posted on Feb, 9 2015 @ 09:53 PM
a reply to:
Skid Mark
DIck's, "I Can Remember It For You Wholesale" was an excellent story that was fairly faithfully represented in Arnie's version. It had HUGE
implications and displayed pretty well on screen. The most recent version is a crapfest with nothing but mundane thoughts and less meritorious
corpserate (sic) groupthink displayed.
Also, since I have been reading Science Fiction for 57 years, I have a few opinions about what you can read to get the spirit back. Much of it is
formulaic and the characters of little worth. The entire Dune series is dull and slow. So stop TRYING to consider it as Great Literature, it ain't.
Melodrama on steroids and sickly efforts of putting it into a future of BS.
Avoid the perils of slogging through the weak sauce and get to the Killer 'B's. Benford, Brin and Bear (Baxter when he's cooking.) write
thematically strong, inventive stuff with characters who are understandable and sometimes actually likeable. Bain and his 'Culture' novels are
pleasant and project well into the future. For wild war action, the proto-nazi right wing Ringo is a blast.
These recommendations come with a guarantee. by me, of not inconsequential worth. I used to read four novels a week for an extended period and still
finish one or two a week besides my other reading. I actually remember those authors and a lot, a very large lot have succumbed to the nether world of
"Oh, yeah, I read that." nullity.
As a good break, read the Dresden novels. Fun, funny and well constructed. I am not much for fantasy (note the small 'f'') but these are a relief
from the mostly, moistly morbid and stupid plots of vampires, eldritch beings and poorly drawn motives.
When I read I truly hate the, "and suddenly". Lay on the horn because I am passing! SF must support itself by rigorous means or it falls flat on the
plane of illogic. Tight and concise reasoning cooks and spills my beans with some elegance. For me the better the writers' competency in science the
better it reads. If you get into fifties and sixties SF you will rarely be disappointed. The naivete' is sometimes a gross feature but some of the
ideas are magnificent in scope and potential consequence.
Compare. Get back to me. I think I may have a few years left. These guys will put studs into your wall of reason. Sometimes they are even optimistic
but not always.