Our Library Director just “retired” very suddenly. I and several staff members have taken on the task of ordering books for the Library. However None of us read Sci-fi or fantasy books. We would appreciate any suggestions you might have for authors to look watch for. Thanks
My personal favorites
David Eddings
Harry Turtledove
George R.R. Martin
Other important authors to watch out for
Piers Anthony
Anne McCaffery
Zev Steinhardt
Octavia Butler is my Sci fi pick.
Robert Heinlein
Isaac Asimov
Arthur C Clarke
Can’t miss the classics
Also
H Beam Piper
David Brin
Harry Turtledove
A big second to Johnathan Chance’s choices, adding, among the classics
Theodore Sturgeon
Alfred Bester
and among current stuff
Spider Robinson
SF–
Larry Niven
Jerry Pournelle
Spider Robinson (on preview, I see that Hometownboy agrees)
James P. Hogan (but nothing he published within the last 10 years or so–he went nuts, IMHO)
I second Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke–they’re essential parts of the collection. However, the library may already have many of these.
Fantasy–
P.C. Hodgell (may be hard to get–I think they’re only available from Meisha Merlin Publishing, and through a deal MMP has with Amazon)
Mercedes Lackey (currently very popular, and undoubtedly influencing a new wave of fantasy authors)
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Barry Hughart
The ones named so far in this thread are all great starts.
I’d throw in:
Orson Scott Card
Ray Bradbury
Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Philip K. Dick
Harlan Ellison
Frank Herbert
J. R. R. Tolkein (if the library doesn’t already have his books, then this oversight needs to be sorely remedied)
Terry Pratchett
Two fantasy authors I would add to this list are;
Terry Pratchett
David Gemmell
Both are favourites of mine.
I’ll check my (small) collection and post if there are any other authors to watch out for, IMHO.
Rick
Look on Amazon.com for their top-selling SF/fantasy books. If you don’t get copies of the latest Pratchett books you’ll probably have fans crying at the counter. Douglas Adams has a posthumous book out too - that’s an essential one to get in if you haven’t already.
I’ll add some to the excellent choices already presented:
Vernor Vinge
Kim Stanley Robinson
Michael Moorcock
Stephen R. Donaldson
Robert Sheckley
A different kind of suggestion…
Talk to your clientele. Watch to see who hangs out at the SF/Fantasy section, and ask them what they’re interested in. It’s a good way to get your patrons involved, and a better reflection of what your local readers are interested in. Give somebody an opportunity to help out; I’m sure they’d be thrilled.
Thanks for all the help. Please keep it coming.
Thanks for the suggestion. We plan on doing that. Unfortunately our former Director bought very little for this section of the Library, so we do not have a lot of patrons to work with. We are hoping that by buying books our patrons would like, instead of what the boss reads, will lure people back.
Well damn am I the only guy who reads:
David Weber
Steve Wright
Timothy Zahn
and
Alan Dean Foster
also
F. Scott Hamilton
Hey, Stuffy, I’m a huge David Weber fan (with the exception of his latest collaboration with Steve White, which was a major disappointment). I’d probably have got around to mentioning him eventually. 
And a few more while I’m here:
John Varley
Philip Jose Farmer
Robert L. Forward
Spider Robinson
DOuglas Adams
*His non-fiction book “Last chance to see” is an absolute must.
Heck, if you do not have a copy I will donate one.
Terry Prachett
Robert Heinlein
Isaac Asimov
Arthur C Clarke
So many others but agree with all the others already posted.
What reader advisory material are you using? Something like NoveList should come in handy. Gale also puts out their “Science Fiction Book Review Index” I believe. The only edition my library has is 1923-1973, so perhaps they’ve quit printing it. The magazine “Locus” is dedicated to reviewing science fiction, and has been in print since 1977. Other books in print include:
Survey of Science Fiction Literature
The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction
Science Fiction and Fantasy sequels: A Bibliography
I too think asking your patrons for their input is a great suggestion.
My first recommendation is to start with the most famous authors and work outward. While not my favorites, if you don’t have books by Issac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, among others, your section is sorely lacking.
Next is to start with very well known titles from authors and go from there. The Dune series by the Herberts. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Hitchiker’s series by Douglas Adams. Lord of the Rings by Tolkein.
Next would be to get books that have been turned into movies. Starship Troopers by Heinlein. shudder Battlefield Earth by L.Ron Hubbard. Heck, get the star wars/star trek series in there.
Now that you’ve got the readers, find ongoing series. George R.R. Martin’s A song of Ice and Fire is a VERY popular series and I’m eagerly waiting for the next installment. Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan are both, ahem prolific in their writing. All of them have more books waiting to be produced and it will get readers in, wanting more.
Now you can expand even further. David Farland has a great three books out on the Runelords. Jack Vance is highly underrated and mostly out of print.
Bottom line: start with a circle of books and just keep expanding the radius.
Tim Powers
James Morrow
Samuel R. Delany (a true genius – though some of his books are fairly R rated).
Connie Willis (More Nebula awards than any other writer)
Harlan Ellison
Hal Clement
Ursula K. Leguin
David Brin
Research:
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
Oh, and no library would be complete without Staroamer’s Fate by Chuck Rothman.
Just so ya know.
Reality Chuck is Ursula K. Leguin still writing? I have her first Sci-Fi book on my shelf, a pretty good one at that.
Ferrous if you mean the Starfie series, it was okay but the last book was so over the top battle wise.