Looking at the shelf in my library, I see Asimov, Bear, Benford, Brin, Budrys...Heinlein, Niven, Pournelle, Pratchett, E.E.Smith, Vance and Zelazny, for starters. There are many more, but these stand out. Try the Amber series from Zelazny for an example of some seriously good writing. 
If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.
