Someone who never appears on these list but is one of the rising stars in Scif-Fi isis Ted Chiang. He's not written a full length novel yet but his short stories and novellas are mind blowing, best stuff I're read since early Egan. Check out:

Stories of Your Life and Others http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Your-Life-Ted-Chiang/dp/193152...)

The Lifecycle of Software Objects* http://www.amazon.com/Lifecycle-Software-Objects-Ted-Chiang/...

*if there's a more HN title for a novella ever I haven't heard of it!