible for traumatizing generations of schoolchildren forever more.
- Neal Stephenson: Cyberpunk author, Trope Maker of The Metaverse
- Bruce Sterling
- Caroline Stevermer: Historical fantasy, author of A College of Magics and co-author of Sorcery and Cecelia
- R. L. Stine
- S. M. Stirling
- Rex Stout
- Matt Stover: Writer of The Acts of Caine series as well as many fine Star Wars novels
- Peter Straub
- Theodore Sturgeon: Speculative Fiction writer, and the man who gave us Sturgeon's Law.
- Michael Swanwick
- Amy Tan
- Donna Tartt
- Mildred D. Taylor: Author of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and the rest of the Logan family sage.
- William Tenn: Prolific writer of 1950s and 1960s science-fiction short stories.
- Sheri S. Tepper
- Cate Tiernan Young Adult fantasy author, best known as the author of Sweep.
- Hunter S. Thompson: Madcap drug-addled journalist best known for writing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. One of the main reasons Rolling Stone magazine took off instead of folding early like many other magazines of the time.
- Jim Thompson: Pulp writer known for his hard-boiled style and bleak worldview. Known for works such as The Killer Inside Me, The Grifters, Pop. 1280, and After Dark, My Sweet. Many of his books have been adapted for film.
- Ruth Plumly Thompson
- Barbara Tuchman: A historian who gave great examples of real-life idiotic tropes. Her March of Folly is especially noteworthy in that respect.
- James Thurber
- Harry Turtledove: Alternative-fiction author probably best-known for his Timeline 191 series.
- Jonathan Tweet
- John Updike
- Steven Utley
- Andrew Vachss
- Chris Van Allsburg: Picture book author and illustrator.
- Jack Vance: Author of the stories of The Dying Earth, which served as the inspiration for the magic system of D&D, called "Vancian magic". Also wrote several SF series, and stand-alones.
- Melvin Van Peebles
- John Varley
- Brian K. Vaughan
- Vivian Vande Velde
- Gore Vidal
- Vernor Vinge
- William T. Vollmann
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Sarah Vowell
- Karl Edward Wagner
- Howard Waldrop
- Alice Walker
- David Foster Wallace
- John Waters
- Jude Watson
- Lawrence Watt-Evans
- David Weber
- Margaret Weis: co-creator of the Dragonlance setting and co-author of a number of books in that setting. Also author of numerous other fantasy novels.
- Manly Wade Wellman
- Martha Wells
- Rosemary Wells: Prolific picture book author of Max and Ruby, Timothy Goes to School, Bunny Planet and many others; occasionally writes titles for older audiences
- K. D. Wentworth
- Mae West
- Scott Westerfeld
- Edith Wharton
- E. B. White
- Edward Lucas White
- Colson Whitehead
- Thornton Wilder
- Melissa Wiley
- Gregory Alan Williams
- Tad Williams
- Tennessee Williams
- Walter Jon Williams
- William Carlos Williams
- Jack Williamson
- Connie Willis
- F. Paul Wilson
- Robert Anton Wilson: Master of the Mind Screw
- Jess Winfield: Co-founder of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, writing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) as part of the group. Later known for his screenwriting work in several animated television series.
- Gary Wolf: Author of Who Censored Roger Rabbit? and Space Vulture
- Gene Wolfe: Author of The Book of the New Sun and other works.
- Thomas Wolfe: Author of Look Homeward, Angel and other works (not to be confused with Tom Wolfe).
- Tom Wolfe: Author of The Right Stuff and The Bonfire of the Vanities (not to be confused with Thomas Wolfe).
- Michael Wolff
- Scott Wolter
- Bob Woodward
- Cornell Woolrich
- John C. Wright
- Richard Wright
- Patricia C. Wrede
- Janny Wurts
- Laurence Yep
- Jane Yolen
- Eliezer Yudkowsky
- Timothy Zahn
- Roger Zelazny: Poetic sci-fi and fantasy writer: The Chronicles of Amber, Damnation Alley, Lord of Light and Doorways in the Sand. Winner of 6 Hugos, 3 Nebulas, and 2 Locus Awards, among other awards.
Argentinian
- Jorge Luis Borges: (August 24, 1899 – June 14, 1986), Writer, essayist, and poet. He helped to create the genre of "Magical Realism" with his woks like The Aleph and Ficciones.
