Which living authors do you think will still be remembered/read 100 years from now?

[FajitaQueen]

Hi all.
Inspired by the recent discussion of Top Ten favourite books, I wondered which modern living authors do you think would still be widely read 100 years from now.
I’m not necessarily thinking about “classics” (although that might be part of the reason for long-term popularity.)
My initial contenders are Kazuo Ishiguro, Sarah Walters, Margaret Atwood, Alice Walker and Alan Garner (I looked him up and he is still with us at 91 years old!) They’ve all written books that have original voices and could, in my opinion, stand the test of time.
I’m conscious that authors fall in and out of fashion so making such a prediction is tricky. But that’s part of the fun!

JK Rowling
Margaret Atwood

Barbara Kingsolver?

His novellas The Elements series published last year, are excellent. Planning to read The Heart’s Invisible Furies this year which has great reviews. I liked the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas at the time but I think he has gotten stronger as a writer.

Ah yes I completely agree. I don’t know how I forgot her! Demon Copperhead will be a modern classic surely.

She should have been on my list. The Poisonwood Bible and Demon Copperhead are classics and I think Flight Behaviour is an amazing book.
Did anybody say The Overstory by Richard Power.

Yes, I should have added Barbara Kingsolver. DC and TPB are two of my favourite books ever.

I do wonder if the books that stand up will be rooted in social justice. Certainly when I think about the books that my DC studied at school (that I also studied) they include: 1984 / Animal Farm / Of Mice and Men / An Inspector Calls / To Kill A Mockingbird and so on.

I know we aren't talking about that, but about books that adults continue to read, but deciding what stays in print often comes down to whether a book is considered 'important'.

A lot of the 'classic' literature that's still being read is actually what would have been popular culture, rather than anything particularly highbrow - Shakespeare, Pepys, Conan Doyle, Dickens, Collins, Stevenson, Mary Shelley, Stoker, Wells - basically, what you need is a selection from murders/crime, affairs, monsters, animals, magic and science fiction to ensure longevity. And, of course, the Hero/Antihero quest is essential in this.

So look to movies. If something has been turned into a popular movie or several movies rather than at most a single, worthy depiction or has become a template for others/being referenced in cartoons, other movies or images, the chances are that this is something people will still remember.

This may disappoint some to think that the authors who will still be in print will be largely the entertainers, but it's human nature - and as literature is all about encapsulating human experience and nature, it makes perfect sense to me that in addition to the writers above, it'll be Adams, Tolkien, Christie, King, Herbert, Puzo and others with more universal appeal/ideas that translated into moving images who have become part of our cultural legacy.

Short books seem to live longer. Also crime series and romance. Anything with technology in will date quicker.

Pat Barker. Not a wasted word in any of her books.

Terry Pratchett (taking it as 'recent' rather than 'living') because comedy about the human condition lasts well. Look how widely Wodehouse is still reading.

This is a good question and particularly topical for me. I am an avid reader and just recently have felt that so many books are just so poor. Maybe it's because I use a kindle and subscribe to kindle unlimited. There's some absolute rubbish on there. I used to love walking into a bookshop, especially at Christmas. Every month on payday I would delight in buying books for the month ahead. I had authors I regularly went to and would read books recommended by the owner of the bookshop I liked. The AI point is interesting and I hadn't given that any thought until now. I agree with other posters that Kate Atkinson is a great writer and my husband would say Terry Pratchett and Annie Peroux. I also love so many Irish writer, their words are like poetry but will any of them be remembered in 100 years, not sure. I guess it babes the question, why are writers of 100 years ago still read so widely?

I agree that AI is going to change things hugely. In future, I expect we will see pre 2020s and 2020s onwards literature studies.

I agree with Kingsolver, Barker and Atwood. I think to some extent, writing in historical or alternative universes gives greater longevity than writing about contemporary fiction which can date more.

That said, I wonder will be considered the voice of the 2020s

Very few and I’d disagree with most people have named 😂 The only one I can think of is Zadie Smith.

Books that last are the ones that are entertaining but also sneak in a little bit extra. So King and Pratchett are good calls, as is Mantel. I'm half misremembering a quote on culture from the Marx Brothers or Barnum or someone about giving people what they want then adding a bit more.

Not Strout I hope, floundering through one of her books was quite enough for me to say never again.

I still occasionally reread Agatha Christie. Her characters were so well written. I think people will still read Ann Tyler and Ann Patchett for the seamless writing and sympathetic characters.
When I was a teenager I adored East of Eden. I think Demon Copperhead, Half of A Yellow Sun and I Know This Much Is True are three books that could draw a younger reader in in the same way that Steinbeck got me hooked on novels.
I put Stephen King on my list even though I haven't read much by him because I think he's a gateway drug author as well. He makes readers.
This is a really interesting thread, @FajitaQueen and is reminding me of some excellent authors.

Some excellent recommendations from people. Thank-you!

Anne Tyler
Maggie O Farrell
Ian McEwan
Colm Toibin
Sebastian Faulks

Yes I’m going with Maggie O’Farrell too…..
and Kazuo Ishiguro.

I’d love to think Helen Fielding will still be read in fifty years’ time but I’m not sure she will 😔.

Paul Murray
Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
George Saunders
Margaret Atwood
Jhumpa Lahiri
Khaled Hosseini
Barbara Kingsolver

I don't see Terry Pratchett being read in 100 years' time, sorry. Neil Gaiman maybe, on account of The Sandman.

Otherwise some great shouts here, plus as ever on MN some really interesting leftfield suggestions which I now want to explore further!

I'm throwing in Phillip Pullman.I think his themes are timeless.

I feel like the Bridget Jones character is timeless, but the book is definitely dated!

I liked Diary of a Provincial Lady and Provincial Daughter. Bridget Jones could survive as pure escapism for future generations jaded with Tinder and whatever comes after Tinder.

I'm surprised no one else thinks Orhan Pamuk?

I completely agree re the datedness (is that a word?? 🤪) but live in hope that it might become one of those books read for the way it so neatly captures life in a certain decade. Could it become a classic….not sure but I’d love it to. Or maybe I’m just feeling a bit fed up of SM in my middle age and long for simpler times!

I also loved her first novel ‘Cause Celeb’ which highlights toxic relationships and recognising coercive control long before it was widely recognised as a thing.

Haruki Murakami