Lists about novelists, poets, short story authors, journalists, essayists, and playwrights, from simple rankings to fun facts about the men and women behind the pens.

People Who Write

Writers

The pen is truly mightier than the sword, and if you&rsquo;re a book enthusiast you know that to be true. Some of history&rsquo;s <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-people-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most influential people</a> were authors, writing the most important literature and political works of all time. Writers have shaped human history, capturing some of the most important historical events and reflecting the culture of a changing world around us in a profound way. Who are the best writers of all time? Vote up the authors you think are the best and see how they rank!&nbsp;

The famous writers on this list are the best in history, writing books, plays, essays, and poetry that has stood the test of time and make up the world&#39;s canon of literature and written work. No matter what type of writing you like to read, you can&#39;t go wrong with a book by one of these best writers of all time. Simply put, they&#39;re easily some of the most famous authors of all time.

This list of authors features the best writers ever, including, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Geoffrey Chaucer, Homer, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, Herman Melleville, William Faulkner, and Edgar Allan Poe. Vote up the best authors of all time below or add the writer you think is the best who isn&#39;t already on the list.

The Best Writers of All Time

Writer

Best Writers of All Time | List of the Greatest Writer in History

Ranker Books

poll

The best autobiographies ever written include memoirs by famous historical figures, authors, politicians, celebrities, and more. This list includes a wide variety of books that are considered autobiographical, including <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-2010s-autobiograpies-memoirs/ranker-books" target="_blank">more recent memoirs</a>. Which one is the best? That&#39;s for you to decide, with votes of course. Some of the books listed here have proven to be <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/books-that-changed-my-life" target="_blank">life-changing reads</a>. If you are an avid reader of autobiographies, you&#39;ll likely recognize a vast majority of the books listed here. If one of your favorites is missing, by all means, please do add it to the list. Those of us who love reading a beautifully written autobiography will be grateful!

When talking about the best-written autobiographies ever, any list would be woefully incomplete without Anne Frank: &#39;The Diary of a Young Girl,&#39; as well as &#39;The Autobiography of Malcolm X&#39; and Frank McCourt&#39;s heartbreaking (and humorous) memoir &#39;Angela&#39;s Ashes.&#39; These books are not only notable autobiographies, they are certainly among the best <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/non-fiction-ebooks/barbara-gaston" target="_blank">non-fiction eBooks</a> ever.

Not all of the best autobiographies ever written are dark and serious. Some manage to mix an ample amount of humor in. Tina Fey&#39;s brilliant &#39;Bossypants&#39; and Steve Martin&#39;s &#39;Born Standing Up: A Comic&#39;s Life&#39; are excellent examples of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/must-read-books-by-stand-up-comedians/therealdunndeal" target="_blank">must read books by stand up comedians</a>. FYI: You don&#39;t necessarily have to spend a small fortune to purchase these best autobiographies ever written. Some of them are available as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-free-ebooks/barbara-gaston" target="_blank">free ebooks</a>, or even <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-biography-audiobooks/ranker-books" target="_blank">as audiobooks</a> so be sure to check before you shell out a ton of money. If you&#39;re a reading fanatic, you might also like this list of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/autobiographical-novel-books-novels-and-stories/reference" target="_blank">famous autobiographical novel books</a>, as well as this list of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/20-must-read-books" target="_blank">top must-read books of all time</a>.

The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly

The Best Autobiographies Ever Written

Book

Best Autobiographies Ever Written | Top Autobiography List

Buster McDermott

Ranking the best novels and non-fiction books of every genre.

