Classic or Modern Literature. Which do you prefer?

[Viper]

Do you prefer the Ton Clancy and Michael Crichtons of today or the Hans Christian Andersen and John Miltons of the past?

[Dralor]

How far back do we go before it is a classic are we talking Dickens or Asimov here?

[Viper]

I consider that up to the reader (to a degree of course)

[Dralor]

Well i would say probably Modern with Goodkind, Cherry, Mcaffery, and Card. I'd put Asimove in modern too it was just middle of last century. Well and who can forget Hitchikers guide though IU can't pull the name of the author of the top of my head.;)

[Pro A.]

I don't think Clancy or Crichton count as literary authors. Popular authors, yes, but hardly literary. Literary authors of the modern era include Don Delillo, Saul Bellow, John Updike, Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Wolfe, Stephen King, and James Ellroy.

[Viper]

Literature has always been subjective to the reader I suppose.

[Pro A.]

Granted, but when you hear the word literature, I guess you don't think of popular authors, in most cases. You think of the more niche sort of authors. Dickens, Twain, King, and Wolfe are exceptions to the rule, by and large. Literary authors seem to have more of a penchant for using language, symbolism, and themes than popular authors, who are more focused on the story. Both perfectly valid and both should be read by anyone who wants to be a writer to understand the best of both worlds.