A short list, meaning those authors which have risen above the very many others I have read.
Michael Moorcock (the Jerry Cornelius books, rather than the sword and fantasy)
Robert Rankin (I am, originally, a Hounslow lad)
Kurt Vonnegut (I am surprised there is no prior mentions)
Stephan King (short stories and the gunslinger books, and The Green Mile - most of his other "horror" does not work for me)
Spike Milligan (his war diaries particularly)
Harlen Ellison (another one not previously noted? And American, too..,)
Douglas Adams (why the f*ck he could not have been blessed with PTerry's work ethic?)
John Le Carre (the George Smiley/Circus books in particular)
Hmmm... No women.