Bibliophilia

List of some of the best American novels from classic writers, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, to more modern names, like Stephen King, with room for the list to grow. There is an option to add your favorite American novels to the list if yours is not already on there. The list asks the question, &quot;What is the best American novel?&quot; with novels from William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Philip Roth and Nathaniel Hawthorne, plus many more that have written great American novels since then. More modern American novels are included, such as The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Stand by Stephen King, which may be more familiar. American novels can represent the spirit of the age in the United States during the time it was written or the time it was set in. The American novel is written by those who are knowledgeable about the state, culture and even the perspective of those during that time. Some of these best American novels may have also been on the reading curriculum in school, like Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Be sure to vote not just on your favorite authors, but on your favorite novel of all time, as some authors may be listed twice for other novels that are considered the best.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

The Greatest American Novels

Best American Novels | List of Top Works of Fiction by American Authors

People Trivia

Truman Capote completely destroyed his social life with just one short story. &quot;La C&ocirc;te Basque, 1965&quot; was published in Esquire in 1975, and it aired the dirty laundry of every one of Capote's closest friends.The book that destroyed Truman Capote was supposed to be his final great work;&nbsp;it was called&nbsp;Answered Prayers,&nbsp;and &quot;La C&ocirc;te Basque, 1965&quot;&nbsp;was to be the first installment. His previous literary accomplishments included the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's&nbsp;and the novel <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/clutter-family-murder-facts/berlin-sylvestre" target="_blank">In Cold Blood</a>.&nbsp;He used his fame as a writer to enter the social circles of New York City's most polished, fashionable, and rich women –&nbsp;Capote called them his &quot;swans.&quot;It was their secrets (and crimes) that were exposed in &quot;La C&ocirc;te Basque, 1965,&quot; and their subsequent rejection sent him into a spiral that haunted him for the rest of his life. Truman Capote's Answered Prayers was never&nbsp;finished, and he died in ruins.

How Truman Capote Went From A New York City &quot;Party Boy&quot; – To A Social Ruiner

General

How Truman Capote Went From A New York City 'Party Boy' – To A Social Ruiner

Rachel Souerbry

These are things that make America great. Get in the spirit and vote!

USA! USA!

America

Who are <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-americans-ever/jacariah?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the greatest American</a> authors of all time? In just two short centuries, the great U.S. of A. has produced an incredible number of writers that have influenced literature and art the world over. This list includes great American novelists, poets, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-playwrights-ever/ranker-books" target="_blank">best playwrights</a>, and writers in the all genres of fiction and nonfiction alike. What American writers did you read in school and actually like? While most kids in this country are assigned works by top novelists like Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, many don't truly love to read until their teen years, when they first find less traditional writers like J.D. Salinger or Kurt Vonnegut. Others are swept away by authors as varied as Stephen King, Harper Lee, or good ol' Dr. Seuss.Who are the greatest American authors? This list include writers in all mediums, both living and deceased. Maybe your all-time favorites include poets like Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost. If your tastes are more for the pictures, you may consider Mel Brooks, Quentin Tarantino, or even Wes Anderson among the top American screenwriters. Other authors on this list have created some of the most beloved and widely read series in history, including Louisa May Alcott and George R. R. Martin.The greatest American writers are some of the tops in their fields, producing some of the best novels, essays, films, short stories, stage plays, and poems of all time. While many have stood the test of time and are firmly represented in the literary canon, it remains to be seen whether more contemporary&nbsp;American authors of the 21st Century will be remembered in decades to come. Vote up your the absolute best, and please add any famous American authors that are missing.

Ernest Hemingway

The Greatest American Writers of All Time

Top American Authors | List of Best Writers and Novelists from the US

Lists of fascinating facts and surprising trivia about the rich and complicated lives of some of history's most creative wordsmiths.

The Life of a Writer

Hunter S. Thompson, founder of the "gonzo" journalism movement in which the author is a protagonist and subjective participant in the narrative, covered everything from the Hells Angels to the Kentucky Derby until he put a bullet in his head at 67.

