I run into the same problem. I reckon the “newest” author I can get into is Dan Simmons’ Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion. And that was written in the late 80s-early 90s if I recall. He’s also the cat who wrote the essay “Message from a Time Traveler” that shows up on FR now and then. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1610142/posts
Freegards
Simmons is good. I drop by his website occassionally, and he posts excellent essays. I’m not sure of his political affiliation right now but he’s stated that he used to be a Democrat, and now he seems to be the only sf writer to have a clear bead on the Islamofascist threat. His short stories are good, too.