SciFi Chick

[Halcyon Dayz, FCD]

I'm afraid I didn't like the Amber books very much.

Lots of action and plot, and play with genre clichés
But no subtext.
Well crafted work, but rather pointless.

[Doe, John]

Zelazny was very interested in those kinds of tales, but he loves to put his own "spin" on them. Like in the short story he wrote about Merlin and Mordrid getting together in modern times. Neither was a "nice guy" at all.

I believe you are referring to "The Last Defender of Camelot". If so then that was Lancelot and either Nimue or Morganna La Fay fighting against Merlin. A most excellent story.

[SciFi Chick]

I'm afraid I didn't like the Amber books very much.

Lots of action and plot, and play with genre clichés
But no subtext.
Well crafted work, but rather pointless.

Thanks for the review. I'm actually rather fond of playing with genre clichés, so that actually increases my interest, but then, I'm a writer, so I read for more than one goal.

I'll have to see if I agree with you about the pointless angle. :D

Then again, I just love action films, and oftentimes you can't get more pointless than they are.

[Lonewulf]

Zelazny was very interested in those kinds of tales, but he loves to put his own "spin" on them. Like in the short story he wrote about Merlin and Mordrid getting together in modern times. Neither was a "nice guy" at all.

I believe you are referring to "The Last Defender of Camelot". If so then that was Lancelot and either Nimue or Morganna La Fay fighting against Merlin. A most excellent story.

Uh, maybe. There were a ton of short stories in that book, I probably got them mixed up.

[nicozine]

Lord of Light is Zelazny's best, IMHO. The Amber books are indeed a kind of old-style SF cliche series, but then, they're a product of their time, and should be enjoyed as such.

I recommend anything from LeGuin, particularly her Hainish novels and the Earthsea series.

All in all, I'd rather discuss books than personalities of board members.

[Lonewulf]

well, it was very well-done, even for the old "cliche" books.

A cliche isn't bad if it's handled correctly, and done with style.

Take "Sin City"; that was the ultimate cliche in comic-book action and Film Noir... yet it was well done and interesting.

[nicozine]

well, it was very well-done, even for the old "cliche" books.

A cliche isn't bad if it's handled correctly, and done with style.

Agreed. But I'm not sure that the Amber series would have been considered a cliche at the time it was written. I read them a long time ago and didn't think they were cliches at all. Now, when I reread them, I can see it. I think they only seem like cliches because we've seen so much stuff that has copied the style in the intervening years and because some of it has become dated.

[Swamp Pixie]

As for checking out fantasy, I recommend Melanie Rawn. I'm reading a trilogy by her that, ironically, involves dragons.

Melanie Rawn is AWESOME... there are 2 trilogies in that series.... Keep going, SFC... you'll like them... though I wish she would write more... I want to know what happens next. It's like Frank Herbert, Gods rest his soul...

[Monique]

I do not know scifi chick, she seem very nice.

My friend wander say he know her. He say she is very special woman. I believe.

[SciFi Chick]

I do not know scifi chick, she seem very nice.

My friend wander say he know her. He say she is very special woman. I believe.

I am very nice Monique. Don't worry. :D

[Doe, John]

The Amber books are indeed a kind of old-style SF cliche series, but then, they're a product of their time, and should be enjoyed as such.

Yeah, especially when you come across the references to smoking cigarettes. It's amazing how pervasive that habit was 40 years ago compared to the current public opinion.

I recommend anything from LeGuin, particularly her Hainish novels and the Earthsea series.

All in all, I'd rather discuss books than personalities of board members.

Agreed on both points. :D

[pumpkinpie]

I'm a newbie here at IRU, so I know SFC through BABB and interactions on FWIS. There are many of well-spoken, thoughtful, and insightful women there, and she is at the top of the list!

[SciFi Chick]

I'm a newbie here at IRU, so I know SFC through BABB and interactions on FWIS. There are many of well-spoken, thoughtful, and insightful women there, and she is at the top of the list!

Wow. Thanks pumpkinpie. I really value your opinion, so I am incredibly honored by what you wrote.

