Evil Uncles (was Re: Blish's "Conscience" vs. Wolfe's "Fifth Head")

David T. Bilek · 01 Jan 2006, 22:21 · from rec.arts.sf.written.2006.mbox

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From: David T. Bilek <dtbilek at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Evil Uncles (was Re: Blish's "Conscience" vs. Wolfe's "Fifth Head")
Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2006 14:21:02 -0800
Message-ID: <aclgr1lel7gikil08thk98g102cc5cd590 at 4ax.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
References: <1135781723.546189.19520 at g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <ibc6r11ip31sma9ls3qastdkte0u88u3hb at 4ax.com> <1135817297 at sheol.org> <sbu6r1hp47tq1bfl9tavfr04asll5r9h9m at news.rcn.com> <dp97v5$eke$1 at tmcd.austin.tx.us> <jj9gr1lcsqr9f8talv8uhl6nmgcio8cioi at news.rcn.com>

>
>>>[in re _Split Heirs_]
>>>
>>>The real rule that applies _there_ (and which we were going to base
>>>the sequel on) is that all uncles of young rulers are evil.
>>
>>Counterexample in the Deryni books: Nigel Haldane, duke of Carthmoor,
>>uncle to King Kelson, and utterly devoted to him.
>
>I knew there was some reason I didn't like the Deryni stories!  What
>nonsense.

The fact that the prose in at least the earlier Deryni books is
painfully stilted and amateur may also have something to do with it.

I loved _Deryni Rising_ when I was a kid.  I re-read it at about 20
and laughed at my younger self.

-David

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