A Final Salute To The Admiral
Spider Robinson
It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
But isnąt 5 a nice round number? And wouldnąt he have loved becoming the
first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
As for me, itąs been 23 years since I won my own third Hugo Award (2 of them
shared). Iąve never won for Best Novel, only for Novellas and Short Story.
I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year. The Hugo Award,
SFąs highest honour, is one of very few arts awards voted by the customers:
anyone can vote.
Until June 30, it costs only US$50 or Ł28 to nominate and vote for the Hugo,
by becoming a Supporting Member of the World Science Fiction Convention
(This yearąs is Nippon 2007 in Yokohama; $220/Ł125 for an Attending
Membership). Itąs easy! Visit <http://www.nippon2007.us/registration.php>
for a printable registration form. They take credit cards or personal
cheques, and thereąs a US mailing address so many of you wonąt even need
international postage.
Publishers pay serious attention to the Hugo Award results. It is the
fieldąs highest honour. Worldcons outside North America usually have
comparatively tiny memberships: your ballot will never be more influential.
Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
Ginny.)
--Spider Robinson
bajasteve
Spider Robinson wrote:
> Brethren and sistren,
>
> It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
> for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
> record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
>
> first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
> For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
>
> shared). I¹ve never won for Best Novel, only for Novellas and Short Story.
>
> I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year. The Hugo Award,
> anyone can vote.
>
> Until June 30, it costs only US$50 or £28 to nominate and vote for the Hugo,
> by becoming a Supporting Member of the World Science Fiction Convention
> Membership). It¹s easy! Visit <http://www.nippon2007.us/registration.php>
> for a printable registration form. They take credit cards or personal
> international postage.
>
> Publishers pay serious attention to the Hugo Award results. It is the
> comparatively tiny memberships: your ballot will never be more influential.
> Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
> Ginny.)
>
> --Spider Robinson
I guess he hasn't been reading too much of what we've said about
Variable Star.
Steve
Chris Zakes
caused Spider Robinson <spid...@shaw.ca> to write:
>Brethren and sistren,
>
>It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
>for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
>record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
>
>But isnšt 5 a nice round number? And wouldnšt he have loved becoming the
>first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
>For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
Sounds like a plan to me. Let's everybody vote for "For Us the Living"
for this year's Hugo award.
-Chris Zakes
Texas
Dragons don't have friends. The nearest they can get to the idea is an enemy who
is still alive.
-Terry Pratchett, "Guards! Guards!"
Dave Adalian
news:1167592889.5...@h40g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Spider Robinson wrote:
> Brethren and sistren,
>
> It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo
> Award,
> for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
> record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
>
> But isnąt 5 a nice round number? And wouldnąt he have loved becoming the
> first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
> For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
>
> As for me, itąs been 23 years since I won my own third Hugo Award (2 of
> them
> shared). Iąve never won for Best Novel, only for Novellas and Short
> Story.
>
> I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year. The Hugo Award,
> SFąs highest honour, is one of very few arts awards voted by the
> customers:
> anyone can vote.
>
> Until June 30, it costs only US$50 or Ł28 to nominate and vote for the
> Hugo,
> by becoming a Supporting Member of the World Science Fiction Convention
> (This yearąs is Nippon 2007 in Yokohama; $220/Ł125 for an Attending
> Membership). Itąs easy! Visit
> <http://www.nippon2007.us/registration.php>
> for a printable registration form. They take credit cards or personal
> cheques, and thereąs a US mailing address so many of you wonąt even need
> international postage.
>
> Publishers pay serious attention to the Hugo Award results. It is the
> fieldąs highest honour. Worldcons outside North America usually have
> comparatively tiny memberships: your ballot will never be more
> influential.
> Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
> Ginny.)
>
> --Spider Robinson
* I guess he hasn't been reading too much of what we've said about
* Variable Star.
*
* Steve
Probably he ignored it, as well he should have. Most of it was
unnecessarily critical and reminded me a bit of a mob stomping, which we see
quite a bit of 'round here.
Actually, I quite liked the story. Nice little yarn. Not Hugo class, of
course, but certainly not terrible. It had its faults, but there were high
points as well. I dreamt the fictive dream, and what more can a reader ask
of his author than that? I had at least one laugh-out-loud moment and
another that's-too-damned-bad instance, so I got my 50 cents worth for the
hold at the library.
