We probably shouldn't be hijacking this thread but some of my other fave authors in Sci-Fi and/or fantasy are Richard Matheson, Terry Pratchett, Ursula K. Le Guin, Marion Bradley, C. J. Cherryh. I originally started with anthologies in late high school and then progressed to the novels and short stories of my preferred authors. I wasn't overly fond of Heinlein's works, but I liked Isaac Asimov and Brian Aldis. One discovery was John Crowley's book Engine Summer.