Russ
Istar
I actually wouldn't call Moorcock or Mieville "Big Name Authors". They're fairly obscure except among more devoted fans of the genres they write in. And from what I've seen they are not often recommended among readers of their genres. Not compared to Big Name Authors like Tolkien or Martin; not on the websites I've frequented. (And I freely admit that isn't proof of anything, except that there might be another point of view out there.) They certainly have their following, but as far as real lasting success? My guess is that their works are not going to be handed down through multiple generations on any large scale. They are likely to remain pretty obscure, in the grand scheme of things.
On the other hand, in my experience, the really successful and lastingly successful authors tend to be the ones who craft compelling worlds that readers fall in love with apart from stories or characters. Not all major successful authors are worldbuilders, of course. But I think that most of the ones who are destined to be remembered for hundreds of years are.
So I don't really see any reason anyone who loves worldbuilding should pay any attention to what Moorcock and Mieville say. If you greatly enjoy their type of storytelling, then by all means take their words to heart. If you don't, then it is irrelevant to you.
Well if you think Moorcock of Meville are too obscure, than perhaps Martin is a BNA:
How long did it take to do the world-building work?
Basically, I wrote about a hundred pages that summer. It all occurs at the same time with me. I don't build the world first, then write in it. I just write the story, and then put it together. Drawing a map took me, I don't know, a half-hour. You fill in a few things, then as you write more it becomes more and more alive.
And Moorcock is just so obscure:
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame inducted Moorcock in 2002, its seventh class of two deceased and two living writers.[33] He also received life achievement awards at the World Fantasy Convention in 2000 (World Fantasy Award), at the Utopiales International Festival in 2004 (Prix Utopia), from the Horror Writers Association in 2005 (Bram Stoker Award), and from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2008 (named its 25th Grand Master).[32][34]
Who are these Gaiman and Williams people anyways?