Submitting a science fiction short story made me think of some my favorite authors, then and now, in the genre: Heinlein, Norton, H. Beam Piper, David Weber, Ernest Cline, Bujold, John Scalzi, and many more.

With Heinlein, I really like the first half of his work, the young adult adventures. Norton was a genius in conveying ideas with brevity yet telling a great action story. H. Beam Piper? What can I say — I’m a sucker for Fuzzies.

David Weber’s Honor Harrington is one of strongest female protagonists I’ve read in science fiction. It’s a fantastic universe he’s created, even if my eyes glaze over a little at the longer descriptions of the ships of battle.

Ernest Cline tied into almost every memory I have of the early years of computing and my own gaming experiences, not to mention tons of other pop cultural references of my childhood, all the while tying it to an exciting action story with a future not too far from the realm of possible.

Miles Vorkosigan is one the most flawed protagonists you’ll want to cheer on and on. Bujold really crafted a solid series.