- Julio Cortázar
- Roberto Fontanarrosa
- Angélica Gorodischer
- Mauro Mantella
- Maria Elena Walsh
- Rodolfo Walsh
Australian
- Graeme Base
- Mary Grant Bruce
- Trudi Canavan
- Isobelle Carmody
- A. Bertram Chandler
- Stephen Dedman
- Greg Egan
- Jackie French
- Kerry Greenwood
- Andy Griffiths
- Clive James
- Paul Jennings
- Robin Klein
- Dave Luckett
- Melina Marchetta
- Juliet Marillier
- Garth Nix
- Ruth Park
- Banjo Paterson
- Matthew Reilly
- Emily Rodda
- Shaun Tan
- Sean Williams
Austrian
- Thomas Bernhard: Austrian author and playwright known for his highly critical, nihilistic views and causing the biggest theatre scandal in Austrian history.
- Martin Buber
- Sigmund Freud
- Rainer Maria Rilke
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Belgian
- Herman Brusselmans: A columnist, poet, novelist, and playwright.
- Georges Simenon, prolific Belgian-French writer of pulp novels, detective fiction and psychological fiction, creator of Inspector Maigret.
Brazilian
British (United Kingdom)
- Dan Abnett: Comic book writer for 2000AD and Marvel (along with a few DC pieces), who is also known for writing a number of Warhammer 40,000 novels, particularly the Gaunt's Ghosts series.
- Douglas Adams: author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in its many, many mediums.
- Richard Adams
- Brian W. Aldiss
- Martin Amis
- Julie Andrews
- Wilbert Awdry: AKA the Rev. W. Awdry. Wrote The Railway Series, the basis for Thomas & Friends.
- Alan Ayckbourn
- JG Ballard
- Iain Banks: major science fiction author, known for grand Space Opera — particularly his The Culture novels.
- Lynne Reid Banks
- Clive Barker
- Stephen Baxter
- Hilaire Belloc
- Alan Bennett
- Robert Hugh Benson
- Louis de Bernières
- Algernon Blackwood
- Enid Blyton - possibly the most prolific and famous (or infamous, depending on your viewpoint) children's authors ever.
- Robert Bolt
- Madeleine Brent, author of romantic suspense novels
- Raymond Briggs
- Christopher Brookmyre
- D.K. Broster
- John Brunner
- John Buchan
- Anthony Burgess
- Ramsey Campbell
- John le Carré: Master of the Cold War spy thriller, he was instrumental in creating the spy anti-hero in counterpoint to the high-adventure James Bond-type spy. Notable works include The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, The Tailor Of Panama, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
- Angela Carter
- Andrew Cartmel: Writer of television, novels and comics.
- G. K. Chesterton: English writer who is the Christian apologist to know, probably second in popularity only to C. S. Lewis. Known primarily for his witty essays and use of paradoxical statements, but also for his "Father Brown" Mysteries.
- Lee Child: Writer of Jack Reacher book series.
- Agatha Christie: Epitomises the classic age of mystery fiction. See her bibliography also.
- John Christopher
- Arthur C. Clarke
- Ann Cleeves: Crime author, known for writing the books that were adapted into Vera and Shetland.
- John Clive
- Jackie Collins: Author of many bestselling soap opera novels about rich, beautiful people.
- John Connolly: Writer of The Book of Lost Things, the Charlie Parker series, the Samuel Johnson trilogy, horror short stories and a co-authored sci-fi series, among other projects.
- Storm Constantine
- Susan Cooper: The Dark is Rising.
- Paul Cornell: Writer for the Doctor Who New Adventures, creator of Bernice Summerfield and also did a few Doctor Who Magazine comics.
- Bernard Cornwell
- Judy Cornwell
- Aleister Crowley: Author of Moonchild, founder of the magical and religious school of Thelema, and seminal contributor to modern occult thought. Put the "k" in "magick", to the chagrin of many.
- Ben Counter
- Roald Dahl: A highly influential children's author, known for his macabre sense of humour. After all, "Violence accompanied by wit is much loved."
- Andrew Davies
- Candy Davis
- Richard Dawkins: Author of several scientific books, and the well-known The God Delusion. Known for his political activism on behalf of atheism.
- Len Deighton: British spy writer and historian.
- Peter Dickinson
- Terrance Dicks: Prolific Doctor Who novelisation author.
- Dougal Dixon: Set the stage for speculative biology.
- Gerald Durrell: Naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, and the author of many books (most of them being autobiographical).
