Re: [Epic] Lost World

From: Ken Taborek <oberon_at_...>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 14:38:41 -0400 (EDT)

Try Larry Niven. He's a master of hard science fiction, where real
physics often is the key to solving plot complications.

--Ken Taborek oberon_at_...
"Show respect for age. Drink good Scotch for a change."- random fortune



On Fri, 6 Jun 1997 duckrvr_at_... wrote:

> 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 Sat Jun 07 1997 - 18:38:41 UTC