Getting back on track.
I like to read just about anything, but kind myself coming back to the old tried and true.
RA Salvatore: His novels about a drow ranger named Drizzt really got me hooked (if you don't know the series, shame on you
). His Cleric Quintet series and others are fantastic as well. Don't forget his other series too.
David Eddings: All his early stuff is great, I even enjoyed his newest series The Dreamers but not as much. He has started to recycle characters even more than usual (he's a great author but don't get me started on this topic).
Orson Scott Card: My Favorite author (sorry Brandon). He writes fantasy and but mostly sci-fi, even his short stories are awesome (for sure read Maps in a Mirror). Pick up any of his books and be amazed. His stories are awesome but his characters are unmatched anywhere. Try Hart's Hope, Ender's Game (of course) and Enchantment to get a start, then finish off the rest because you will be hooked.
Robert Heinlein: Sci-fi author extrodinaire. Starship troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land are where to start, but others are great too. He tends to be more than a little sexist (sign of the times when they were written) but he still has some great female characters (try Friday on for size).
Ben Bova: Pure Sci-fi, but our universe and not too distant future. Good stuff.
Patrick Rothfuss: I have to add my vote of confidence to this 1st time author, simply couldn't put The Name of the Wind down.
Ted Bell: He has a great series about a billionaire playboy spy that is great.
Ursula K LeGuin: The Earthsea Trilogy, need I say more except don't forget about the 3 or 4 new books written about earthsea.
Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere blew my mind and American Gods did it again. Stardust was just fun, and Coraline is a great book for older children.
Larry Niven: The Ringworld series was awesome as was Beowulf's Children (no not that Beowulf) and Destiny's Road.
I also read alot of Dean R Koontz. He has some great stories and characters and comes out with like 2-3 books a year, so there is always some thing new on tap.
I find it best to look for new authors at the library. Used bookstores and Goodwill, etc are good places to go too. You won't (usually) pay a lot for them so you aren't really out much if you pick a real stinker of a book/author. Plus you can always just redonate or trade/sell the book again.