since you're shrinking it to such a short time span, i can't really choose

the only person I thin who qualifies in the Homeric tradition is John Milton

I chose Stephen King. Easily my favorite author and I can see people talking about him long after he's gone. Has anyone read his short-story, N., from Just After Sunset? Freakin' amazing. Or the Dark Tower series? Quite an adventure.

I'm kind of saddened that Thomas Pynchon's not on the list, truth be told. Of those listed, I'll have to say that Vonnegut, Joyce, Irving, Faulkner, King, and Bukowski are my favorites.

But still - I really would like to think that Thomas Pynchon's work will have the most staying power. Or Margaret Atwood, another omission that hurts my soul.

If this was a favorite author poll, I'd vote Vonnegut or Updike or Murakami, but tbh Tolkien and Twain are probably considered the best modern authors, and that opinion will probably live on. Then again, I wouldn't exactly say they're still influencing authors. I'm going to vote Vonnegut, as I'm not really a fan of either of those.

Also, where's Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs?

If we're talking about American authors, by far Mark Twain.

Uh... Twain was in 1911-2011?

He died in 1910 I guess not. I think there should've have been more consideration when putting this list together. What's considered our time? I was born in 1984.

original post said 'last 100 years'.

I'm shocked nobody mentioned Palahniuk, he's pretty freaking awesome.

no Philip K. Dick?

he may not be very applauded currently, maybe retrospectively in the future?

Fixed.