-- Dave
Read my latest astronomy column!
http://starry-starry-nights.blogspot.com/
Dr. Rufo
Dave Adalian wrote:
> "bajasteve" <steven...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:1167592889.5...@h40g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Spider Robinson wrote:
>
>> Brethren and sistren,
< snip of the promo >
>> --Spider Robinson
>
>
> * I guess he hasn't been reading too much of what we've said
> about Variable Star.
>* * Steve
>
> Probably he ignored it, as well he should have.
You bring up an interesting subject: How seriously, if at all,
should an artist of whatever sort take "reviews" of his/her work? In
the theatre, the commonplace runs "Believe only half of your good
reviews and less of the bad ones." I may have reversed those
categories but the essence is there. I've always felt that
pronouncement was too glib.
RAH says in "Ray Gun and Rocket Ships" that for plotting,
characterization & motivation, science fiction should be judged as
any other writing. That's what I understood to be going on here.
IIRC, several folks stated they were disappointed. They were
expecting a Heinlein novel because RAH's name was on the cover and
the press releases. That expectation wasn't changed by reading the
disclaimer in the Afterword that Mr. R. was instructed to write the
best Spider Robinson novel he could.
> Most of it was unnecessarily critical
The word you've used, "critical," seems to have all-but-lost its
neutral connotation. It's no longer understood to mean "to examine
and judge" or "to analyze and offer an opinion." The word has come
to be used mainly in a negative and pejorative manner; as in "to
belittle and/or demean."
I suggest that most of the opinions expressed were negative
basically because the folks who posted didn't like the book and they
generally took the time to explain their varying reasons. IMHO,
merely saying "I didn't like it." is worthless without such
substantiation.
> and reminded me a bit of a mob stomping,
> which we see quite a bit of 'round here.
The stubborn individualists who frequent this-here Freedom Hall may
seem to share some opinions -- we do. But we differ significantly
enough on many others to disparage even the notion of "mob" activity
on our part. Are you familiar with the notion of "rubbing blue mud
into your navel"?
>
> Actually, I quite liked the story. Nice little yarn. Not Hugo
> class, of course, but certainly not terrible. It had its faults,
> but there were high points as well. I dreamt the fictive dream,
> and what more can a reader ask of his author than that? I had at
> least one laugh-out-loud moment and another that's-too-damned-bad
> instance, so I got my 50 cents worth for the hold at the library.
You've stated your opinion and your reasons. That is, of course,
your prerogative. I'm glad you got a laugh out of the book.
*My* Public Library only charges the 50 cents if/when you don't pick
up the items you've requested by the hold-until date.
Regards,
Rufe
djinn
Dr. Rufo wrote:
> I suggest that most of the opinions expressed were negative
> basically because the folks who posted didn't like the book and they
> generally took the time to explain their varying reasons. IMHO,
> merely saying "I didn't like it." is worthless without such
> substantiation.
>
The differing opinions on the book have been pretty interesting to me.
I thought Silver and Zakes discussion was one of the more interesting
I've seen here, not least cause they had the good sense to drop it at
the point of bursting into flames.
It is too bad that 'criticize' has come to mean 'denigrate' rather than
' evaluate'. It's probably inevitable in media where the final result
comes down to 'I liked it' or 'I didn't like it'.
I thought Spider's reply to Socks criticism was dismayingly inapt,
instead of saying something about his thoughts we got a diatribe on
9/11. zzzzzzzzzz ( The next person who wants me to 'wake up' or
'learn something' about it had better be out of reach or they're
getting a personal lesson in response to provocation. -- now I'll go
find the ibuprofen and go back to bed. Dam birds are screeching and the
sun is glaring. And who's beating those drums?)
Happy @!!#$% New Year....
pixelmeow
>
>Dr. Rufo wrote:
>
>> I suggest that most of the opinions expressed were negative
>> basically because the folks who posted didn't like the book and they
>> generally took the time to explain their varying reasons. IMHO,
>> merely saying "I didn't like it." is worthless without such
>> substantiation.
>>
>The differing opinions on the book have been pretty interesting to me.
>I thought Silver and Zakes discussion was one of the more interesting
>I've seen here, not least cause they had the good sense to drop it at
>the point of bursting into flames.
>
>It is too bad that 'criticize' has come to mean 'denigrate' rather than
>' evaluate'. It's probably inevitable in media where the final result
>comes down to 'I liked it' or 'I didn't like it'.
>
>I thought Spider's reply to Socks criticism was dismayingly inapt,
>instead of saying something about his thoughts we got a diatribe on
>9/11. zzzzzzzzzz
You know, there was a LOT of talk here about that book, and saying
Sock's comments were insulting was a bit over the top, I think. I
would have appreciated a more civil conversation, or nothing at all.
