Oh duh... now I see, you don't care about the genre.

I second the Terry Pratchet nomination. Funny, funny stuff, but light enough that it doesn't make you tired when you are sick. He's my favorite "home with the flu" author. My persoanl favorite is "Hogfather."

For socio-political commentary wrapped up in moderately sci-fi scenery but without the science part, anything by Sheri S Tepper. A good one to start with is either "The Gate to Women's Country" or "Grass."