I don't really think of Crichton as an SF writer, more of a pot-boiler writer who occasionally uses SF themes. I gather his science is also occasionally more than a little dubious, which the Hard SF folks would seriously frown on.
Wesley: And how does your kind define love? Demon: Same as all bodies. Same as everywheres. Love is sacrifice.
'The Girl in Question'
The Minearverse 3: The Network Is a Harsh Mistress
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls and The Inside), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
JohnSweden - Jun 24, 2004 1:09:17 pm PDT #737 of 10001
I can't even.
SailAweigh - Jun 24, 2004 1:11:40 pm PDT #738 of 10001
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb
For hard SF, two names that come to my mind without even having to think are Larry Niven and Poul Anderson. They liked to play around with hard-core scientific theory and build entire universes around them. I absolutely adored Anderson in high school.
Daisy Jane - Jun 24, 2004 1:14:57 pm PDT #739 of 10001
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
Huh. I guess I've never done "hard" SF then.
DXMachina - Jun 24, 2004 1:32:43 pm PDT #740 of 10001
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.
For hard SF, two names that come to my mind without even having to think are Larry Niven and Poul Anderson.
Yeah, Niven is my favorite, at least until his last coupla books. Haven't read Ringworld's Children yet. I would love to see The Mote in God's Eye on the screen. Anderson is fun, too. Hal Clement is another "hard" science fiction author.
Cranberry - Jun 24, 2004 2:10:46 pm PDT #741 of 10001
I was fine when existence had no meaning. Meaninglessness in a universe that has no meaning -- that I get. But meaninglessness in a universe with
meaning? What does that mean?
Michael Crichton drives me nuts. I've only read Jurassic Park and its sequel, and I could barely get through those because, while the books have neat plots, the man's writing style is awful. Almost every time a character speaks, Crichton puts the word "said" after the dialogue. Never "remarked," or "replied," or "shouted," or anything else -- just "said." An excerpt from JP:
"The Land Cruisers have started again," Arnold said. "They're on their way home."
"But why did they stop?" Hammond said. "And why can't we talk to them?"
"I don't know," Arnold said. "Maybe they turned off the radios in the cars."
"Probably the storm," Muldoon said. "Interference from the storm."
"They'll be here in twenty minutes," Hammond said. "You better call down and make sure the dining room is ready for them. Those kids are going to be hungry."
Arnold picked up the phone and heard a steady monotonous hiss. "What's this? What's going on?"
"Jesus, hang that up," Nedry said. "You'll screw up the data stream."
The entire book is like that -- it feels really stilted and unnatural.
DXMachina - Jun 24, 2004 2:19:50 pm PDT #742 of 10001
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.
I really liked The Andromeda Strain, enough so that I've reread it several times. I've enjoyed a lot of his other books. The "said" thing doesn't bother me at all.
Sydney Carton - Jun 24, 2004 2:26:51 pm PDT #743 of 10001
Actually, I've feeling a wee bit peckish...
I had a lot of people push "Prey" at me. It actually ended up being rather weak. Obviously didn't do his homework on how fruitless most genetic algorithms are....
In any case, can't say I've read much else of his stuff.
Ginger - Jun 24, 2004 2:37:26 pm PDT #744 of 10001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Almost every time a character speaks, Crichton puts the word "said" after the dialogue.
There are things I dislike about Crichton, but that's not one of them. I like said. It recedes into the background. With words such as "remarked," I get distracted and starting thinking, "Was that really a remark, exactly?" The context should tell you, rather than the said synonym.
tommyrot - Jun 24, 2004 2:39:07 pm PDT #745 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Yeah, but people should at least reply....
§ ita § - Jun 24, 2004 2:47:34 pm PDT #746 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Said's not background for me. It's present by its absence of detail. If that exchange had had half as many saids, even if they weren't replaced by anything, my internal pattern-counter wouldn't tick over, and it wouldn't be so staccato to me. And just distractingly staccato, not rhythmically, or mood-enhancingly.