These men are *memorizers*, keeping the works of famous authors alive through oral tradition. They have chosen to live without the comforts and conveniences of the technologically-driven world in order to hold onto the knowledge and values that they believe are important.
Here's why they are important:
* They embody resistance: They are a symbol of resistance against the oppressive regime that seeks to control information and thought.
* They represent the importance of literature: They highlight the value of stories, poems, and other written works in shaping human understanding and experience.
* They offer hope for the future: Their existence, though precarious, suggests that knowledge and culture can survive even in the face of destruction.
It's important to note that the men at the river are not a group of "famous authors" themselves. They are individuals who have learned and memorized the works of these authors, thus preserving them in a way that the society they live in has abandoned.