American science fiction writers

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as one of the central figures of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States and of early American literature. Poe was one of the country's first successful practitioners of the short story, and is generally considered to be one of the pioneers of the detective fiction genre. In addition, he is credited with contributing significantly to the emergence of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living exclusively through writing, which resulted in a financially difficult life and career.

American writer and biochemist (1920–1992)

Stephen Edwin King is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror fiction and has also explored other genres, among them suspense, crime, science-fiction, fantasy, and mystery. He has written approximately 200 short stories, most of which have been published in collections.

American astrophysicist, cosmologist and author (1934–1996)

American filmmaker and philanthropist (born 1944)

Russian-born American writer and public philosopher (1905–1982)

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

American author (1922–2007)

American writer and editor (1890–1937)

George Raymond Richard Martin, also known by the initials G.R.R.M., is an American author, screenwriter, and television producer. Martin is best known as the author of the epic fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted by HBO into the Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and its prequel series House of the Dragon (2022–present). Martin also wrote a related series of novellas, Tales of Dunk and Egg, which have been adapted by HBO as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026–present). Outside of A Song of Ice and Fire and its related media, Martin helped create the Wild Cards anthology series and contributed worldbuilding for the video game Elden Ring (2022).

American fantasy and science fiction author (1929–2018)

Sir Christopher Edward Nolan is a British and American filmmaker. A significant auteur of his generation, he has been a major figure in the 21st century Hollywood. Nolan's films have earned over $6 billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing film director. His accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and two British Academy Film Awards. Nolan was appointed as a CBE in 2019 and was knighted in 2024 for his contributions to film.

American author and aeronautical engineer (1907–1988)

American science fiction author (1928–1982)

American writer (1920–1986)

American actor (born 1948)

American writer (1875–1950)

American author, screenwriter, and journalist

American author, screenwriter, film director (1942–2008)

American screenwriter, film producer and director (born 1952)

American author

American novelist, short story writer, essayist, painter, and spoken word performer (1914–1997)

American television writer and novelist

American-Canadian speculative fiction writer (born 1948)

Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright and poet (1890-1945)

American television screenwriter and producer (1921–1991)

American fiction writer (1926–2013)

American filmmaker, composer and actor (born 1948)

American writer and Scientology founder (1911–1986)

American director, screenwriter, and producer (born 1964)

American feminist, writer, artist, and lecturer (1860–1935)

American science fiction novelist (born 1951)

U.S. science fiction and fantasy writer and poet (1937–1995)

American writer, journalist (1904–1988)

American romance writer

American science fiction writer (1926–2001)

American author

American novelist (born 1943)

American science fiction writer (1947-2006)

American science fiction author (1925–2012)

American writer (1934–2018)

American writer (born 1938)

American fantasy writer (born 1975)

American singer and actress (born 1985)

American novelist, short story writer, essayist

American astronomer (1835–1909)

American author and socialist (1850–1898)

American writer and screenwriter (born 1945)

American author

American writer (1928–2005)

American novelist (born 1949)

American science fiction writer (born 1952)

American science fiction writer and editor (1919–2013)

American novelist and editor (1930–1999)

American fiction writer (1917–1994)

American author

American novelist (1948–2026)

American inventor, writer, editor and publisher (1884–1967)

American mystery and speculative fiction writer (1916–2013)

American speculative fiction writer (1918–1985)