The memory of having met and conversed with Samuel R Delany face-to-face, and of loaning him a copy of Driftglass when he had nothing for his scheduled reading and thus saving the day. 8oP

Being blissfully unaware of science fiction authors ;-)

Wot, even Arthur C Clarke? Even Ian McLeod? Even Charles Stross?

I've heard of, nay read (but not for nearly 30 years), A C Clarke. Never heard of the others.

Wow, and I picked UK authors of great stature too.

Cherry Garcia.

[Stevie] I did read quite a lot of John Wyndham when I was a teenager, plus A C Clarke, and a couple of Harry Harrisons. Unless you count Stephen King, I think my adult science fiction reading has been limited to Douglas Adams.