Wyndham?
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 7 June 2017 01:57 (six years ago) link
Oh, sorry just scrolled up. Get the Sheckley too, Don.
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 7 June 2017 01:58 (six years ago) link
Unless you have already read all the stories in it
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 7 June 2017 01:59 (six years ago) link
anyone read Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky? it's the only vaguely sf thing that i haven't read in this month's cheap amazon monthly list.
― koogs, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 08:17 (six years ago) link
I've been curious about him for awhile because of stuff ilxor lamp has posted about him
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 7 June 2017 13:34 (six years ago) link
i enjoyed children of time. some interesting ideas that are maybe 70% thought through within the framework of an entertaining narrative. i remember the politics struck me as a lil suspect but possibly unintentionally so.
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 14:47 (six years ago) link
It's 99p, I'm not sure why I'm worried. (600pp though)
― koogs, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 18:03 (six years ago) link
Is it me or is it remarkable that this blish story ("this earth of ours") from 1959 mentions "lysergic acid grenades"? Who was hip to LSD back then?
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 10 June 2017 03:29 (six years ago) link
Also features an open and explicitly gay character, which also seems unusual
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 10 June 2017 03:36 (six years ago) link
On both counts, maybe he was thinking of Allen Ginsberg? It was legal then and used in psychotherapy sometimes----Cary Grant said it really helped---Henry and Clair Booth Luce took it, dunno if it helped them, but Roger Sterling and one of his wives took it in marriage counseling, realized it was time to part amicably (although that was in the 60s, but it wasn't a Controlled Substance 'til 1965, I think?)---Ken Kesey volunteered to take part in a sanctioned experiment while working at the hospital which inspired One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and well you know---also:https://erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_timeline.php
― dow, Saturday, 10 June 2017 03:50 (six years ago) link
Is the open and explicitly gay character also evil? Otherwise, this was pretty unusual too!Sturgeon wrote many stories during the Golden Age of Science Fiction that emphasised the importance of love, regardless of the current social norms. In his short story "The World Well Lost" (1953), first published in Universe magazine, homosexual alien fugitives and unrequited (and taboo) human homosexual love are portrayed. The tagline for the Universe cover was "His most daring story";[30] its sensitive treatment of homosexuality was unusual for science fiction published at that time, and it is now regarded as a milestone in science fiction's portrayal of homosexuality.[31] According to an anecdote related by Samuel R. Delany, when Sturgeon first submitted the story, the editor (John W. Campbell) not only rejected it but phoned every other editor he knew and urged them to reject it as well.[32][33] Sturgeon would later write Affair with a Green Monkey, which examined social stereotyping of homosexuals, and in 1960 published Venus Plus X, in which a single-gender society is depicted and the protagonist's homophobia portrayed unfavourably.[22] from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_themes_in_speculative_fictionWonder how he got Campbell to accept it after all? Universe was a pretty interesting mag, but didn't know about that story.
― dow, Saturday, 10 June 2017 04:02 (six years ago) link
Blish's character is def a stereotype (a pouty, effeminate poet) but no he is not evil, he fits more of an "unexpectedly resourceful sidekick" role
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 10 June 2017 13:24 (six years ago) link
The LSD ref is a one line throwaway that has no bearing on the plot, which makes it even more strange to me - like its just a ref to contemporary science stuff added for color.
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 10 June 2017 13:26 (six years ago) link
He must have picked it up from some research paper or scientific journal
― Οὖτις, Saturday, 10 June 2017 13:27 (six years ago) link
Best of Subterranean: will prob check out a used copy (pre-order for trade pb is $45, ouch)
http://subterraneanpress.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/e/best_of_sub_press-cvr_names.jpg
― dow, Monday, 12 June 2017 16:24 (six years ago) link
is it pretty fat?
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Monday, 12 June 2017 17:28 (six years ago) link
30 stories, 700 pages. Oh wow, Amazon's takig pre-orders of the *hardback* for $27.21, free shipping (but still I'll prob wait for a nice used copy). More info here: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Subterranean-William-Schafer/dp/159606837Xand on the publisher's site ("not signing" refers to the autographed edition, I take it):
From Kirkus (Starred Review):
“Vampires and wizards and aliens, oh my! A splendid gathering, from the late lamented magazine, of modern science fiction and fantasy. Like the best of the 1950s pulps, Subterranean magazine did not cavil much about genre distinctions: if a sci-fi story strayed into horror or swords and sorcery, that was fine, so long as the story in question was good… Fans of every stripe of speculative fiction will want this on their shelves.”
