captaincaptain

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RYM

SATCHMO

if wer'e talking authors from the 20th century, I think the definitive answer is James Joyce. If we're talking American Authors, I'd say its a toss up between William Faulkner, John Updike, or Toni Morrison.

Sansa Stark

All of these guys are so overrated, definitely not the "Homer" of our times

FaSho

They're just as applicable as Bukowski.

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someonecompletelyrandom

If we really want to get anal, I'd say Tolkein is the best candidate based soley on the style of his work, an epic.

James

yeah, I have to agree. I'd take Burroughs over Bukowski anyday. I couldn't really tell who would be remembered most, I'd say it'd probably be Stephen King because of his popularity, he's one of the only modern authors most people I know can name. I'm not a fan though so I didn't vote. I chose James Joyce, because the way I see it-I have never read a bad of Ulysses. Even the people that dislike the book always mention how they admire the writing and how it's just not for them.It's also pretty unique, not like anything else I have read and that'll probably be something that future people will look for. I read Dubliners too, that was equally great so yeah, James Joyce. There are some people missing, to echo whoever said it Margaret Atwood guys, all 3 of her books that I read were fantastic. I'm a big Irvine Welsh fan too but for some reason I can't imagine him being admired in the future.

Mrd00d

Shame, but it probably wouldn't be Isaac Asimov. I think he should be remembered, but we'll see.

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DwnWthVwls

Not even trying to be funny... our educational system is just that pathetic.

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Psy-Fi

That's the first image that came to my mind as soon as I saw the thread title.

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She's a Brick House

ando here

Ditto.

Great question but I can't vote for any of these authors though I greatly admire many of them. We simply have no way of knowing what works will speak to people in a thousand years' time. Within the second millennia (in the English speaking language) it's obviously Shakespeare. But 20th Century? Chances are the whole concept of what we now regard as literature will be seen as archaic in a thousand years. I mean, Shakespeare might have had a ROTFL session with Ben Jonson at the prospect of a collection of his stuff being touted as literature and taught in colleges. He never got past grammar school!

And I don't wanna hear that authorship question crap. They absolutely studied Homer (in Greek) at grammar school in England of 1575.