Terry Brooks emerged as a major fantasy author in the 1970s with his 'The Sword of Shannara'. He brought a new style of epic fantasy that was more accessible to a wider audience. Michael Moorcock, with his 'Elric of Melniboné' series, was known for his darker and more complex approach to fantasy, which was different from the more traditional fare at the time.
It's difficult to pinpoint the exact prominent authors in 1959 Fantasy and Science Fiction without more research. However, we can assume that there were likely authors who were at the forefront of exploring new themes such as the relationship between humans and advanced technology, the mysteries of the cosmos, and the limits of human perception. These authors would have been the ones shaping the genre at that time, perhaps through their vivid descriptions of otherworldly settings and complex characters.
Robert W. Chambers was a prominent author of 1920s fantasy stories. His work 'The King in Yellow' was very influential. Lord Dunsany was also important. His short stories had a unique charm with their strange settings and creatures. And H. P. Lovecraft. His stories, though often on the border of horror, had a great impact on the fantasy genre as well.
Lewis Carroll was a prominent author of 1870s fantasy novels. His 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' is a classic. Carroll's work was known for its absurd humor and imaginative settings.
Well, there was also Ludovico Ariosto. His 'Orlando Furioso' was quite popular. It was filled with knights, damsels in distress, and magical adventures. His work had a great influence on the development of fantasy fiction in that era. Another author to note was Thomas Malory, known for his 'Le Morte d'Arthur', which told the story of King Arthur and his knights in a fantastical way.
One of the prominent authors was Isaac Asimov. He started writing in the 40's and his works were full of imaginative ideas about robotics and future societies.
H.G. Wells was a very prominent author in 1920s science fiction. His works like 'The War of the Worlds' were extremely popular and had a huge impact on the genre. Another important figure was Jules Verne, although he was more active a bit earlier but still highly influential in the 1920s. His ideas about submarines in 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' inspired many science fiction writers of the time.
Ray Bradbury was a very prominent author in 1950's science fiction. His works like 'Fahrenheit 451' were both thought - provoking and highly imaginative. Isaac Asimov was another important figure. His stories often explored the implications of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. Arthur C. Clarke was also well - known. His works, such as '2001: A Space Odyssey' (although it became more famous later), started to take shape in the 1950s with his ideas about space travel and alien contact.
Iain M. Banks was also a significant author in the 1990s science fiction field. His 'Culture' series presented a highly advanced and complex galactic civilization. His works were known for their exploration of politics, ethics, and the nature of intelligence within a science - fiction framework. Also, Octavia E. Butler with her works that often explored themes of race, gender, and power in a science - fiction context was quite prominent.
Isaac Asimov was also a major figure. He wrote a lot about robotics and space exploration. His 'Foundation' series was really popular in the 50's. His ideas about the future of humanity and how it could be predicted through scientific means were quite revolutionary at that time.
Philip K. Dick was a very prominent author in the 70s. His works like 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' were full of deep philosophical ideas about what it means to be human. Isaac Asimov also continued to be a major figure. His Foundation series was already well - known and he added more to the science fiction literature in the 70s.