Wash ,'Objects In Space'
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
In between Bujold books, I just re-read Starguard by Andre Norton. This morning. I don't think I could tell you the main character's name. The book was more of a study on whether aggression is a racial trait rather than an individual trait.
Now, 30-40 years later, science fiction seems more about following a character rather than exploring an idea in metaphor. Any ideas why? Not saying one way is superior to the other, just wondering why consumer/author/publisher tastes have changed.
"New Wave" SF of the early seventies (Delaney, Tiptree) is where it started. "Why" might have to do with the gradual adoption of SF as a "legit" form getting underway. $.02
The book was more of a study on whether aggression is a racial trait rather than an individual trait.
Huh. It's been so long since I read that, I have barely any recollection. Is that the one where all that Terra has to export is soldiers? And everyone goes offplanet as mercenaries?
She did hit some real downers in the 60s, as I recall. Dark Piper was another one that felt terribly bleak.
Hmm, I picked up a Norton two-fer when I was in Boston. Voodoo Planet and Star Hunter, neither of which I've ever read. And the first one is a Solar Queen story, yay!
My friend just sent me Ayun Halliday's No Touch Monkey! And Other Travel Lessons Learned Too Late for Christmas, and I am all excited to read it.
I bought this for my brother.
msbelle, it's very good so far--funny, and a pretty quick read. I'm enjoying it a lot.
My friend just sent me Ayun Halliday's No Touch Monkey! And Other Travel Lessons Learned Too Late for Christmas, and I am all excited to read it.
Sounds like a book that Gus could have written.
Reasons not to have a face lift.
science fiction seems more about following a character rather than exploring an idea in metaphor. Any ideas why?
I'm not sure I 100% agree with the premise, but I will say, the 'idea' SF from the 50s also tends -- from my exposire to the "greats" of that era -- to have been written more drily than an advanced calculus book. So, if the New Wave is responsible for the shift in writing ability, in addition to the different trend in subject matter, then I can do nothing but thank the New Wave.
Actually, you know, the 50s weren't so much with the metaphor, were they? Just exploring the idea. Exactly what kinds of examples are you talking about, when you say "idea in metaphor" vs. character-based stories?
God! Also like something she would put in her books.(swallowing inappropriate laughter) Will Philip Roth die of priapism following a viagra accident?
Snerk on the PR.
It's a weirdly ironic death. Not laughing at it, but it is ironic.