It's weird to see Bear (1951) lumped in with Clarke (1917), Herbert (1920), Asimov (1920) and especially Heinlein (1907). Much (maybe even most?) of Bear's generation is still alive!
Even in terms of "what would a 30-50yo today have found on the local bookstore's sf shelf as a child to whom all past is equally distant?", Niven, Delaney, Robinson and Silverberg (who actually published in the final days of the "Golden Age", unlike Bear) are still with us.
Also in the "Silver Age" crowd that Greg Bear is part of
Joe Haldeman, William Gibson, Piers Anthony, David Brin. Lois McMaster Bujold, Orson Scott Card, KW Jeter, George Lucas, George RR Martin, Phillip Pullman, Rudy Rucker, Dan Simmons, Harry Turtledove, John Varley, Connie Wilson, Timothy Zahn are all around
Though it is sad he joins the ranks of authors from his generation who died earlier than expected - Pratchett, Iain Banks, Robert Jordan ..
It really sucks. Last year I discovered I hadn’t read Surface Detail, which came as a real shock as I was sure I’d read everything he’d written many times.
Considered never reading it so there’d always be a new Ian M Banks, but the temptation was too great. Glad I did too as it was excellent.
Even in terms of "what would a 30-50yo today have found on the local bookstore's sf shelf as a child to whom all past is equally distant?", Niven, Delaney, Robinson and Silverberg (who actually published in the final days of the "Golden Age", unlike Bear) are still with us.