Who is the greatest sci-fi writer of all time?

This week let's take the pulse of a broader subject for all of us Discover Sci-Fi readers. It's a simple question with excellent debate points. Who do you think is the greatest sci-fi writer of all time? It's a tricky question, since this necessarily tends to support the classics more than more recent authors, by virtue of their time-worn accolades. But, maybe some contemporary authors will make the nomination list? We'll see!

Take a look at the list below, and feel free to add any great science fiction writers you think we should know about. You can nominate and vote for as many writers as you like for this round.

Nancy Clark says:
June 20, 2019 at 9:08 pm
Might be good to be able to actually vote for more than one, this round, lol
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- Discover Sci-Fi says:
  June 20, 2019 at 11:12 pm
  Thanks for pointing that out! We’ve fixed the issue and you can now vote for multiple. 🙂
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  - Denise Force says:
    June 21, 2019 at 12:55 am
    Thank you
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  - Josh Shaine says:
    June 21, 2019 at 8:56 pm
    Doesn’t work if you are also adding a name, it seems.
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Chip G. Younkin says:
June 21, 2019 at 1:16 am
The four gods are at the top of the list. The others, while good to excellent, stand in their shadow.
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Carolyn says:
June 21, 2019 at 6:02 am
I would like to nominate Anne McCaffrey. I believe she has made a significant contribution to the genre! Thanks.
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David Collick says:
June 22, 2019 at 8:29 pm
E.E Doc. Smith, John Ringo, Patrick Tilley, Harry Harrison (The Stainless Steel Rat) a few extra names and maybe for an outsider Robert Asprin for Phules 🙂
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Jeff Brazeel says:
June 23, 2019 at 1:21 am
Well it was nice to be able to vote for multiple authors this round, but that multiple equals 10, and I had to bounce around the list to keep at 10, but I think that about 14 authors would have been voted on by me this round. I had to change a few around but…
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Will says:
June 24, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Bit surprised Haldeman had to be added by a visitor!
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Kelly Hemperley says:
June 27, 2019 at 12:07 am
Paul Anderson
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- Chip G. Younkin says:
  June 27, 2019 at 2:17 am
  Poul Anderson?
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Lea Ann Reese says:
June 28, 2019 at 1:20 am
Does anyone think of H.P. Lovecraft? Horror but still sci fi….
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Vishwam Heckert says:
July 5, 2019 at 11:43 am
How is Ursula Le Guin not on here?
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Steve Muhlberger says:
August 10, 2019 at 4:04 pm
Jack Vance
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DM Car says:
August 14, 2020 at 3:27 am
Not even a nod for Clifford D. Simak? That was, you know, Isaac Asimov’s favorite sci-fi writer.
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- Layne Partin says:
  July 25, 2024 at 11:03 am
  Mine as well 😁
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Layne Partin says:
July 25, 2024 at 11:02 am
Most of these I thought of when I read the headline, before I saw the list. Clifford D Simak would be one of my favorites.
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