The modern type who's energetically taking as much money as possible out of the business with the intent of going somewhere else is barely present.

Yeah, that's one of the major criticisms of her book, that the poor honest robber-barons were being exploited by the mean old federal regulations, which has nothing to do with the real world.

I actually liked Anthem best of Rand's books, since it didn't pretend to take place in our world, but was set in a dystopian world instead.

You have to admit Rand can really write a page turner, even though her ideas are shit.

Heh, why were you annoyed that you liked Running Jumping Standing Still? You're opposed to music recommendations from writers?

I haven't read Stardance or Very Bad Dreams: what had the tone of being cooler than the mundanes, and what was the sadistic imagination? Why can't you stand him? I'm really not familiar with the tone you're talking about. The only tone that bothers me about SR is the whole "Let's be hippies and work everything out and it'll all be ok" thing. "Free Lunch" in particular. And his argument in one of the Callahan stories that his AGI character would have to be friendly because it wouldn't have human fear or insecurity. And have you read his "Night of Power"?

My favorite Heinlein are any of his short stories, and the novels Methuselah's Children, Time Enough for Love, To Sail Beyond the Sunset, The Cat Who Walked Through Walls, Number of the Beast, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

As far as Lewis, you have to get past the religious stuff obviously, but I loved The Great Divorce.

I'm guessing you might like Robert Sheckley, who has some of the same "telling you what to think" but it's couched in extremely clever, biting satire. Sheer brilliance. He's SF's Mark Twain.