Though he might not be a household name in the truest sense of the term, Don DeLillo is highly respected among literary circles, and deservedly considered one of the best authors of the past 50-ish years. Broadly, his work can be called post-modern, but as with Thomas Pynchon, the label “post-modern” is pretty vague. DeLillo’s books are offbeat and occasionally funny, but more often inspire feelings of dread, anxiety, and despair.