Pity about Greg Bear; excellent writer but politically deranged. I tried to read his Darwin's Children but became 'progressively' sickened by his injections of anti-Bush bile and threw the book down.
Amazing, I had the same reaction to
Darwin's Radio! I is usually stupid to ever put today's political figures in a book about the future.
I still read a lot of Bear, but Brin's books are few and far between. I get tired of the preaching and the forced plot lines.
Most of the time I read almost anything I can find at a used book store, and learn through trial and error which authors I will read long term.
Glad to hear about Knight and Ringo. Will check them out.