[Bill EE]

Sci wrote:

I've never even heard of The Lost Regiment Series. Who's the author?

The author is William Forstchen - a professor of history and Civil War expert. The series is better than most - a Civil War regiment get transfered to a another planet.

A lot of the alternate history stuff is only a little better than the SNL sketch - "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?" - but genre is rich for the right writers.

[Мастер]

A lot of the alternate history stuff is only a little better than the SNL sketch - "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?" - but genre is rich for the right writers.

Don't you go knocking Spartacus now.

[Doe, John]

Sci wrote:

I've never even heard of The Lost Regiment Series. Who's the author?

The author is William Forstchen - a professor of history and Civil War expert. The series is better than most - a Civil War regiment get transfered to a another planet.

A lot of the alternate history stuff is only a little better than the SNL sketch - "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?" - but genre is rich for the right writers.

If you like the alternate history stuff you can't get much better than Harry Turtledove or S. M. Stirling. Two really good titles, one from each respectively, "The Land Between the Rivers" and "Peshawar Lancers"

[Bill EE]

Turtledove and Stirling are excellent authors from what little I have read. I was not trying to limit the authors of that genre.

KOS - not knocking Spartacus at all (I did miss that thread though). I just remember that old SNL "What if?" sketches about alternative history like:
1) What if Eleanor Roosevelt could fly? (she leads the bomber of the 8th Air Force)
2) What if Superman landed in Germany as a baby? - ("I am not a jew, my mother believed in being clean.")
3) What if Napoleon had a fully loaded B-52.

[Мастер]

KOS - not knocking Spartacus at all (I did miss that thread though).

I know - just a little shameless trolling

[lonegunman]

As for checking out fantasy, I recommend Melanie Rawn. I'm reading a trilogy by her that, ironically, involves dragons.

Melanie Rawn is AWESOME... there are 2 trilogies in that series.... Keep going, SFC... you'll like them... though I wish she would write more... I want to know what happens next. It's like Frank Herbert, Gods rest his soul...

Ah Yes! I love Dune. But Zelazny's Lord of Light was one I often wished he had done a prequel with. :D

[Doe, John]

As for checking out fantasy, I recommend Melanie Rawn. I'm reading a trilogy by her that, ironically, involves dragons.

Melanie Rawn is AWESOME... there are 2 trilogies in that series.... Keep going, SFC... you'll like them... though I wish she would write more... I want to know what happens next. It's like Frank Herbert, Gods rest his soul...

Ah Yes! I love Dune. But Zelazny's Lord of Light was one I often wished he had done a prequel with. :D

I know what you mean, but I feel that in a case like this trying to write a story which would emcompass all the backstory hinted at in the book would have wound up a disappointment.

[nicozine]

I think Zelasny's bests was Jack of Shadows. For some reason I just love that one. Any book in which the main character's personal palace is called "High Dudgeon" has an edge to begin with. :wink: Then there's the man-eating fungus and that big machine that runs the world. I reread that book every 2-3 years.

[Doe, John]

Yeah, that was a cool book. Very typical of Zelazny's penchant for contrasting the magical and the scientific. I thought High Dudgeon was the Lord of the Bats castle. Admittedly that was the castle Jack took over once he found the key.

[Halcyon Dayz, FCD]

One of my favourites is Doorways in the Sand.
In essence an interstellar espionage caper, which features two alien
secret agents disguised as a kangaroo and a wombat.

[nicozine]

Yeah, that was a cool book. Very typical of Zelazny's penchant for contrasting the magical and the scientific. I thought High Dudgeon was the Lord of the Bats castle. Admittedly that was the castle Jack took over once he found the key.

You're right. IIRC, it was never clear whether Jack actually had his own keep, or it existed only in shadows. Cool idea though.

[Doe, John]

One of my favourites is Doorways in the Sand.
In essence an interstellar espionage caper, which features two alien
secret agents disguised as a kangaroo and a wombat.

Our Boojum is a Snark.

I liked the idea of the main characters quest to be the eternal student, the bane of his advisor's attempts to graduate him.