- Julia Donaldson A children’s writer known for The Gruffalo
- J.T. Edson: Prolific British author of Westerns.
- Warren Ellis: Vitriolic comic book writer best-known for writing the Transmetropolitan series.
- Ben Elton
- Garth Ennis: co-created the Preacher comic book series and revived The Punisher line.
- Lionel Fanthorpe
- Nicholas Fisk
- Ian Fleming: Creator of James Bond and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
- E. M. Forster
- Frederick Forsyth
- Dick Francis: British jockey and crime/mystery writer.
- George MacDonald Fraser: Creator of Flashman.
- Stephen Fry
- Neil Gaiman: Creator of The Sandman (1989) as well as accomplished novelist and screenplay writer.
- Alan Garner
- David Gemmell
- Mary Gentle
- Simon R. Green
- Graham Greene
- Philippa Gregory
- Arthur Hailey: Lived mostly in Canada and the Bahamas
- Peter F. Hamilton: Author of The Night's Dawn Trilogy, Greg Mandel, Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogies.
- Irene Handl
- Sophie Hannah: Crime-psychological author.
- Thomas Hardy: By the beginning of the 20th century, Hardy stopped writing novels and exclusively wrote poetry for the rest of his life.
- L.P. Hartley
- Stephen Hawking: Non-fiction, plus a children's fiction series co-authored with his daughter.
- R. Chetwynd-Hayes
- James Herbert
- James Herriot: The archetypal Kindly Vet.
- Georgette Heyer: Does Regency Romance. Heavily inspired by Jane Austen.
- Jack Higgins
- Tom Holt
- William Hope Hodgson
- Anthony Horowitz
- Stephen Hunt
- Aldous Huxley
- Eva Ibbotson
- David Icke: Conspiracy theorist.
- Eric Idle
- Michael Innes
- Jill Ireland
- Kazuo Ishiguro: Novelist born in Japan but raised from childhood in England; 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. His most famous works include The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go.
- Brian Jacques
- Robin Jarvis
- Terry Jones: Former Monty Python member who wrote novels about medieval topics as well as children's fantasy novels.
- Judith Kerr
- Garry Kilworth
- Ronald Knox
- Lynda La Plante
- David Langford
- Philip Larkin
- T. E. Lawrence: He wrote extensively about his archaeological and wartime experiences.
- Nigella Lawson: Journalist, restaurant critic, food writer and author of several bestselling cookery books.
- Tanith Lee
- C. S. Lewis: Best known for writing The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters. A good friend of J. R. R. Tolkien, with whom he had a friendly rivalry.
- Brian Lumley
- Ken MacLeod
- Ian Marter
- John Masefield
- Graham Masterton
- Daphne du Maurier
- Phil Masters
- Ian McDonald
- Robert McNair Wilson
- Martin Millar
- A. A. Milne
- David Mitchell (Author)
- Nancy Mitford
- Michael Moorcock
- Alan Moore: Comic book writer and novelist. Best known for his work on Swamp Thing as well as his stories such as the The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta, and Watchmen.
- Hector Hugh Munro (Saki)
- Patrick Ness: Moved to England at 28 years old.
- Kim Newman
- George Orwell: Political writer and journalist. Creator of Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm. Has contributed several well-known phrases to the English language, including "Orwellian" as a byword for authoritarianism and censorship. Trope Namer for Big Brother Is Watching.
- K. J. Parker
- Bill Pertwee
- Ellis Peters
- Alan Plater: Wrote Misterioso (1987) and Oliver's Travels (1994).
- Marc Platt
- Beatrix Potter: Writer and illustrator of much-loved morality tales for children, including a series revolving around the feisty Civilized Animal Peter Rabbit.
- Christopher Priest (novelist) The British author, as distinct from the American comic book writer of the same name.
- Harold Pinter
- Terry Pratchett: Author of the Discworld series.
- Anthony Price
- J. B. Priestley
- Philip Pullman, author of the controversial fantasy series His Dark Materials.
- Robert Rankin: Author of self-described "Far-fetched fiction".
- Mary Renault
- Ruth Rendell
- Derek Robinson
- Zoe Kirk-Robinson
- Bertrand Russell: Tremendously influential philosopher and mathematician who focused on essay writing in his later years, and apparently kicked enough ass at it to win the 1950 Nobel Prize in Literature. Famous for his vigorous skepticism and anti-war work.
