I very much enjoy Samuel R. Delany (http://www2.pcc.com/staff/jay/delany/); especially Babel-17, Nova, Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand and Dhalgren. The latter one is a good one for the holiday, as it's a tad longer. His short stories are well worth seeking out as well. His stories are characterised by a focus on people on the fringes of society without making a big deal of it.
Also very enjoyable are books by Ken MacLeod (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_MacLeod). His first one, The Star Fraction, is a gem. Although his later books employ a little bit too much flashback. And I second Ursula Le Guin. especially the books set in the Hainish universe. Although you can give The Telling a miss, unless you like religious epiphanies. And finally, for good old fashioned, sillyness, Alan Dean Foster. Robby
