Re Other Authors

John Barach · 17 Apr 2003, 16:47 · from urth-v0304.mbox · original

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From: "John Barach" <jbarach at telus.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) Re Other Authors
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 10:47:44 -0600
Message-ID: <urth-v0304-3212 at digest.urth.net>
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Allan writes:

> The whole thing reminds me of a beginners guide to
> science fiction that was published some years ago. It
> was arranged on the basis of "if you like ... then you will
> also like ..." and as an example, the follow-up to Wolfe
> would have been something like " you will also like Poul
> Anderson, Terry Pratchett and Samuel Delany because
> they all write fantasy."

The book you're thinking of may be Baird Searles, et al., _A Reader's =
Guide to Science Fiction_ (Avon, 1979).  They have a short entry on =
Wolfe.  There's a short paragraph on Fifth Head, and sentences on =
Operation Ares, Devil in a Forest, and Peace.

Their conclusion:  "Wolfe's books truly defy description: both plot and =
prose weave complexities and subtleties into magical and often more than =
elusive tales.  Gene Wolfe is clearly a writer for the careful and =
patient reader."

Their recommendation: "Those who admire Wolfe's work might try that of =
Ian Watson or Jack Vance."

Vance I know.  Anyone read Watson?  This little guide says of him=20

     IAN WATSON is a writer of special knowledge in areas
     once quite foreign to s-f.  Although van Vogt deals in
     linguistics, Watson *uses* it as *lingua franca*, and
     empathetic anthropology is his stock in trade.  His
     novels are oddly structured; rather like classic rondos,
     they move in alternating episodes which only gradually
     relate to each other....  Intellectual, puzzling, and
     unsettling, Watson writes for readers who like challenge.

And then if you like Watson, they suggest you try Michael Bishop ... and =
if you like Bishop, Naomi Middleton, Chad Oliver, and Richard Cowper, =
and so on....

John


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Allan writes:
 
> The whole thing reminds me of =
a beginners=20
guide to
> science fiction that was =
published some=20
years ago. It
> was arranged on the basis of =
"if you like=20
... then you will
> also like ..." and as an =
example, the=20
follow-up to Wolfe
> would have been something =
like " you will=20
also like Poul
> Anderson, Terry Pratchett and =
Samuel=20
Delany because
> they all write =
fantasy."
 
The book you're thinking of may be =
Baird Searles,=20
et al., _A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction_ (Avon, 1979).  They =
have a=20
short entry on Wolfe.  There's a short paragraph on Fifth Head, and sentences on Operation Ares, Devil in a Forest, =
and=20
Peace.
 
Their conclusion:  "Wolfe's books =
truly defy=20
description: both plot and prose weave complexities and subtleties into =
magical=20
and often more than elusive tales.  Gene Wolfe is clearly a writer =
for the=20
careful and patient reader."
 
Their recommendation: "Those who admire =
Wolfe's=20
work might try that of Ian Watson or Jack Vance."
 
Vance I know.  Anyone read =
Watson?  This=20
little guide says of him 
 
     IAN WATSON is =
a writer of=20
special knowledge in areas
     once quite =
foreign to=20
s-f.  Although van Vogt deals in
     linguistics, =
Watson *uses*=20
it as *lingua franca*, and
     empathetic =
anthropology is=20
his stock in trade.  His
     novels are =
oddly=20
structured; rather like classic rondos,
     they move in =
alternating=20
episodes which only gradually
     relate to each =

other....  Intellectual, puzzling, and
     unsettling, =
Watson writes=20
for readers who like challenge.
 
And then if you like Watson, they =
suggest you try=20
Michael Bishop ... and if you like Bishop, Naomi Middleton, Chad Oliver, =
and=20
Richard Cowper, and so on....
 
John</BODY></HTML>

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