Of the more recent generations, I've particularly enjoyed Vinge and Brin, although Brin varies somewhat. There are probably a few others I could mention, but t

Of the more recent generations, I've particularly enjoyed Vinge and Brin, although Brin varies somewhat. There are probably a few others I could mention, but they have a nasty habit of not coming to mind when I make a conscious effort. For Vinge, I would recommend particularly A Deepness in the Sky and (prequel) A Fire Upon the Deep. For Brin, the second and third books of his Uplift Trilogy, adding also the first for context. The second and third are Startide Rising and The Uplift War. Also, his book Earth, which stands alone. P.S. Gibson and Stephenson. Gibson's Neuromancer and the two subsequent; after that, I couldn't continue (so, another "Card-esque" experience?). Also Gibson's collected short stories, Burning Chrome. I've quite enjoyed several Stephenson novels -- I guess they might tend to be his "older" ones. I tried The Baroque Cycle and could not stay with it.