Dr. Gonzo

True Stories

Hunter S. Thompson lived a pretty crazy life and there are plenty of true stories to prove it. This should come as no surprise, since just a few of his credos were: &quot;Buy the ticket, take the ride,&quot; &quot;I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me,&quot; and &quot;'Crazy' is a term of art; 'Insane' is a term of law. Remember that, and you will save yourself a lot of trouble.&quot; When these are the credos you live by, you find yourself in some crazy situations.&nbsp;Hunter S. Thompson was a man who played by his own rules to such an extent that he invented new ones, got other people to follow them, published his findings and called it all &quot;Gonzo.&quot; His exploits are the stuff of legend.&nbsp;Who else could make a year-long stint on the campaign trail seem interesting to the masses? Or make going to the Kentucky Derby seem like the most insane trip of one's life? Who else could set the bar on the insane depravity that is Vegas?&nbsp;Hunter S. Thompson lived an amazing life, and he lived it his way right up until he was done with it. These are the craziest Hunter S. Thompson stories, may they inspire you to have some of your own. Buy the ticket. Take the ride.

14 Bizarre Stories From Hunter S. Thompson's Life

Hunter S. Thompson: True Stories and Exploits

Coy Jandreau

Interesting

No Edgar Allan Poe biography would be complete without examining the frequently bizarre circumstances&nbsp;surrounding his life.&nbsp;Although today Poe is <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-edgar-allan-poe-stories/ranker-books">universally admired</a> and respected, his&nbsp;journey&nbsp;was a difficult and frequently depressing existence&nbsp;fraught with poverty, misfortune, and the death of numerous loved ones.&nbsp;Perhaps it is fitting that such an <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/a-list-of-famous-edgar-allan-poe-quotes/reference">inventive writer</a> who frequently created tales involving mystery, murder, and the macabre would endure&nbsp;such a haunted reality.&nbsp;Poe epitomized &quot;the starving artist,&quot;&nbsp;a man who literally lived and died for his art. These weird, bizarre, and strange facts will help explain, &quot;Who was Edgar Allan Poe?&quot;&nbsp;

16 Bizarre Facts About the Tragic Life of Edgar Allan Poe

16 Bizarre Facts About the Life of Edgar Allan Poe

Phil Gibbons

Lists about and celebrating people of every kind.

Love Is Love Is Love

Who are the most&nbsp;famous gay writers in history? This list contains over 200 of the most notable gay writers ever, with photos where available. Some of the literary world&#39;s best talent has come from gay writers. The best gay authors may or may not choose to speak openly about their sexuality and tackle it as a theme in their writing or in their books. The LGBTQ+ community has contributed wonderful pieces of writing&mdash;from poems and novels to fantastic journalism&mdash;and many gay writers of the 20th century, like Oscar Wilde and Tennessee&nbsp;Williams, are studied in school and revered for their work.

Who are the most famous gay and lesbian authors? This list includes authors from ancient times to modern day, famous gay poets, novelists, screenplay writers and LGBTQ+ authors. Some on the list may not be considered &quot;gay&quot; by modern terms as cultures have changed throughout the centuries. Others were out and proud and used their unique experience to create some of the best gay literature of all time. That said, regardless of their era in antiquity, these gay authors have all expressed interest in same-sex relations.

Yukio Mishima

The Best Gay Authors

Author

Famous Gay Authors & Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Writers

Ron Garcia

Ernest Hemingway lived a life full of legendary exploits including being a Bronze Star recipient and winner of both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes. He&nbsp;set a world record for a catch he made as a fisherman in 1938, was a boxer, big game hunter, war correspondent, and bullfighting aficionado to name a few. His 27 books and over 50 short stories are known masterpieces of American literature and his life was filled with the adventures that most of us only dream of. Below is a round-up of facts we learned about Ernest Hemingway&#39;s life courtesy of<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned" target="_blank"> r/todayilearned.</a>

16 Random, But Fascinating Facts We Learned About Ernest Hemingway's Legendary Life

Sami C

Female Professionals

Some of the most powerful, influential women in history were authors, writers, and poets. What better way to make your point, affect the world around you, inspire other women to fight for their dreams. or even just simply put your stamp on the world than to have your writing published. Who are the best female authors in history? &nbsp; The female authors featured on this list have gone down in history as the absolute greatest women writers. Many movies have been made either from some of their works, or even based on their lives and what shaped them as a writer. This list of the best female authors has been ranked by the community. Vote up the female authors you think are the best and see how your favorites rank. &nbsp; This list features the best female authors of all time, many of whom wrote best-selling books that are still considered classics today including, Gertrude Stein, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, &nbsp;Agatha Christie, Maya Angelou, Flannery O’Connor, and Kate Chopin. If the female writer you think is the best isn't already on the list, add her below.