It's a real shame.
>( The next person who wants me to 'wake up' or
>'learn something' about it had better be out of reach or they're
>getting a personal lesson in response to provocation. -- now I'll go
>find the ibuprofen and go back to bed. Dam birds are screeching and the
>sun is glaring. And who's beating those drums?)
>
> Happy @!!#$% New Year....
By now you should be feeling better; Heather's asleep on the sofa and
I'm working on pixelmeow.com with VH1C on the TV.
<waves from overhead>
--
~teresa~
AFH Barwench
=^..^= "Through the walls! The heck with doors!" =^..^=
Volunteer Coordinator and Database Wrangler
The Heinlein Centennial, July 7 2007
http://www.HeinleinCentennial.com
http://www.forget-me-knotts.com
email my first name at pixelmeow dot com
djinn
anyone to vote for him.
Nothing quite like dropping into a newsgroup and starting a politics
flame war to earn popularity.
you remind me, I need to go get a sofa. Apt didnt' come with one. Don't
know how I've managed without it.
Bookman
wrote:
>On 31 Dec 2006 18:41:50 -0800, "djinn" <dje...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>Dr. Rufo wrote:
>>
>>> I suggest that most of the opinions expressed were negative
>>> basically because the folks who posted didn't like the book and they
>>> generally took the time to explain their varying reasons. IMHO,
>>> merely saying "I didn't like it." is worthless without such
>>> substantiation.
>>>
>>The differing opinions on the book have been pretty interesting to me.
>>I thought Silver and Zakes discussion was one of the more interesting
>>I've seen here, not least cause they had the good sense to drop it at
>>the point of bursting into flames.
>>
>>It is too bad that 'criticize' has come to mean 'denigrate' rather than
>>' evaluate'. It's probably inevitable in media where the final result
>>comes down to 'I liked it' or 'I didn't like it'.
>>
>>I thought Spider's reply to Socks criticism was dismayingly inapt,
>>instead of saying something about his thoughts we got a diatribe on
>>9/11. zzzzzzzzzz
>
>You know, there was a LOT of talk here about that book, and saying
>Sock's comments were insulting was a bit over the top, I think. I
>would have appreciated a more civil conversation, or nothing at all.
>It's a real shame.
Alas, it appears that Mr R isn't interested in conversatiion, but is
more along the lines of a "bomb-thrower" WRT AFH. A pity, that.
But then again, I suspect that he's still proud of alt.callahans, too
- which really says something.
>
>>( The next person who wants me to 'wake up' or
>>'learn something' about it had better be out of reach or they're
>>getting a personal lesson in response to provocation. -- now I'll go
>>find the ibuprofen and go back to bed. Dam birds are screeching and the
>>sun is glaring. And who's beating those drums?)
>>
>> Happy @!!#$% New Year....
>
>By now you should be feeling better; Heather's asleep on the sofa and
>I'm working on pixelmeow.com with VH1C on the TV.
>
><waves from overhead>
Hi, Pix! Just wait 'til I get within arm's reach of you - I plan to
hug the stuffing out of you! ;-)
<hugs>
--
Rusty the bookman
WWFSMD?
http://www.venganza.org/
http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
"The difference between food and beer is that beer
has some food value, while food has no beer value"
- Linda the waitress
OJ
> I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year. The Hugo Award,
> SF¹s highest honour, is one of very few arts awards voted by the customers:
> anyone can vote.
I have, and have discarded the possibility. VARIABLE STAR was, IMO, by
no means the "Best SF Novel" I read this year, nor even among the top
5. [None of which made the Hugo nomination list, FWIW.] I found it a
good, journeyman SF work, but nowhere near what my fifty years of SF
reading have taught me is "Hugo caliber writing".
Not surprising. No "completions" of a deceased author's work in
progress in any genre I regularly read have managed to capture the
spark of the author's previous works that I had enjoyed, however much I
have enjoyed the completers work independently.
What is surprising is your post. Even had I considered VARIABLE STAR
to be Hugo caliber, your post would have eliminated any possibility of
me seeking a voting membership so that I could vote for it to receive
the Hugo Best Novel award. I expect such blatant self-promotion from
Follywood, its studios, and its film stars every spring as Golden Globe
and Oscar time starts rolling in. But IME, WorldCons and the Hugo
process have been free of this sort of blatency. Has the SF community
decided to go the Follywood route? "Anything is fair in Golden
Globe/Oscar promotion?" [I am not naive, I know Hugo politicking goes
on; but behind the scenes - at least it used to be - and not the up
front, in your face, Follywood model.]
