Top 5 Best Contemporary Fiction Authors

Fiction is like an escape from reality without ever leaving. Our favorite authors have enabled this. In order to be completely fair, the following list of authors will not be arranged in order of best to worst, but rather they will be arranged randomly.

1. Neil Gaiman - Brilliant. He writes short stories and novels. I am never disappointed in his books. He was the writer of such novels as Stardust, American Gods, Neverwhere, Good Omens etc. and such short story collections as Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things. He has completely mastered the art of taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. The book American Gods is about the ancient gods of Norse, Greek, Hindu etc. mythology trying to survive in a world with new gods like Credit and Media. If you enjoy mythology, this book is definitely for you. My favorite Gaiman short story is "Nicholas Was...". It's only a paragraph long, but it is definitely worth reading!

2. Michael Crichton - If you ever want to feel really smart about something you know nothing about, Michael Crichton has you covered. With books like Jurassic Park, Congo, The Andromeda Strain, Timeline etc. you feel like you know all about paleontology or quantum physics. The greatest thing about Michael Crichton, though, is that he grabs your attention while explaining these intense concepts so you are never really lost. The worst thing about Michael Crichton is that the movie adaptations of the books are generally bad. Don't get me wrong, I love the movie Jurassic Park was a highly entertaining movie, but the book was significantly better. Be warned, Crichton's earlier works were not nearly as politically or environmentally charged as the last few he wrote before his death (Next, Prey, and State of Fear).

3. Christopher Buckley - In a world where satire is nearly lost, Christopher Buckley emerges. The most famous of his books is Thank You For Smoking which quickly became a movie (starring Aaron Eckhart). After reading his books I almost feel like I have no convictions left or that they have changed completely. His writing is humorous and poignant. Also rising in the ranks is his book called Boomsday about the effects the Baby Boomer generation could have on the current and future generation.

4. Stephen King - I don't even know where to start. With well over 50 books and a good portion of them in the fiction category, it is impossible to narrow it down. His writing is gritty and dark. With an almost macabre sense of humor, Stephen King has set the bar high for other writers in horror and fiction. He has covered all parts of the fiction spectrum. With novels like Carrie, Pet Sematary, the Dark Tower Series, The Stand, and The Shining to name only a few, there is no contention that he has written a novel. He also has short story collections and has written a novella or two.

5. Cormac McCarthy - One word comes to mind: gritty. He isn't afraid to "get his hands dirty" with his writing. In his book, The Road, it follows a man and his son in their struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. The book itself isn't entirely action packed, but there are a few moments that will stay in your memory for a long time. Overall, the most impressive thing about the book is its character interaction. His most famous books are All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men, and Blood Meridian.

If you enjoy fiction, take a look at these authors and, most likely, you will find something you like! Happy reading!