Toni Morrison

The Best Female Authors of All Time

Best Female Authors | List of the Greatest Women Writers

Lists about the King of Horror and ranking his greatest works.

The Dark World of Stephen King

Horror Books

He&#39;s one of the most recognizable names in fiction and easily one of the most prolific American authors. With so many great works, this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-selling-books-of-all-time/jeff419?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of books</a> by Stephen King, voted on by the Ranker community, attempts to rank his top novels and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-books-of-all-time-_fiction_?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best books ever</a>. This list of King&#39;s writings is the definitive ranking of his body of work. King&#39;s stories range from thick novels to short stories and collections, and include some of the most popular horror novels of our time. Many Stephen King books and stories have been adapted into <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-based-on-stephen-king-books/lons">popular horror movies</a> as well, including The Shining, Misery, Carrie, and The Shawshank Redemption.&nbsp;

What are Stephen King&#39;s best books? This list is focused only on Stephen King&#39;s published work, not the resulting movies or TV shows. Enjoy this list of Stephen King books ranked, and vote for the novels you think are the best Stephen King books of all time. Then, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-stephen-king-audiobooks/ranker-books" target="_blank">see if they&#39;re available on audiobook</a>.

Ranking Stephen King books isn&#39;t easy, with so many to choose from, so help us out and vote! His works cover many genres, primarily horror, fantasy, supernatural fiction, and dark fantasy. He has written memorable series such as The Dark Tower series, as well as stand-alone horror novels, like The Stand. King has also branched out from horror writing during his career, such as with the time-travel novel, 11/22/63, about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

The best Stephen King novels on this list have combined to sell over 350 million copies, and King himself has received numerous writing and literature awards throughout his career. So vote for the best among his many top works below, or rerank the list if you don&#39;t agree with the order.

Bag of Bones

The All-Time Greatest Works of Stephen King

Best Stephen King Books | List of Stephen King Novels Ranked by Fans

Ranker Community

Explainer

Laura Ingalls Wilder was a homesteader and author, famous for her Little House on the Prairie book series. Like <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-juana-maria/setareh-janda">Juana Maria</a>, who inspired the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Wilder actually existed. Laura&nbsp;Ingalls&nbsp;Wilder was a <a href="http://www.notablebiographies.com/We-Z/Wilder-Laura-Ingalls.html">real woman</a> who&nbsp;wrote books inspired by events that took place in her life. For example, she really grew up on rural farms in multiple states;&nbsp;her sister Mary <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/129021/laura-ingalls-wilder">actually went blind</a>;&nbsp;and her husband, Almanzo, was not a work of fiction.&nbsp;Pictures of the real Laura&nbsp;Ingalls&nbsp;Wilder and family exist, and there is a museum dedicated to the family in Mansfield, Missouri, where visitors can at least see part of the&nbsp;real <a href="https://doyouremember.com/83810/little-house-on-the-prairie-cast-now" target="_blank">little house on the prairie</a>.&nbsp;

The real <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ingalls_Wilder">Laura Ingalls Wilder</a> was born on February 7, 1867, in Pepin County, Wisconsin, and she died at age 90 on February 10, 1957 in Mansfield, Missouri. Thanks to her books and the television show based on them, she will never be forgotten.&nbsp;

Facts About Laura Ingalls Wilder And The Real Life Little House On The Prairie

True Facts About Laura Ingalls Wilder And The Real Life Little House On Prairie

Amanda Sedlak-Hevener

Why are women still having to ask to be treated like human beings?

