[Recommend a sci-fi/fantasy?]

Philip K. Dick may not be forgotten: A scanner darkly, Do androids dream of electric sheep, the man in the high castle etc but his short stories come higly recommand aswell

[Books similar to The Song of Ice and Fire books? (Game of Thrones)]

I recently read "the new Tolkien of Sci-Fi" on the back of the cover of "The left hand of darkness" by Ursula K Le Guin. The book is a absolute masterpiece but it has clearly nothing to do with Tolkien and his world building. 

 

 Journalists and there frantic hyping 

[Books similar to The Song of Ice and Fire books? (Game of Thrones)]

Joe Abercrombie: The first law ( trilogy ) and the stand alone books that are set in this world. Dont start in the stand alone books if you have not read the first trilogy.

Steven Erikson: Malazan book of the fallan.

Robert Jordan: The wheel of time. (the moral and value system is much more conservative but its a incredible work)

Raymond E. Feist :read Magician first and explore his world from there.

 

The writing style most similar to G.R.R.M.'s would be that of Joe Abercrombie.

Raymond's is really oldskool 80's fantasy and Magician was my first Fantasy book. I never forgot the world of Midkemia. Robert Jordan and his Wheel of time guided me trough my adolescent life. Just this year its finished after more than 20 years. For me absolutely epic.

 

Euhr Tolkien is not similar with G.R.R.M.  but a shame for anyone to come forth and say: i did not read Lotr. 

[Help for English Literature A2 - need inspiration/recommendations?]

Dystopian: We from Yevgeny Zamyatin. Russian, 1921 (bit older than you want?)

This alternate reality thing you should look into the novels classified under the "steampunk" genre

 

Theme: Alcohol, drugs use/misuse.

                   - Junky from beat generation auther William S burroughs, poet in this genre Allen Ginsberg

                   - Different genre writer Phillip K Dick: A scanner darkly