What authors in the 21st century will be known in history as being famous like that of Mark Twain?

This is way too soon to tell. The authors would have to have careers primarily in the 21st century, rather than , say, beginning in 1980. As there are quite often authors who are popular during their day but not read much decades after dying, 2011 is a bit early to ask this question in tems of longevity.

Well, I'm hoping I'll be in the lineup. Being a little more serious, I would say Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Until my wife's death last year, she had a large collection of Stephen King's books.

I would agree with stephen king because even people that read zero books have heard of him. Maybe it will be that way with Harry Potter series as well. Some people are popular for a while and don't stand the test of time, so we will just have to see.

Some already are. The American authors, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, for example.

You know, I often think of this same thing. In 100 years, what will the staples in the American lit classroom be? Who will be noted as the ones who shook the world in the 21st century with their prolific writing?

The internet has definitely been a game-changer in the world of writing. I guess I have no answer for you, but simply a statement that you are not alone in your wondering!

I'll hazard a guess and say Tolkien, Bradbury, Maugham, Stephen King, Glenn Beck, Asimov and Jean Sheppard.

I suppose it could be J. K Rowling for her Harry Potter series.

Bach and Coelho I think. These guys are awesome.

Not just in terms of sheer fame, but in the TYPE of fame retained, I have to throw Kurt Vonnegut in as a top contender. Vonnegut's bizarre, evocative, and ultimately hilarious style was a satirical force to be reckoned with in his lifetime, and I don't foresee it going anywhere. Just like Twain's, Vonnegut's stories rely on biting lunacy to get to the root of human experiences—and like Twain, I think Kurt will be highly revered by tomorrow's critics and historians.

I think authors like Nicolas Sparks will be largely forgotten. A hundred years ago one of the most famous and popular writers was Galsworthy for his Forsythe Saga. Anybody still read him?

Twain was famous, but Poe died in obscurity. I think Michael Chabon might be remembered for what he has written and the author of the Corrections maybe. But it is hard to tell who will be taught or remembered.

After all, a hundred years ago Dickens, Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson were not considered college level reading.

If the movie doesn't ruin the franchise, my vote would be for the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It is very 1984esque which is currently tought in some high schools. The symbolism and futurisms discussed in her books could provide seriously dialogue and discussion within the classroomm.

Will the world have to rebuild itself hundreds of years after nuclear war? Will the world return to basic necessities such as the search for food while still housing the technoligies such as television?

I think one name that is being promoted again, at least in some areas, is Ayn Rand. I don't agree with all she wrote about but her book Atlas Shrugged has been in print since 1957 and it is my understanding that only the Bible has outsold it. Almost everyone agrees that this country is in a crisis of one kind or another but not everyone who has read the book agrees she has the answer.

I suspect though given the history of the book it will continue to be read and debated in some circles somewhere for years to come.

Janet Fitch and Nicolas Sparks. Janet Fitch wrote the novel "White Oleander" and Sparks is famous for "The Notebook" and "A Walk to Remember" among many others. These authors are the contemporary classics, what seperates books from literature.

My vote for authors to be as well known and thought of as Mark Twain are as follows. Arthur C. Clarke -- 2001J.R.Tolkien -- Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion and many othersJ.K. Rowling - Harry Potter Books.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.