Time's Up

19th Century

It&#39;s easy to understand why many assume the Victorian era&nbsp;was all business and no play. They had a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/victorian-mourning-customs/lisa-waugh" target="_blank">morbid fascination with death</a>&nbsp;and appeared to rarely smile&nbsp;in their portraits. Though most evidence seemingly points to the notion that Victorian life was just as colorless as the photos from that period, it would be a huge disservice to the people who lived during that time to believe they had no sense of humor. Not only were they funny, either, but some Victorians also were downright savage.

The wry cleverness of Victorians is put on full display in the works of literature from the period. As evidenced by the quotes below, female writers from the era&nbsp;never missed an opportunity to slip a burn against the patriarchy into their work.&nbsp;

Like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/great-18th-century-slang/zach-seemayer" target="_blank">18th-century slang</a>, these Victorian insults reveal people in history were perhaps more relatable than we expected.

16 Times Victorian Women Slipped Savage Burns Against The Patriarchy Into Their Work

16 Masterfully Savage Victorian Insults Against The Patriarchy

Garri Chaverst

Lists of celebrated short fiction by author and region and curated collections you should add to your home library.

The Art of the Short Story

List of the best short story writers of all time. From Voltaire to George Saunders, a complete list of the greatest short story authors who have written works in English or whose works have been translated into English.&nbsp;Usually, short fiction features a small cast of characters and is focused on one incident or anecdote and one overall mood, such as <a href="https://commaful.com/tags/romantic/" target="_blank">romance</a>, <a href="https://commaful.com/tags/funny/" target="_blank">humor</a>, or <a href="https://commaful.com/tags/sad%20love/" target="_blank">sadness</a>. Complex stories with sweeping timelines and superfluous characters are not often written in the short story medium, because there is simply not enough time to develop more than one or two cohesive thoughts. The best short story writers think that writing short-fiction is a completely&nbsp;separate art form than writing a novel, but some would argue that <a href="https://commaful.com/writers/" target="_blank">writing short stories</a> is great practice for writing a full length work of fiction.&nbsp;Because of the constraints of page length, great short story writers have to use language that is descriptive and quickly sets the scene or develops their characters. Hemingway is notoriously good at short, pithy stories. One of his most famous is the world's shortest short story: “For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” Very short stories are also known as flash-fiction.Like Hemingway, the best short story authors can paint a picture with their words in a short amount of time. If you like books but don't have time to read novels, reading short stories could be a great option for you. Many of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-novelists-of-all-time/ranker-books">the best novelists of all time</a>&nbsp; have also written good short stories. Often, this type of fiction is sold in short story collections or anthologies. Use this list to discover new authors of short-fiction and vote on your favorites.

The Best Short Story Writers of All Time

Best Short Story Writers | Greatest Authors of Short-Fiction

Lists about films, TV series, novels & series, anime, and other media that explore imaginary universes and the characters and forces that live inside them.

What's Your Fantasy?

The best fantasy authors of all time, ranked by readers and fans. This list include some highly recognizable names, like J.R.R. Tolkein and George R.R. Martin, along with some contemporary fantasy writers who are just beginning to make their mark on the genre. This list of the best fantasy authors includes some <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-science-fiction-authors-v1?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">science fiction writers</a>, horror writers and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-young-adult-authors/book-keeper">young adult fiction authors.</a> Fans of fantasy know that there is always some overlap. All of the authors on this list have one thing in common: They've written fantastic, magical, mystical works of fantasy for fans to enjoy for years to come. Vote for your favorite fantasy authors here and add your own personal faves if you don't see them listed!I've listed what I believe are some of the most well-known, popular fantasy authors ever, and I've added a few that may not always show up on a 'best of' list. Disagree with a choice? Vote it down. I'll be interested to see who wins the Tolkein vs. Martin battle for votes, too! The aforementioned (brilliant) writers are responsible for some of the best fantasy novel series' of all time - but I'd be remiss if I didn't also include authors like Robert Jordan ('The Wheel of Time' series), Ursula K. Le Guin ('Earthsea'), Tad Williams ('Memory, Sorrow and Thorn') and yes, J.K. Rowling ('Harry Potter') as well. All of these authors, in my opinion, deserve a place of honor on this list.Hopefully, this list will grow and become totally comprehensive. Readers who are new to fantasy can use it as a great guide to find new favorite fantasy authors and books.