- Salman Rushdie
- Edward Rutherfurd
- Eric Frank Russell
- Alastair Reynolds: Sci-fi/Space Opera author, creator of the Revelation Space universe.
- Michael Rosen
- J. K. Rowling: The creator of Harry Potter.
- Rosie Rushton
- Rafael Sabatini
- Saki (pen name of H.H. Munro)
- Siegfried Sassoon
- Dorothy L. Sayers
- Karl Schroeder
- Charles Sheffield
- Peter Simple (a pseudonym of Michael Wharton)
- Nevil Shute
- Michael Marshall Smith
- Nicholas Sparks
- Lewis Spence: Scottish journalist, poet, author, folklorist and occult scholar.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein: Became a British citizen in 1939.
- Olaf Stapledon
- Tom Sharpe
- Mary Stewart
- Tom Stoppard
- Noel Streatfeild
- Rosemary Sutcliff: writer of historical fiction; best known for The Eagle of the Ninth.
- Robert Swindells
- Josephine Tey
- Dylan Thomas
- J. R. R. Tolkien: Oxford professor and linguist who created the Middle-Earth legendarium, The Lord of the Rings. The father of modern fantasy. Good friends with C. S. Lewis.
- Elleston Trevor, who wrote under several pseudonyms, including Adam Hall (author of the Quiller espionage novels).
- Sue Townsend
- Jean Ure, a children's/young adult author who writes books similar to the style of Jacqueline Wilson.
- Sarah Waters
- Evelyn Waugh
- Irvine Welsh
- Robert Westall
- Dennis Wheatley
- T. H. White, author of the Arthurian retelling The Once and Future King.
- Charles Williams
- Colin Wilson
- Jacqueline Wilson: Popular author of children's and teenage fiction.
- P. G. Wodehouse: Prolific and enormously entertaining comic writer, helped shape the image of the Genteel Interbellum Setting.
- Virginia Woolf: Modernist, famous for her feminist politics and being the Trope Maker for "stream of consciousness" writing.
- John Wyndham
- Diana Wynne Jones
Canadian
- Margaret Atwood
- Mary Graham Bonner
- Paulette Bourgeois
- Sigmund Brouwer
- Eleanor Cameron
- Douglas Coupland
- Julie E. Czerneda
- Steven Erikson: Fantasy writer.
- Cory Doctorow
- Timothy Findley
- Lawrence Hill
- Nalo Hopkinson
- Tanya Huff
- William Gibson
- Barbara Gowdy
- Guy Gavriel Kay
- W.P. Kinsella
- Gordon Korman
- Margaret Laurence: Award-winning Canadian author.
- Robin Laws
- Charles de Lint
- Ann Marie MacDonald: Canadian author and playwright.
- L. M. Montgomery
- Alice Munro: Short story author and winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Kenneth Oppel
- Mordecai Richler (Author of darkly humourous books, with characters drawn from the Montreal Jewish community and beyond.)
- Spider Robinson (Science Fiction writer who gives Piers Anthony a run for his money when it comes to the puns).
- Richard Rohmer
- Joel Rosenberg
- Robert J. Sawyer : Sci-fi writer whose work often explores issues with artificial intelligence and consciousness.
- Patrick Senécal (horror/mystery/suspense suthor from Quebec)
- Michael Slade : Author of horror/crime fiction, often called the "Canadian Stephen King.
- A.E. van Vogt (another sci-fi writer with a thing for ugly monsters, corrupt monarchies, and Aristotelian philosophy.)
- Eric Walters (started in 1993)
- Peter Watts
- Robert Charles Wilson
Chilean
Chinese
- Jin Yong: Prolific author, and one of, if not the biggest author in the genre of Wuxia.
- Lu Xun: Founder of modern Chinese literature.
- Mo Yan: Nobel Prize in Literature winning author.
Colombian
- Gabriel García Márquez: Man whose name is engraved in Magic Realism.
Czech
- Jiří Kulhánek: Author of vampire fiction
- Karel Čapek: A very influential writer, intellectual, journalist, playwright, translator and an amateur photographer.
Danish
- Henrik Drescher, author of Pat the Beastie.
- Sven Hassel
Dutch
Finnish
French
- René Barjavel, science-fiction and anticipation writer
- Roland Barthes, literary critic and academic, pioneer of structuralism and post-structuralism.
- Albert Camus, existentialist and absurdist writer. His best-known novel is The Stranger.
