Re: [Epic] Lost World

From: <duckrvr_at_...>
Date: Fri, 06 Jun 1997 09:25:55 -0500

At 10:02 PM 6/5/97 +0000, you wrote:
>>>Saw the Lost World. Not very good, in my opinion.
>>>While the graphics and effects are cool, the plot and the execution is kinda
>>>bad. But maybe it is just me :)
>>
>>Welcome to the world of Michael Crichton.
>>
>>Temp
>
>Geez Temp, you don't like Heinlein, you don't like Crichton - who do you like?

Um, since you asked, I prefer stuff with a lot of complexity in plot, and
depth of characterization and world creation (for speculative fiction).
It's the English major in me. Crichton writes on a low level as far as
vocabulary and sentence construction goes - about 6th grade I would say. I
read Jurassic Park in about 2 hours and Andromeda Strain in about 4 while
working at a retail job, and I read slowly compared to other English types.
Andromeda Strain had a partiuclarly pitiful plot ending - "and the virus
mutates and floats back up to the upper atmosphere . . ." Gimme a break.

Anyway, I don't like Crichton and Heinlein for virtually the exact same
reasons. No plot complexity, and zero characterization.

People I do like (in speculative fiction):

Frank Herbert - Dune is possibly the single most detailed world creation
I've seen, and the plot is full of subplots and political intrigue. The
characteers are detailed and believable, frex, Paul Atreides slow decline
into what his family would consider a lesser moral state after power goes to
his head.

Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game was weak on characterization, but long on
world creation and action (yes, I'm a sucker for it sometimes). Speaker...
was MUCH better w/ regard to characterization and plot complexity and a far
superior work, IMHO. His short stories are quite poignant, too.

Although I personally don't like her style, I can easily recognize high
quality in Ursula K. LeGuin's work.

Walter John Williams - I'm a sucker for cyberpunk, too. But Williams has
expanded his repertoire outside that genre, and I've been favorably
impressed. Anyone into alternate history should read "No spot of Ground."
It's a short story about E.A. Poe. He is saved from the Baltimore gutter,
and becomes an officer in the Civil War (he did go to West Point, BTW).
Again, it is a good combination of plot and characterization.

And the king of speculative fiction short stories - Harlan Ellison

If you are actually interested (as opposed to this being a purely
narcissistic discourse on my part), I can come up with some more suggestions.

Temp
Received on Fri Jun 06 1997 - 14:25:55 UTC