The Best Fantasy Authors

England

Lists about and ranking the best poets and poems of all times, including rhymes, haiku, sonnets, free verse, blank verse, epics, ballads, love poems, villanelles, and even limericks. 

Poetry? Oh Noetry!

British

Who is the best English poet? From the Renaissance, to the Jacobean era, to the Restoration, to the modern day, great English poets have been making readers think across the ages. If you love to debate, &quot;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-poets/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Who is the best poet</a> in English literature?&quot; then this is the list for you.&nbsp;

Written works have the ability to make us feel. They make us want to believe, be inspired, and live vicariously through the stories we read on the page. This list of English poets and their works demonstrate this particular skill. It all begins with the words written on the page. Whether short or long form, poetry is often illusory, and full of rich imagery or hidden meaning. It is these elements which provoke readers to dig deeper and make poetry so engaging and moving.

The best of poems and poets are read throughout the ages. They are read from generation to generation and taught throughout school to young students. Poets and their poetry have the ability to take us places and into the lives of those we&rsquo;ve never imagined.&nbsp;Poets are often tortured souls or great thinkers who show readers a new view of the world they never would have imagined.&nbsp;This list includes the great English&nbsp;poets, such as Rudyard Kipling, John Keats, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William Shakespeare.&nbsp;

These greatest English poets provide the kind of emotional connection to the written word that few can. So, who are the best of the famous English poets?&nbsp;Vote up the absolute best English poets on the list below, or add a famous poet from England who is truly great, but isn&#39;t already on the list.

&nbsp;

William Shakespeare

The Best English Poets of All Time

Best English Poets | List of the Greatest English Poets

Writer lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of writer lists and rankings.

Writer lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind

Writer lists on Ranker

Writers lists on Ranker

Vazha-Pshavela

Omar Khayyám

Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi

Stephen King

Edgar Allan Poe

H. P. Lovecraft

Robert A. Heinlein

Arthur C. Clarke

Jules Verne

Leo Tolstoy

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

George Orwell

Who are the best poets of all time? It includes poets such as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, and Sylvia Plath. Poetry has captivated readers for thousands of years. Regardless of the time period during which they wrote, the great poets on this list have used their talents and ways with language to connect with readers of all ages.Written works have the ability to make us feel. They make us want to believe, be inspired, and live vicariously through the stories on the page. Whether short or long form, poetry is often illusory, and full of rich imagery or hidden meaning. It is these elements which provoke readers to dig deeper. The best poems and poets are read throughout the ages. They are passed from generation to generation and taught throughout school to young students. Poets and their poetry have the ability to take readers places and into worlds they've never imagined. Poets can often be tortured souls or great thinkers who allow readers a new view on the world which they never would have imagined. These greatest poets provide the kind of emotional connection to the written word that few can. Vote up the all time best poets on the list below or add the poets you think are the greatest if they aren't already on the list.

The Greatest Poets of All Time

Best Poets | List of the Greatest Poet in History

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-writers-of-all-time/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best authors of all time</a> as voted on by normal, book-loving people. For this list, we will consider writers who are mainly novelists.&nbsp;Many of the people included on this list are famous authors who wrote popular books; others may not be as well-known, but are masters of their craft.&nbsp; The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-living-writers/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular authors</a> are ones that have somehow enriched our lives. J.D. Salinger gave us Holden Caulfield and the term &quot;phony,&quot; James Joyce introduced us to stream-of-consciousness prose and Carson McCullers immortalized the misfits and outcasts of the U.S. South in the first half of the 20th century.The best writers are ones that changed the literary landscape in some way, introduced an iconic character, experimented with form and style and captured our imagination with their language.While lists of &quot;best novelists&quot; are often attempted by individuals, they can be easily disputed because they often amount to no more than one person's opinion. Since this Ranker list is crowdsourced and open to voting, it benefits from the collective wisdom of many rather than the whims of a few.&nbsp;Feel free to vote on this list of top authors, add some that may have been left off, or ReRank this list entirely.&nbsp;

