I say it's Cormac McCarthy. Here is his bibliography:

 

The Orchard Keeper (1965)

Outer Dark (1968)

Child of God (1973)

Suttree (1979)

Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West (1985)

All the Pretty Horses (1992)

The Crossing (1994)

Cities of the Plain (1998)

No Country for Old Men (2005)

The Road (2006)

For me, it's Stephen King. The man is just brilliant in so many ways.

For me, it's Stephen King. The man is just brilliant in so many ways.

 

It's hard to argue with Stephen King, that is for sure.

 

I think that John Grisham could be in the conversation.

I think it would be an interesting question, what makes someone a great author? If you went simply on how many lives they have touched with their books, it would be tough to go against J.K. Rowling. And I say that not being a Harry Potter fan.

I think it would be an interesting question, what makes someone a great author? If you went simply on how many lives they have touched with their books, it would be tough to go against J.K. Rowling. And I say that not being a Harry Potter fan.

I think it's quality, paired with longevity. The ability to surprise and innovate elevates one great author over another.

Cormac McCarthy, Philip Roth, Joyce Carol Oates, Thomas Pynchon, and Margaret Atwood are among those I'm considering right now off the top of my head. Without thinking too much, I'd probably go with Roth. Some people just know how to write a good story and Roth is one of them. He ought to have a Nobel Prize already.

 

I have a soft spot for Haruki Murakami and Neil Gaiman that will probably force me to consider them as well.

 

Edit: writing about genre writers in my post below reminded me of how excellent Ursula Le Guin is. She might be the greatest living science fiction writer. "The Left Hand of Darkness" is one of the most remarkable, if bizarre, books I've ever read.

For me, it's Stephen King. The man is just brilliant in so many ways.

 

Love Stephen King. In the horror genre, at least for me, it's Poe, Lovecraft and King. There are other good ones, but they're just imitating the best.

 

Nobody is more critical of the lack of respect genre writers get than I am but I just can't give him the nod as one of the greatest living writers. I don't think he's ever done enough GREAT character work to get on this list for me. That said, I don't know that I've ever read a book that drew me in quicker or held my attention more captive than "The Stand."

Tom Rinaldi

It's hard to argue against McCarthy. But I haven't read enough work by "recent" authors to make a clear choice. I also agree with Getslow on Philip Roth, though I haven't read American Pastoral. I'm anxious to read Haruki Murakami as well. Anyone read Gabriel Garcia Marquez? He could be in the discussion.

Love Stephen King. In the horror genre, at least for me, it's Poe, Lovecraft and King. There are other good ones, but they're just imitating the best.

 

Nobody is more critical of the lack of respect genre writers get than I am but I just can't give him the nod as one of the greatest living writers. I don't think he's ever done enough GREAT character work to get on this list for me. That said, I don't know that I've ever read a book that drew me in quicker or held my attention more captive than "The Stand."

I think a list of the greatest living authors would lose credibility without King on the list. He is the master of his craft. Btw, I'm a big fan of Poe as well, but since he is dead at the moment, I left him out of consideration.

Edited November 29, 201114 yr by Birdsfan

I feel shamed to say this, but I haven't read any Roth yet. I plan to correct this very soon.

Cormac McCarthy, Philip Roth, Joyce Carol Oates, Thomas Pynchon, and Margaret Atwood are among those I'm considering right now off the top of my head. Without thinking too much, I'd probably go with Roth. Some people just know how to write a good story and Roth is one of them. He ought to have a Nobel Prize already.

 

I have a soft spot for Haruki Murakami and Neil Gaiman that will probably force me to consider them as well.

 

Edit: writing about genre writers in my post below reminded me of how excellent Ursula Le Guin is. She might be the greatest living science fiction writer. "The Left Hand of Darkness" is one of the most remarkable, if bizarre, books I've ever read.

 

It's hard to argue against McCarthy. But I haven't read enough work by "recent" authors to make a clear choice. I also agree with Getslow on Philip Roth, though I haven't read American Pastoral. I'm anxious to read Haruki Murakami as well. Anyone read Gabriel Garcia Marquez? He could be in the discussion.

Regarding Marukami, I picked up Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman and a novel of his, I believe The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle at the used bookstore a few weeks ago. I hope to start them soon as I've heard great things about Murakami.

I think it would be an interesting question, what makes someone a great author? If you went simply on how many lives they have touched with their books, it would be tough to go against J.K. Rowling. And I say that not being a Harry Potter fan.

I think Rowling is a good writer, but she needs to have a lot more than just the Harry Potter Series before I even consider her and this is coming from a HUGE Harry Potter fan.

It's hard to argue against McCarthy. But I haven't read enough work by "recent" authors to make a clear choice. I also agree with Getslow on Philip Roth, though I haven't read American Pastoral. I'm anxious to read Haruki Murakami as well. Anyone read Gabriel Garcia Marquez? He could be in the discussion.

I've read Memories of My Melancholy Women of Ill Repute, where should I go from there?

Tom Rinaldi

The ESPN guy?