I wonder why Zelazny doesn't seem to get the play and notoriety as Asimov and Clarke?
Possibly because of the "world-class scientist" status of the other two? I mean, Uncle I was an essayist, a scientist, a researcher and a general science writer, as I recall, as well as writing fiction. And truth to tell, among the dozen or so science fiction books that I do love, Clarke has one (I consider Childhood's End one of the great novels of the last century, period, genre irrelevant, right up there with A Canticle for Liebowitz), and Isaac has none. But both of them were seen as "educators", which back in the when-old-days conferred legitimacy.
Which sucks. Because fiction, yo.
Hairless cats feel like a warm peach, or a chamois hot water bottle. When you make them happy, they respond with a full body blush. So adorable. "You pinked the kitty!" Meeting one in person was much nicer than I had expected, because they look wrinkly and shriveled and odd.
It's a sphinx cat, damnit!
I know they're called that, but I tend to refer to them as hairless cats, because most *other* people don't know they're called sphinx cats. Force of habit.
A queen. Her name is Ripley. Nic and I are both in love - we think she's stunning.
Oh, they're lovely. If I got a kitty, it would be a sphinx. And Katerina Bee is right -- they're like a sueded hot water bottle. With muscles.
Heh. The only oddity is that they don't jump with the same classic elegance of their hairier cousins; the lack of whiskers and eyebrows make it tricky.
No whiskers, no brows. But every muscle, sleek and visible. Gorgeous cats.
I fear I am not large with Amber love myself.
I read one one high recommendation from a friend (
9 Princes in Amber
, I think) and just didn't spark to it.
I think I might be more of a short story fan, though. Any particular collections to recommend?
Dunno about the collections, but Betsy's right, and "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" is quite brilliant.
Astarte, all the short stories are good. He's astonishing at it. Some are more pastiche, some are deeply heroic and human (my taste runs toward these), some are universal puzzles - they're all superb.
