Science Fiction

Decades ago Heinlein predicted skin-tight fashions, widespread photovoltaic power, self-driving cars, evangelical dictator president of the US, common-place acceptance of homosexualism and transgenderism (which exists today despite backward looking maga revisionism), and commercial space travel. However, like all futurists, he has more failed predictions than successful.

All laid out with compelling yarn spinning. He has his flaws as a writer (multiple) but Heinlein is the most influential science fiction writer of all time.

Orwell's reputation rests on one spectacular book of science fiction and one iconic animal fable. He does have many top shelf essays but they are not widely read.

Bradbury is very lyrical, poetry disguised as prose. Le Guin has sociological insights nobody has come close to.

If you like Dick, you need to get deep into Harlan Ellison.

The Year's Best Science Fiction series edited by Gardner Dozois is well worth reading, all 35 years up to 2018, for modern cutting edge short stories and longer form short fiction.