I agree with you about the state of SF these days - too much vampire schtick, Star Trek novels, and Matrix crap. (There is one Star Trek novel that's surpisingly good - "Dark Mirror" by Diane Duane)
But allow me to recommend two authors to you:
David Brin and Greg Bear. 'Nuff said.
Thanks for suggesting Brin and Bear. I will check them out--I think I have couple of Brin books in my voluminous "unread" archives already.
Do you like Greg Benford's books?