I've gotta say I hate Dan Brown. " The man gave me the thumbs up, little realising that it was an ancient egyptian symbol for fertility, lololol". Pain in the ass, and over pedantic.
Tolkein as well, irritates me. Sure, it was an original idea at the time, but that doesnt make it a good peice in contemporary times. A lot of people like it because they tell themselves that they should. Also, they are just a whole lot of myths spliced together, with a thin veil of new material to cover it up. Magic ring? had that before. The ring is cursed! nope, had that too. An unlikely band must destroy the ring! erm.. still not original
Micheal Crichton, i liked. Prey was very good.
Clancy and Chris Ryan (i group them together becuase they write the same books) are a good read once, but they are all effectively the same plot.
Id have to say foundation is at the top, and them foundation and empire, and then second foundation. Philip K Dick is also good, The Man In The High Castle particularly.
Artemis fowl roxxors.
Someone should write a book called "to mock a killingbird" i would prefer it.