Sigh. When 2001; A Space Oddessy came out I was 25, looking at 33
years to go before reaching that 21st Century onset, and somewhat
sceptical of actually reaching it. Now safely five years into it and
still going, however marginally, I'm not sure how much I'm going to
like it. Old-fogeyism, maybe, but this post of yours has certainly
made a contribution to that anomie.
OJ
Dr. Rufo
Bookman wrote:
< snip >
> Alas, it appears that Mr R isn't interested in conversation, but is
> more along the lines of a "bomb-thrower" WRT AFH. A pity, that.
>
> But then again, I suspect that he's still proud of alt.callahans, too
> - which really says something.
Seems you're correct regarding Mr. R.'s lack of interest in any
conversation, Rusty. I sent and received the following:
<quote>
> Thanks, Dr. Rufo. But with Jeanne leaving town for 3 weeks,
> I fear I haven’t time to scratch.
>
>
>>On 12/31/06 12:50 PM, "Dr. Rufo" <bay...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>>
>>To Whom It May concern:
>>
>>If you feel it appropriate, please forward the following to Mr. Robinson:
>>
>>Mr. R.
>> If you'd like to review the AFH discussions on Variable Star,
>> the following link to a portion of the Heinlein Society website
>> will lead you to the prominent threads.
>>
>> http://www.heinleinsociety.org/readersgroup/AIM_12-07-2006.html
>>
>> Regards,
>> "Dr. Rufo"
</quote>
Lee K. Gleason
"djinn" <dje...@gmail.com> wrote in message > find the ibuprofen and go back
to bed. Dam birds are screeching and the
> sun is glaring. And who's beating those drums?)
>
> Happy @!!#$% New Year....
>
Yeah, and somebody tell the cat to quit stomping around so loud!
--
Lee K. Gleason N5ZMR
Control-G Consultants
lgle...@houston.rr.com
Chris Zakes
That's an interesting take on it, and quite the reverse of my own. I
kept expecting a Heinlein story and was disconcerted when it kept not
happening. As I said originally, "Imagine you've just put your
copy of "A Night at the Opera" in the video player, and you settle
back, only to realize that instead of Groucho Marx, W.C. Fields is
playing Otis P. Driftwood."
Reading the Afterword caused me to re-evaluate that expectation, and
re-read the book as a *Robinson* book. It was much better that way.
(Not great, not worth a Hugo, but not as disconcerting, either.)
And I *still* want to read the original Heinlein notes... Spider,
Heinlein Society, Jim Gifford... Somebody? Anybody? can these be
posted somewhere??
-Chris Zakes
Texas
Rule #4. There can never be too many chocolate chips.
(Although there *can* be too little cookie dough.)
Lee K. Gleason
"Spider Robinson" <spid...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:C1BD3E5D.5098%spid...@shaw.ca...
> Brethren and sistren,
>
> Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
> Ginny.)
>
> --Spider Robinson
>
I find someone speaking for Robert Heinlein and Ginny (especially in
praise of a book such as "Variable Star") incredibly presumptuous.
Joe Bednorz
I can only second this enthusiastically.
>Sigh. When 2001; A Space Oddessy came out I was 25, looking at 33
>years to go before reaching that 21st Century onset, and somewhat
>sceptical of actually reaching it. Now safely five years into it and
>still going, however marginally, I'm not sure how much I'm going to
>like it. Old-fogeyism, maybe, but this post of yours has certainly
>made a contribution to that anomie.
>
In case you're not feeling down enough.
"NASA's vision lost on Web generation":
--
Index to free SF: <http://www.mindspring.com/~jbednorz/Free/>. The
Thunder Child's SF links to Project Gutenberg, Baen Free Library and
CDs, the Sci-Fi Channel's archive of classic & original SF & more.
All the best, Joe Bednorz
OJ
Joe Bednorz wrote:
> On 1 Jan 2007 09:48:56 -0800, "OJ" <oj3...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >Spider Robinson wrote:
[Massive snips, including all that "Spider Robinson wrote:"]
> >Sigh. When 2001; A Space Oddessy came out I was 25, looking at 33
> >years to go before reaching that 21st Century onset, and somewhat
> >sceptical of actually reaching it. Now safely five years into it and
> >still going, however marginally, I'm not sure how much I'm going to
> >like it. Old-fogeyism, maybe, but this post of yours has certainly
> >made a contribution to that anomie.