Table of Contents:
Perfidia—Lewis ShinerGame—Maria Dahvana HeadleyThe Last Log of the Lachrimosa—Alastair ReynoldsThe Seventeenth Kind—Michael Marshall SmithDispersed by the Sun, Melting in the Wind—Rachel SwirskyThe Pile—Michael BishopThe Bohemian Astrobleme—Kage Baker (not signing)Tanglefoot—Cherie PriestHide and Horns—Joe R. LansdaleBalfour and Meriwether in the Vampire of Kabul—Daniel AbrahamLast Breath—Joe HillYounger Women—Karen Joy FowlerWhite Lines on a Green Field—Catherynne M. ValenteThe Least of the Deathly Arts—Kat HowardWater Can’t be Nervous—Jonathan CarrollValley of the Girls—Kelly LinkSic Him, Hellhound! Kill! Kill!—Hal DuncanTroublesolving—Tim PrattThe Indelible Dark—William Browning SpencerThe Prayer of Ninety Cats—Caitlín R. KiernanThe Crane Method—Ian R. MacLeodThe Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn—Robert Silverberg (not signing)The Toys of Caliban (script)—George R. R. MartinThe Secret History of the Lost Colony—John ScalziThe Screams of Dragons—Kelley ArmstrongThe Dry Spell—James P. BlaylockHe Who Grew Up Reading Sherlock Holmes—Harlan Ellison® (not signing)A Small Price to Pay for Birdsong—K. J. ParkerThe Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling—Ted ChiangA Long Walk Home—Jay Lake (not signing)
― dow, Monday, 12 June 2017 20:00 (six years ago) link
that's a p impressive list of authors
― Οὖτις, Monday, 12 June 2017 20:01 (six years ago) link
Would recommend Simn Morden: At the Speed of Light to anyone here like James Redd who enjoyed Carter Scholz, Ian Sales, etc
― Mince Pramthwart (James Morrison), Tuesday, 13 June 2017 02:48 (six years ago) link
Will check out, thanks
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 13 June 2017 03:00 (six years ago) link
Also he's Simon and i cannot type
― Mince Pramthwart (James Morrison), Tuesday, 13 June 2017 08:09 (six years ago) link
Figured that out.
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 13 June 2017 11:19 (six years ago) link
Started reading Jack McDevitt's Deepsix. McDevitt is apparently the heir to Asimov, Clarke, Anderson, Simak, AND Pohl. Hey, blurbs don't lie.
― scott seward, Tuesday, 13 June 2017 17:14 (six years ago) link
Is there a realist oil painting of a spaceship on the cover
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Tuesday, 13 June 2017 18:03 (six years ago) link
it's actually not too realist. i like his covers. they make me want to read them.
http://www.sfreviews.com/graphics/Jack%20McDevitt_2001_Deepsix.jpg
― scott seward, Wednesday, 14 June 2017 04:17 (six years ago) link
i like the font on a lot of his paperbacks...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514mc6OXDTL._SX308_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
― scott seward, Wednesday, 14 June 2017 04:21 (six years ago) link
Reading Ubik, my first PDK. It's good so far! Read eight pages. The writing is *way* more graceful than High Castle, which I found almost unreadable.
― Chuck_Tatum, Wednesday, 14 June 2017 13:12 (six years ago) link
I mean, actually unreadable, because I couldn't finish it.
Ubik is amazing. Definitely in the top 5 of the 15 or so pkd i have read
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 June 2017 14:54 (six years ago) link
yeah it's peak PKD
High Castle is overrated imo
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 14 June 2017 15:00 (six years ago) link
Yeah, feel like there is too much, um, naturalism and not enough paranoia.
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 14 June 2017 15:12 (six years ago) link
turns out the i ching is not really a great sf author
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 14 June 2017 15:17 (six years ago) link
Ubik is maybe my favourite PKD
― Mince Pramthwart (James Morrison), Thursday, 15 June 2017 02:56 (six years ago) link
Tell it to the homeopape!