- Francis Carsac, geologist and science fiction writer
- Jacques Derrida, pioneer of the concept of Deconstruction
- Charles Exbrayat
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince
- Jean Genet, author of Querelle de Brest.
- Joris Karl Huysmans
- Milan Kundera, born Czech but a citizen of France who considers himself a French writer, known for The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
- Gabriel Marcel
- Robert Merle
- Marcel Pagnol, author of the Marseille Trilogy and the Souvenirs d'enfance cycle.
- Charles Peguy
- Marcel Proust, author of A La Recherche du Temps Perdu (English title: In Search of Lost Time or Remembrance of Things Past)
- Jean-Paul Sartre
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
- Bernard Werber, author of Les Fourmis
German
- Bertolt Brecht
- Michael Ende
- Cornelia Funke
- Gunter Grass
- Hermann Hesse: Nobel Prize winning author of books like Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, Demian, and The Glass Bead Game.
- Dietrich Von Hildebrand
- Janosch
- Ernst Jünger: A veteran of both world wars turned novelist.
- Franz Kafka: A german-writing author of surrealist literature. Considered a rather influential writer despite completing and publishing very little. Best known for The Metamorphosis and The Trial.
- Walter Moers
- Otfried Preußler
- Rafik Schami
- WG Sebald
- Kurt Tucholsky
Indian
- Jhumpa Lahiri (Indian-American writer, writes mostly about Indian immigrants to America)
- Salman Rushdie
- Vikram Shandra
Irish
- Maeve Binchy
- Eoin Colfer
- John Connolly
- Lord Dunsany: Early and prolific fantasy author best known for The Gods of Pegāna. Highly admired by H. P. Lovecraft and also influenced authors ranging from Tolkien to Gaiman.
- James Joyce: Not too shabby: in 1998, Modern Library ranked Ulysses No. 1, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man No. 3, on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.
- Marian Keyes: pioneer of Chick Lit.
- Paul Kearney, fantasy author, often compared to David Gemmell.
- Spike Milligan
- Flann O'Brien
- Ardal O'Hanlon
- George Bernard Shaw, a prolific writer of plays and social activist.
- Henry De Vere Stacpoole
- William Butler Yeats
Israeli
Italian
Japanese
- Fumiko Enchi
- Shūsaku Endō
- Shuhei Fujisawa
- Shigesato Itoi - he's published quite a few books, but it's not his primary profession.
- Yukio Mishima
- Ryo Mizuno - novelist and game designer
- Haruki Murakami
- Ryu Murakami
- Fuyumi Ono
- Yoshiki Tanaka
- Nahoko Uehashi
- Takashi Yanase: Japanese children's book author and illustrator, known for touching on darker and heavier subject matter for children and families. His best-known works are Anpanman, which spawned an entire franchise, and Chirin no Suzu (Chirin's Bell) note , which gained a film adaptation in 1978 by Sanrio.
- Murasaki Yukiya
New Zealand
Nigerian
Norwegian
Peruvian
Polish
- Joseph Conrad: Polish-born English writer who did not speak English fluently until his twenties.
- Jacek Dukaj
- Stefan Grabiński
- Stanisław Lem
- Andrzej Sapkowski
Portuguese
Russian
- Mikhail Akhmanov
- Andrei Belyanin
- Joseph Brodsky
- Kir Bulychev: Creator of Science Fiction series such as Alice, Girl from the Future.
- Oleg Divov: Popular modern scifi author.
- Yulia Latynina
- Andrey Livadny
- Sergey Lukyanenko: Night Watch (Series).
- Vladimir Nabokov: Wrote a lot of stuff worth seeking out, but best known for "that novel with the pervy old guy".
- Victor Pelevin
- Nick Perumov
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- The Strugatsky Brothers: Authors of Soviet Science Fiction and satire.
- Vladimir Vasilyev: co-wrote the Day Watch with Lukyanenko, but is also the author of many original works.
Spanish
- Juan Ferrándiz
- Federico García Lorca: Famous Andalusian playwright and poet full of angst. Killed right at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
- Arturo Pérez-Reverte
- Carlos Ruiz Zafón
South African
Swedish
Swiss
Thai
Turkish
West Indian
- Anthony Winkler: Jamaican-born author and lecturer, he is the writer of several novels set in Jamaica, including The Lunatic, The Painted Canoe, and his autobiographical work Going Home to Teach.