I am Octavia E. Butler, a voice truly unique in all of literature.
I’ve never heard of her although I read a lot of SF. She is a woman (like me), close to my age, and is a bit of a hermit (like me).
lainaf, try Dawn, and then it’s sequels. It’s about a woman who is awakened 300 years in the future by the aliens who are regenerating the earth after nuclear war. I’ve probably read almost everything she’s ever published, and my favorite is Parable of the Sower, about a girl who creates a religion.
Not anymore! I got Delany too.
Haven’t read any of his SF, although I read an essay of his for a lit crit course…
For those of you who got Stapledon, I think his best-known works are Sirius, Last and First Men, and Star Maker. I’ve read Star Maker – it’s one of the most mind-bending books I’ve ever read. I don’t think I’d have made it through had I not been reading it for a class, but in the end I was glad I did…
Yet another Gregory Benford here. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never heard of him. Perhaps I should get one of his books and see if I like it.
(Looking at the big stack of bought-but-not-yet-read books by the bookshelf.)
Or maybe not.
Hm. I got another Stanislav Lem. Never heard of the guy before now. But at least I have a few more books for my reading list.
A certified genius (with a MacArthur Grant to prove it). The Parable of the Sower is one of the scariest SF novels I’ve read, because it’s all too likely. Her novel Wild Seed, one of her “Patternist” novels, was probably the only book that brought tears to my eyes. Kindred is a time travel novel that deals with her racial heritage (she is Black).
Her Patternist books deal with human evolution through the centuries. So does her “Xenogenisis” trilogy, where humans begin to take on characteristics of aliens, causing problems and new choices.
She writes very little short fiction, but her percentage of award-winning short stories is very high, since she won Hugos and Nebulas for both “Speech Sounds” and “Bloodchild,” the only two stories of her that appeared in SF magazines.
I don’t know about her being a hermit, but she lives in LA and doesn’t drive, which keeps her from getting around much. She’s strongly associated with feminism.
Well worth seeking out.
James Tiptree, Jr. (Alice B. Sheldon)
In the 1970s she was perhaps the most memorable, and one of the most popular, short story writers.
Another Hal Clement checking in although I never heard of him.
I’m Robert A. Heinlein
That’s perfect. I always wanted to be Robert A. Heinlein.
Here’s a new one for the field:
Samuel R. Delany
Few have had such broad commercial success with aggressively experimental prose techniques.
…Guess I"ll have to go and read some of his works. I’ve eard of him, but haven’t heard anything about his work. Or is he the guy who did “The Dragon and the George”?
Vengeant
Nope. That was Gordon R. Dickson. Delany’s best-known SF novel was “Dhalgren,” and his “Babe-17” and “The Einstein Intersection” are highly regarded.
Yep. Babe-17 was right up there with “Stars in my pocket like grains of Spice Girls”.
::snerk::
I got Asimov, which is good, since I have read a good amount of his work.
You’re mistaken. “Babe-17” is actually about a talking pig. 
Another Isaac Asimov chiming in
One of the most prolific writers in history, on any imaginable subject. Cared little for art but created lasting and memorable tales.
What I find interesting is in the responses for the test. So far, none of the writers mentioned are unknown to me (either by having read them or read about them). I think it says a lot about the field and the fans when once famous and significant writers are forgotten.
Well, I can tweak a couple answers (depending on mood) and get Bester, Farmer and Heinlein.
I like 'em all, although Heinlein is the only one who could follow through on a promise 
I’m Greg Benford.
I got Hal Clement, too. I find it interesting that I got this "
master of ‘hard science’ " since I don’t read hard SF, nevermind write it- my attempts at scifi usually fall off the cliff into the realm of horror 
Oh well, at least I didn’t get Vonnegut.
Maybe I ought to use the 50 book challenge as an excuse to read more of her work. I read Kindred several years ago and loved it. I’d have read more of her books if I could find them in formats other than trade paperback, which I loath because they’re nearly as expensive as HC and no where near as durable. Maybe I can find some used ones in HC or massmarket on ebay or half.com
Another Gregory Benford here.
Cool. I thought his Martian Race was one of the best of the recent books about our red neighbor.
I have never heard of this one… E.E. “Doc” Smith
“The inventor of space opera. His purple space war tales remain well-read generations later.”
Hmmm… doesn’t tell me much, and I’m the only one to have gotten him… So does that mean I’m even weirder than I thought?
can’t even fit in with a bunch of SF folks…