> In case you're not feeling down enough.
>
> "NASA's vision lost on Web generation":
>
> <http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/browse_thread/thread/207dd9df592bba62/c72988f4476ce058?lnk=st&q=&rnum=6&hl=en#c72988f4476ce058>
Gee, t'anks, Joe. I hope someday to be able to return the favor, in
kind. ;->
OJ
Keith Soltys
>Brethren and sistren,
>
>It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
>for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
>record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
>
>But isnšt 5 a nice round number? And wouldnšt he have loved becoming the
>first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
>For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
>--Spider Robinson
<snip />
Spider is dreaming in colour if he thinks that there's any chance that
Variable Star will win a Hugo. Sentimentality aside (and I don't think current
readers care that much about Heinlein), it's just not in the same league as
books like Charles Stross' Glasshouse or Ian Macleod's River of Gods.
Keith
Will in New Haven
Keith Soltys wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 18:15:58 GMT, Spider Robinson <spid...@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> >Brethren and sistren,
> >
> >It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
> >for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
> >record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
> >
> >first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
> >For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
> >--Spider Robinson
>
> <snip />
>
> Spider is dreaming in colour if he thinks that there's any chance that
> Variable Star will win a Hugo. Sentimentality aside (and I don't think current
Up to this point, I think you're wrong. If it had been a better book...
> readers care that much about Heinlein),
it's just not in the same league as
> books like Charles Stross' Glasshouse or Ian Macleod's River of Gods.
However, it's not, so you are ultimately right. If it had been a closer
choice, I think that you would see that Hugo voters are not quite the
same demographics as "current readers," being more likely long-time
fen.
I'm not saying, by the way, "if Spider had done a better job," or
anything perjorative at all. It was fun to read but not a _great_ book.
This year, unlike some others, it will take something better than a fun
read to win the Hugo.
Will in New Haven
--
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail
better."
Samuel Beckett, "Worstward Ho", 1983
> Keith
Bookman
<inv...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>On 1 Jan 2007 09:48:56 -0800, "OJ" <oj3...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>Sigh. When 2001; A Space Oddessy came out I was 25, looking at 33
>>years to go before reaching that 21st Century onset, and somewhat
>>sceptical of actually reaching it. Now safely five years into it and
>>still going, however marginally, I'm not sure how much I'm going to
>>like it. Old-fogeyism, maybe, but this post of yours has certainly
>>made a contribution to that anomie.
>>
>
>In case you're not feeling down enough.
>
>"NASA's vision lost on Web generation":
>
><http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/browse_thread/thread/207dd9df592bba62/c72988f4476ce058?lnk=st&q=&rnum=6&hl=en#c72988f4476ce058>
The essential difference between the pro- and anti- WRT space travel
is that those who believe in it are supporting the notion that Earth
is Mankind's cradle, and those who do not are supporting the notion
that the Earth is Mankind's tomb.
Regards,
Vance P. Frickey
<snip shameless attempt to bask in RAH's glory>
>
> I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year.
> The Hugo
> Award, SFąs highest honour, is one of very few arts awards
> voted by
> the customers: anyone can vote.
>
> Until June 30, it costs only US$50 or Ł28 to nominate and
> vote for
> the Hugo, by becoming a Supporting Member of the World
> Science
> Fiction Convention (This yearąs is Nippon 2007 in
> Yokohama; $220/Ł125
> for an Attending Membership). Itąs easy! Visit
> <http://www.nippon2007.us/registration.php> for a
> printable
> registration form. They take credit cards or personal
> cheques, and
> thereąs a US mailing address so many of you wonąt even
> need
> international postage.
How considerate.
> Publishers pay serious attention to the Hugo Award
> results. It is the
> fieldąs highest honour. Worldcons outside North America
> usually have
> comparatively tiny memberships: your ballot will never be
> more
> influential. Thanks for your consideration, from me and
> from Robert.
> (And Jeanne and Ginny.)
My answer to your request -- No way, Mr. Robinson.
Your Buddhist character's sanctimony regarding American
citizens' reaction to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist
attack hardly qualifies as "one last salute to the Admiral."
I'm somewhat surprised that you chose to self-promote your
work in such a bald fashion, and to imply that helping you
win a Hugo is in some way a tribute to Robert Anson
Heinlein's memory. Many of us don't see it that way.