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 15 June 2017 03:25 (six years ago) link
High Castle is not an especial PKD favourite of mine either, but I'm slightly puzzled by Chuck Tatum saying that it's the quality of the writing that put him off. Dick was never known to be an particularly elegant prose stylist - could be downright clumsy/ugly when he was really churning books out - but it's generally agreed that High Castle is his most 'polished' SF novel. He spent a comparatively long time writing it, it was a rare hardcover original for him, and it won him his only Hugo award. Whereas the opening chapter of UBIK has always struck me as quite an clunky beginning, before the whole thing hits that sweet PKD zone.
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Thursday, 15 June 2017 08:14 (six years ago) link
Oh, and I recently started Blood Music by Greg Bear, but the first twenty or so pages were so filled with science-speak - that I didn't understand a word of - I quickly set it aside. 'Hard SF' is just not for me, I guess.
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Thursday, 15 June 2017 08:17 (six years ago) link
I don't think I'd enjoy super Hard SF either but I value the existence of niche and obscure art more than ever, even if it makes me feel frustrated and insecure sometimes. Anything that makes the "plot and relatable/likable characters are all that matters" crowd miserable is a good thing.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 15 June 2017 14:18 (six years ago) link
the opening chapter of UBIK
iirc a significant chunk of this chapter is descriptions of people's ridiculous clothes, which, tbh I always find hilarious
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 15 June 2017 15:38 (six years ago) link
i like reading technical stuff for some reason. even though i'm dumb. i like reading really long interviews with audio engineers and stuff like that as well. even though i'm dumb. i find it soothing. i figure i'll get the gist of it. i am the least math and science-oriented person you will ever meet.
― scott seward, Thursday, 15 June 2017 16:22 (six years ago) link
i like that too, it's like I'm resting on a thick comfortable mattress of science which I do not understand at all but feels good on my back
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 15 June 2017 17:08 (six years ago) link
JnJ otm!
― scott seward, Thursday, 15 June 2017 17:55 (six years ago) link
this blish story ("this earth of ours") from 1959 mentions "lysergic acid grenades"? Who was hip to LSD back then?
Blish worked for Pfizer after WWII, maybe that's how he heard about it. I wonder if that phrase gave Brian Aldiss the idea for Barefoot in the Head.
― alimosina, Thursday, 15 June 2017 18:07 (six years ago) link
yeah I made that connection to
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 15 June 2017 18:11 (six years ago) link
too
Whereas the opening chapter of UBIK has always struck me as quite an clunky beginning,
Interesting! Given how much I'm enjoying Ubik I will probably go back and try MITHC again. The first chapter of Ubik is entertaining, though! It's full of exposition but I like how the PKD narrator keeps including jaded phrases like "of course" and "as usual" as if everything happening is just the same old same old - it's quite a nifty way of doing world-building without being square about it. (I'm guessing this is a typical PKD trope?)
― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 15 June 2017 22:50 (six years ago) link
Yeah lol I read this description and was, like, I have no fucking idea how to picture this but it's funny and gets the vibe across:
He wore a varicolored Dacron wash-and-wear suit, knit cummerbund and dip-dyed cheese-cloth cravat. His head, massive like a tomcat’s, thrust forward as he peered through slightly protruding, round and warm and highly alert eyes.
― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 15 June 2017 22:54 (six years ago) link
(I'm guessing this is a typical PKD trope?)
this is def a thing he does a lot. The off-the-wall descriptions in the opening chapter stuck out to me though, in that it seems like a sustained riff that I don't remember him really leaning on much in other books. (He does generally have a tendency to throw in silly/cheap elements into any given scene but he really lays it on thick in the beginning of Ubik)
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 15 June 2017 22:57 (six years ago) link
got this for father's day, looks fantastic. Pic of him on the jacket is great, sad that he died when he was only 34
https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fd.gr-assets.com%2Fbooks%2F1376407621l%2F41605.jpg&f=1
― Οὖτις, Monday, 19 June 2017 19:18 (six years ago) link
that looks great
iirc he had abominable oral hygiene (where did i read that)
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Monday, 19 June 2017 20:26 (six years ago) link
aw the lovable scamphttps://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nndb.com%2Fpeople%2F218%2F000077984%2Fcmk-2.gif&f=1
― Οὖτις, Monday, 19 June 2017 20:27 (six years ago) link