Top 10 Influential Science Fiction Writers

There can be a major difference between the best authors of a genre, my favorite authors of a genre, and the most influential authors of a genre. While any top ten list like this will be somewhat controversial, here is a list of authors who have had a great and lasting influence on the science fiction genre.

#10 Douglas Adams: Douglas Adams may be one of the most popular authors on this list, and when his work first came out, they were very unique. Adams is best known for his "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series, which were ground breaking. These works introduced a comedic and strange (maybe almost surreal) element to science fiction writing that is still adored by fans even today.

#9 Orson Scott Card: Orson Scott Card is the author of one of the most popular science fiction series in history. The Ender's Game sagas rate right up there with Dune as one of the most popular series of books of all time, and certainly the most popular of modern times. If William Gibson is the father of Cyber-punk science fiction, then Orson Scott Card is the modern voice that showed the direction of modern science fiction.

#8 Robert Heinlein: Robert Heinlein was an extremely influential science fiction writer who may have been overshadowed in the long run by Isaac Asimov, but Heinlein is well known and love among science fiction fans. He was both popular and controversial who concentrated on "hard" science fiction-meaning science fiction that took the science very seriously. He won four Hugo Awards for his novels, and along with Asimov and Clarke was known as one of "The Big Three of Science Fiction." Talk about influence!

#7 William Gibson: William Gibson is an extremely popular and controversial science fiction writer who is known as the father of the modern "Cyber Punk" novel. While people and fans still argue over what kind of an influence Gibson has had on the science fiction genre, there's no doubt his mark has been made. As one anonymous critic put it: "Whether he's saved the genre or destroyed it, only time will tell." A little bit overboard, but it gives an idea of the influence this author of "Johnny Mnemonic" and "Neuromancers" has had.