I guess it's not unreasonable for the World Science Fiction
Committee to offer $50 memberships to permit those so
inclined to vote for the Hugo (traveling to Japan for the
purpose would be out of the question). Soliciting votes for
the award of the Hugo for one's own work, though, lacks
dignity. I find it difficult to imagine RAH writing such a
letter. He seems to have had better luck winning
recognition by writing superior fiction. I commend his
methods to you.
--
Vance P. Frickey
remove "safety" from listed Email address to send mail
"We prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form and to
any people whatever." - Thomas Jefferson
Vance P. Frickey
> pixelmeow wrote:
>> On 31 Dec 2006 18:41:50 -0800, "djinn" <dje...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
<snip>
I agree. In that situation, I'd have thought hard about
taking the Festivus aluminum pipe and engaging in a feat of
strength by seeing how closely I could get the thing to
conform to the shape of the provocateur's skull.
>>> now I'll go
>>> find the ibuprofen and go back to bed. Dam birds are
>>> screeching and
>>> the sun is glaring. And who's beating those drums?)
>>>
>>> Happy @!!#$% New Year....
The one good thing about liver trouble is the proscription
against drinking - at least I don't get hangovers lately.
>> By now you should be feeling better; Heather's asleep on
>> the sofa and
>> I'm working on pixelmeow.com with VH1C on the TV.
>>
>> <waves from overhead>
>>
> hi up there. Much better now. I guess Spider didn' t
> really want
> anyone to vote for him.
> Nothing quite like dropping into a newsgroup and starting
> a politics
> flame war to earn popularity.
Reminds me of Leo Rosten's definition of a /mamzer/ - a guy
who murders his parents, then pleads for leniency from the
court on the grounds that he's an orphan.
I have to agree that SR's got some smooth moves - for his
next novel, maybe he should start with a manuscript by Leon
Uris, then write Noam Chomsky into it. Then he could go
over to B'nai Brith and ask them for help promoting the
novel - and lecture them on Israel's shocking tendency to
defend themselves against terr, er, "insurrection" and the
futility of anger.
--
Vance P. Frickey
remove "safety" from listed Email address to send mail
Two swords crossed in front of the Hun;
MajorOz
On Dec 31 2006, 12:15 pm, Spider Robinson <spider...@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
> Ginny.)
>
> --Spider Robinson
This gives me a feeling less in importance, but similar to that of
wanting a long hot shower each time I saw Bill Clinton visit Arlington
National Cemetery: Sacred Ground has been violated by one incapable of
approaching -- or even understanding -- worthiness.
As others have politely commented, VS is a travesty when viewed as a
RAH novel.
But, many have said, perhaps that was an unfair way to judge it.
So, when seen as a SR novel..."write the best SR novel you can"...it
becomes easier to understand.
It is expected to be silly, pseudo-science, with crystal gazing,
personal prejudices passing as rational thought, and the hero taking on
SR's personna of the only one who (insert whine generator)
understaaaaaaands.
On this basis, it is a representative SR novel.
...pity, from one who once wrote well.
Never would we doubt the praise SR has heaped upon The Master, nor
should we ever forget what he has done to campaign Him, over the years,
to larger audiences.
That does not, however, excuse his vile begging.
It is my intention to go back to Amazon and fulfill their request for
purchasers to write reviews. I also intend to actively dissuade all
and sundry from the silliness of nominating or voting for VS for the
Hugo.
cheers
oz, enjoying re-reading Jean Shepherd -- few writings in the English
Language have the evocative excellence of _Hairy Gertz and the
Fourty-Seven Crappies_
Joe Bednorz
<vfri...@ricochet.com> wrote:
>djinn wrote:
>> pixelmeow wrote:
>>> On 31 Dec 2006 18:41:50 -0800, "djinn" <dje...@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>
><snip>
>
>>>> I thought Spider's reply to Socks criticism was
>>>> dismayingly inapt,
>>>> instead of saying something about his thoughts we got a
>>>> diatribe on
>>>> 9/11. zzzzzzzzzz
>>>
>>>
>> hi up there. Much better now. I guess Spider didn' t
>> really want anyone to vote for him.
Getting anyone to mention his name and/or VS in connection with an
award may look like a win to Spider. So let's not do that, please.
>> Nothing quite like dropping into a newsgroup and starting
>> a politics
>> flame war to earn popularity.
>
>Reminds me of Leo Rosten's definition of a /mamzer/ - a guy
>who murders his parents, then pleads for leniency from the
>court on the grounds that he's an orphan.
