Just a note on the title "Everybody lies about sex." No, I do not think everyone does. There are lots of honest people out there, but even these may exaggerate, embellish, or fib a bit. Even I do it. Also the title really is just a quote from a favorite book. The Notebooks of Lazarus Long, by Robert A Heinlein, and also found in Time Enough for Love, by the same.
Another of my favorite quotes from this book is: "The more you love, the more you can love --and the more intensely you love. Nor is there any limit on how many you can love. If a person had time enough, he could love all of that majority who are decent and just."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
V,
Only just found your blog. sorry about being late. But I couldn't resist the invitation to comment, even if I was late.
Heinlein is an extraordinary author. Not much in the literary effect category in most of his stuff -- not littrachure, you know -- but he tells a whopping good story (almost always) and more importantly, makes a perceptive reader think. He got roped into a kind of bet with his publisher in the early 50s and wrote a long series of 'juveniles'. One a year for about 10 years. Except for the first couple, they're hardly what they're billed as, namely juveniles. Adult themes and problems, though from a (usually) teen perspective. The Star Beast has, more less incidentally except that it all contributes to 'atmosphere') extensive comments on politicians, racism, phobias, bureauracy, and a throw away comment about legal structures for child rearing. Plus it's not a bad plot, though a little conventional. Have Spacesuit Will Travel is another, but considers very serious issues at a galactic level. Very interesting aliens, at least the ones we see the most of. Moon is a Harsh Mistress is, in some sense, the follow on to Stranger...
His last few novels are a bit different (after The Number of the Beast, perhaps or maybe after Friday maybe). I suggest leaving them until you've read a good bit of his earlier stuff. The story about Neahmiah Scudder and his success in US politics of the future (title excapes, but it's a novella) will likely raise the hairs on the back of your neck and keep them up for an extended period.
If you like Heinlein, you might try Hogan or Brin (the last few books of the Sundiver series are increasingly less successful, but the first three are winners) or Blish's Cities in Flight. Sheffield's MacAndrew Chronicles (plus I think there's another novel or story collection) is astonishingly good. So is Niven's Known space work. I'd start with Protector myself and move to World of Ptaavs, through some of the short stories and finally end up a Ringworld. His Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenx should have you on the floor in stiches. Passerby, in the same short story collection, and What Can You Say About Chocolate Covered Manhole Covers, should make those hairs stand up again and make you think and ponder for a very long time. Or, one good author's answer to the question, what if we were really smart, more than the bumbly quality we seem be on average. Brain Wave by Anderson (I think, and if not, it's by Pohl). Another is Macroscope by Anthony, who has settled into a groove of horrid puns in fantasy worlds; the are several very large series. But Macroscope is special, if you discount much of the astrology. Perhaps coasting a bit when the astrology is in the forefront might be good.
If you like space opera (Star wars kind of action, I suppose) you might consider the Honor Harrington series by Weber. Much more interesting characters than the Star Wars crew. He doesn't write quite as transparently as Heinlein -- you'll probably be aware of some little writing tricks and habits -- but they're a lot easier to take than a LOUD sound track... Better alien species too, or at least one. Best read in order published as things are recounted in later volumes that you might not want to know. Inspired by the Horatio Hornblower books by Forester, who was in turn somewhat inspired by either or both of Admiral Nelson or Thomas Cochran of the Napoeonic era Royal Navy. The more recent series by O'Brian (about Jack Aubrey and Steven Maturin) is less satisfactory in my mind, but still good.
The space opera sci-fi is usually a kind of projection of past history into some future universe. Weber is no exception.It's kind of fun to notice when he's doing it. Turtledove has written a different kind of thing in his Videssian Roman Legion series -- it's a kind of projection sideways -- sort of. Good characterization, though.
If, as it suspect, you might interested in an appreciation of the fundamental aspects of human nature, try LeGuin's Let Hand of Darkness. It's astonishing.
Excellent blog, especially for someone who is apparently just beginning to explore some of the less traveled roads. Thank you for it. Now, keep it up!
Bill
Well thank you very much Bill! You're not late for anything, I'm just on a sort of break. Although I wish you'd left an address where I could thank you for your reccomendations.
Post a Comment