Miguel de Cervantes

The Best Novelists of All Time

Best Novelists of All Time | List of Top English Language Writers

Lists about the best (and worst) films, TV series, novels, characters, etc. in every sci-fi genre.

The Worlds of Science Fiction

Culture

The best science-fiction writers are among some of the most creative writers ever. Instead of only making up a story, they make up entire universes, time dimensions, alien technologies - it's really incredible. Truth be told, some are more successful than others - it is really easy to write bad scifi. But those who can actually pull the genre off are right here on this list of the top science-fiction authors. These are the best science-fiction authors of all time, ranked by readers and fans. This list include some highly recognizable and classic names, like Isaac Asimov and George Orwell, along with some contemporary science-fiction writers who are just beginning to make their mark on the genre. This list of the best sci-fi authors includes some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-horror-novelists">best horror writers</a> and the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-fantasy-authors">best fantasy authors</a>, but since the genres elements all go together nicely, it's to be expected. Fans of science-fiction know that there is always some overlap. All of the famous sci fi authors on this list have one thing in common: they've written fantastic, horrifying, mystical works of science-fiction for fans to enjoy for years to come. Vote for your favorite sci-fi authors here and add your own personal faves if you don't see them listed!Listed among the best science-fiction authors are some of the most well-known, popular sci-di authors ever, including a few that may not always show up on a 'best of' list. Disagree with a choice? Vote it down. The aforementioned (brilliant) writers are responsible for some of the best science-fiction novels and series of all time - but other sci-fi writers like Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451), Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), Robert Louis Stevenson (The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), and Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) are excellent sci-fi writers as well. All of these authors, in my opinion, deserve a place of honor on this list.Hopefully, this list will grow and become totally comprehensive. Readers who are new to sci-fi can use it as a great guide to find new science fiction authors and books.

Larry Niven

The Best Science-Fiction Authors

The Best Science-Fiction Authors | List of the Greatest Sci-Fi Writers

Horror

The best horror novelists include some great authors who manage to weave fantastical tales of horror that leave readers scared out of their wits. The horror fiction authors on this list write novels that can strike fear into the heart of virtually any reader, using elements of horror and dark fantasy. Whether it's a classic ghost novel or a book that features real-life evil (like serial killers), these horror novelists are some of the best in the horror genre. Be sure to vote for your favorite horror writers, and add your own personal favorite horror novelist if you don't see them on this list!Some of the best horror writers on this list will be instantly recognizable. Horror authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz, for example, are very well-known, popular modern horror fiction writers. I've also included some of the original, classic horror novelists, including the incomparable H.P. Lovecraft and the master, Edgar Allan Poe. Gothic horror writers like Maurice Level are included, as well. You'll notice that some of the top horror writers on the list are also known as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-science-fiction-writer_s)/reference">science fiction writers</a> and/or <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-fantasy-authors">fantasy authors</a>, including Ray Bradbury. There is some overlap, and I feel it's important to include these horror and dark fantasy writers as well. In addition, some of the best horror novelists on this list are winners of the prestigious Bram Stoker Award (Richard Matheson, Clive Barker and King, among them) for outstanding achievement in horror writing. The hope is that with you, the reader, will help to contribute the names of your favorite horror writers and this list of the best horror novelists of all-time will continue to grow - serving as a great, comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to find a new horror fiction author to read! From the famous horror writers who everyone should read at least once, to the lesser known, but still super scary authors that horror buffs should give a try, you'll find it all on this list!