>
>I have to agree that SR's got some smooth moves - for his
>next novel, maybe he should start with a manuscript by Leon
>Uris, then write Noam Chomsky into it. Then he could go
>over to B'nai Brith and ask them for help promoting the
>novel - and lecture them on Israel's shocking tendency to
>defend themselves against terr, er, "insurrection" and the
>futility of anger.
Regarding comparing the current Century War with WWII:
"In the Eye of the Beholder" by Victor Davis Hanson
Imagine if we’d reported and opined on WWII the way we do now.
<http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MzRjMGE2MGViZGE3NDcyMmZhYzY3MWJjOTc1OTc3YmQ=>
"May 1, 1945—After the debacles of February and March at Iwo Jima,
and now the ongoing quagmire on Okinawa, we are asked to accept recent
losses that are reaching 20,000 dead brave American soldiers and yet
another 50,000 wounded in these near criminally incompetent campaigns
euphemistically dubbed “island hopping.”"
The rest of the article is just as fascinating.
Vance P. Frickey
I subscribed to /Car and Driver/ magazine all through my
high school years because of Jean Shepherd's monthly column
in it. When they dropped Shepherd, I dropped them.
Shepherd was excellent preparation to appreciate C.S. Lewis'
essays in college. Both men wrote in a way that left the
reader feeling as though he'd just had an unusually
enjoyable conversation.
--
Vance P. Frickey
remove "safety" from listed Email address to send mail
"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win
without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory
is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when
you will have to fight with all the odds against you and
only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a
worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of
victory, because it is better to perish than to live as
slaves." - Winston Churchill
MajorOz
On Jan 2, 2:07 pm, "MajorOz" <Majo...@centurytel.net> wrote:
> On Dec 31 2006, 12:15 pm, Spider Robinson <spider...@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
> > Ginny.)
>
> > --Spider RobinsonThis gives me a feeling less in importance, but similar to that of
A few hours after writing this here, I ambled over to lurk at
alt.callahans and saw his shameless begging there. Who knows how many
other boards he cross-posted his whine to.
I decided to emulate the sinner and copied my above message there, once
again in response.
The birkie wearing crystal gazers responded with predictable vitriol,
but had nothing to say about VS or the shamelessness of SR's shilling.
You were right, Rusty; while the Callahan's books are interesting
reading, the slum the internet version has become resembles nothing
less than a political caucus in San Francisco or recess at a Montgomery
County private elementary school.
cheers
oz, always happy to know other Great Minds read JS
Nohbody
bang out the following:
> The birkie wearing crystal gazers [in alt.callahans] responded with
> predictable vitriol,
> but had nothing to say about VS or the shamelessness of SR's shilling.
> You were right, Rusty; while the Callahan's books are interesting
> reading, the slum the internet version has become resembles nothing
> less than a political caucus in San Francisco or recess at a Montgomery
> County private elementary school.
Um, 'scuze me...
Is that broad-brush dismissal of an entire group (which, for the record,
includes me) any less wrong than their reflexive reaction to your post,
over there?
(Mind you, that whole thing likening you to a Holocaust denier is just
as non sequitor as SR's post about 9/11, earlier today... though given
Tian I suppose I should be used to "Non sequitorville", which I believe
isn't too far down the road from Margaritaville; probably not there from
pure coincidence, either.)
Dan Poore
--
About the only difference between the wingnuts on each end of the
[political] spectrum is *which* civil right(s) they think we can do
without. -- Rowan Hawthorn, in alt.callahans (2/28/05)
bajasteve
Hey! My niece attended a Montgomery County private school (the same one
Chelsea Clinton attended, in fact) and she turned out pretty damn well!
she went on to Columbia and then to the state Dept. And she's not even
an elitist (or a preppie). :o)
Steve
The Rocket Scientist
following from alt.callahans.
I liked the book. I really did. It was a fun read. It was worth the
price of hardcover (minus my 40% discount coupon, of course.)
It was a good Spider Robinson book.
It was NOT a good RAH book.
It was NOT Hugo caliber.
And is sure as hell was NOT "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress."
BTW, I stipulate your expert knowledge of the saxaphone. I like to wax
long and eloquently about rocketry, especially the characteristics of
different binders using Ammonium Perchlorate as an oxidizer, but when I
start regaling my audience with mix ratios, chamber pressures, and
designs of deLaval nozzles, I take notice of the glazed expressions and
change the subject to Sunday's football game. (How about those
Eagles!) It got a bit long, tempting me to skip over to something
else.
I really don't care about your attempted tie-in with 911, since this is
allegedly the same timeline in which Leslie LeCroix was the first man
on the moon. Or a similar timeline. It was not the reality in which
we live. It is fiction. I understand the concept. I can live with a
brief editorial.
