Science Fiction

Miles Vorkosigan is probably my favorite character in all of SF, considerably more interesting than Honor Harrington although she's quite a good character herself.

Linda Nagata is also good, Vast was quite entertaining and Goddesses won the Nebula.

I also like Peter Watts, Blindsight was a very interesting if more than somewhat creepy read, he released it to creative commons and you can read it online.

http://www.rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm

Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl is another uncomfortable but riveting book.

Iain M Banks is someone I've also enjoyed, Use of Weapons, Feersum Endjinn, Surface Detail.