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Scifi and Fantasy Forum: Books and Book Reviews: Don't forget these authors!
Don't forget these authors!
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In the field of scifi, everyone knows David Brin, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, CJ Cherryh, and Issac Asimov.
How many of you have heard of James Tiptree Jr., Brian Aldiss, or Alfred Bester? These authors have won many awards, yet because their writings are less recent than the above authors they tend to be forgotten.
If you're looking for some different reading, you might want to try them (though you might have to browse your local library or used bookstore, as most aren't in print)
Two authors I would like to add are Alan Dean Foster, and Jack Chalker. I REALLY enjoyed Alan Dean Foster's Flinx series.
I've just been re-reading Fred Pohl's GATEWAY trilogy, GATEWAY, BEYOND THE BLUE EVENT HORIZON, and HEECHEE RENDEZVOUS. I read each in turn when they were first published in the late 70s, early 80s, but it was very rewarding to read them in order, one after the other, as if it was one long novel. What a mind-expanding set of books that is! A heady mix of hard sf and gosh-wow metaphysics, the meaning of life, the soul, afterlife, God, the universe, it's all there! Incredible stuff--and great characterization to boot. You hate to put these books down.
While we're talking books, mind if I sound off on a book I was involved in? After being a Star Trek fan for some thirty years, it was one of the high points of my life to actually meet and work with one of the luminaries of ST:TOS, Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Janice Rand), on her new autobiography THE LONGEST TREK. Has anyone at SpeculativeVision seen it?
[It's at all the bookstores, or you can order it through my website (http://userzweb.lightspeed.net/jdenney/longtrek.htm), Grace Lee Whitney's website (www.graceleewhitney.tf), or Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1884956033/).]
The first time I sat down with Grace and listened to her story, I was completely bowled over. I heard things about the stars, Gene Roddenberry, Desilu studio, etc., that I never imagined. Grace told me about how she and Harlan Ellison used to date each other! It was around the time Harlan was working on A BOY AND HIS DOG. (Harlan, incidentally, had written a great part for Grace in ST's "City on the Edge of Forever," but Grace was written out of the show before the episode was shot.)
Harlan used to take Grace and her two boys out to Pacific Ocean Park, then over to his place in Sherman Oaks where the boys would play with his pinball machines. Grace also told me how Harlan tossed her out of his house when he caught her smoking dope!
If anyone has seen the book, I'd really like to know what you think--and I'd be happy to pass your thoughts and reflections on to Miss Whitney.
Best,
Jim Denney -- jdenney@lightspeed.net
I am disheartened to see that Greg Bear wasn't recommended. I especially urge you to read Anvil of Stars;
it had an eeriness that I really enjoyed.
Posted By:  T5 Nov 21, 2000 - 08:51 am |       | Brian Aldiss is favorite of mine, one of his best short stories is, Last Orders.
His greatest achievment though is the Helliconia trilogy.
A nice experimental book of his is Report on probability A.
| Posted By: Torstein Nov 19, 2001 - 08:26 am | | Has noone read Frank Herbert? Dune is mighty good!
Also, read Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, I epecially like that he has done some researching, and therefore the book is very realistic.
Torstein - Dune!! One of the best in my opinion but have you seen the film? Terrible! I won't just not recommend it I'll go so far as to say I wish I'd never even watched or heard of it! Total sacriledge...
Anyway, my point: why has no-one mentioned (the Great) Katharine Kerr? I can't be the only fan surely? She's all kinda based on Celtic myth, original magic system I think as well as interersting thoughts about auras and the after life, destiny etc. So read The Deverry series (there's 2 more after that..)
| Posted By: Aslan Nov 25, 2001 - 08:00 pm | | The newer sci-fi channel Dune miniseries was better than the older movie, in my opinion. Good book, though.
Speaking of interesting authors, I highly recommend Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker. A unique reading experience. Many decades (centuries?) after widespread nuclear destruction. Human culture has evolved and degraded. That includes the language! The book is written in that language, and lends a really neat atmosphere to the narrative. Anybody else read this?
| Posted By: jubal Sep 12, 2002 - 12:06 am | | Please forgive my misspellings Roger Zelazney, Samuel R Delaney, Fritz Lieber, Fredrick Poul, Ursala K Leguin, Larry Niven, Phillip Jose Farmer, Jack Chalker, Stephen Donaldson these are a few authors I remember that deserve notable mention. There are many more that I am unable to remember at this time.
| Posted By: jubal Sep 12, 2002 - 10:36 pm | | Once again I have spoke to soon as most of the authors I suggested are mentioned farther down in the main topic. Sorry! I will continue to constantly try to restrain myself.
I like Keith Laumer and his Retief and Bolos books.
| Posted By: Odrade Sep 24, 2002 - 05:05 pm | | I think Frank Herbert is about the best. but i am always ready to try something new. But i noticed no one put Tad Williams up. The series he is famous for is more fantasy, but his Otherland series can really be considered sci-fi. And it is fabulous!!!
| Posted By: jubal Sep 27, 2002 - 11:37 pm | | Douglas Adams "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" ect is some of the finest, most humorous, enjoyable speculative fiction out there.
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