But the Quantum ramjet? Jeez-a-lou! Smells like Brown Kryptonite to
me! Sorry, but I'm one of those scientific-engineer types that heard
the explanation and threw up. I just can't bring myself to ignore the
man behind the curtain.
In summation, not bad. Close, but no rocket ship.
Bill Sullivan
"Suck gas, evildoers!" - Darkwing Duck
Spider Robinson wrote:
<a blatant solicitation for a Hugo, which I have snipped>
Bookman
wrote:
>"MajorOz" <Maj...@centurytel.net> made an infinite number of monkeys
>bang out the following:
>
>> The birkie wearing crystal gazers [in alt.callahans] responded with
>> predictable vitriol,
>> but had nothing to say about VS or the shamelessness of SR's shilling.
>> You were right, Rusty; while the Callahan's books are interesting
>> reading, the slum the internet version has become resembles nothing
>> less than a political caucus in San Francisco or recess at a Montgomery
>> County private elementary school.
>
>Um, 'scuze me...
>
>Is that broad-brush dismissal of an entire group (which, for the record,
>includes me) any less wrong than their reflexive reaction to your post,
>over there?
Since I was invoked above, I'll put in my 2 cents.
First, I highly doubt that Oz was "dismissing" any one person, Dan.
There are some very nice people posting to AC. I read the above as an
opinion, and as such, as valid as the next man's.
Next, if you consider "hate-mogering nonsense", "the "major" jackass",
"a completely miserable example of a human being", and "induced me to
put him in the company of Holocaust deniers, people who MUST spread
the word about spy agencies" to be the eqyivalent of "slum" (my
description, BTW, and I stand by it.) , "a political caucus in San
Francisco" and "recess at a Montgomery County private elementary
school.", well, then your comparison of 'wrongs' may well be valid.
Not to mention the gross misrepresentation by DJ, the blatant flame by
MurphyMom, and DJ's utter failure to recognize that _he_ was the one
in the wrong. "Polite"? My ass! And I'll bet you that DJ won't
apologize for his falsehood, either...
What Oz went through is quite typical of alt.callahans, IMO&E. He
dared speak ill of the prevailing culture's prejudices, and they
immediately and ruthlessly savaged him, then accused _him_ of not
"embrac(ing) the spirit of this place". Feh.
>
>(Mind you, that whole thing likening you to a Holocaust denier is just
>as non sequitor as SR's post about 9/11, earlier today... though given
>Tian I suppose I should be used to "Non sequitorville", which I believe
>isn't too far down the road from Margaritaville; probably not there from
>pure coincidence, either.)
Regards,
Puppet_Sock
[snip]
> What Oz went through is quite typical of alt.callahans, IMO&E. He
> dared speak ill of the prevailing culture's prejudices, and they
> immediately and ruthlessly savaged him, then accused _him_ of not
> "embrac(ing) the spirit of this place". Feh.
Gotta agree 100% with that, Bookman. There is sometimes some
intelligent, thoughtful, even keenly interesting conversation over
there.
But you have to wade through rivers of slime to get to it.
Socks
Chris Zakes
"Puppet_Sock" <puppe...@hotmail.com> to write:
I don't recall the folks at alt.callahans being quite that vitriolic
back when I participated. On the other paw, I left that group several
years ago, partially due to lack of time, partially due to lack of
interest. It seems like the group has gotten worse since then. (Gee, I
wonder what the Mercedes Lackey newsgroup is like these days?)
ScarG...@gmail.com
concept....However, didn't RAH die in 1988? (I'm quite sure he did as I
recall the exact spot I was when the Vindictive bastard HS English
teacher, who liked neither me nor RAH, felt it important to be the one
to tell me....This was pre-internet access so I found out a day after.)
That would make this his 19th year since his passing, not 29th. Unless
there is some rule regarding Hugos distribution which only allows 10
years to pass before acceptance.
I admit it may be a little on the nit-picky side however, I am
surprised that it was not pointed out before. I didnt see this posted
anywhere else and If it was, my appologies.
best,
----Scargordon
On Dec 31 2006, 1:15 pm, Spider Robinson <spider...@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Brethren and sistren,
>
> It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
> for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
> record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
>
> But isn¹t 5 a nice round number? And wouldn¹t he have loved becoming the
> first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
> For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
>
> As for me, it¹s been 23 years since I won my own third Hugo Award (2 of them
> shared). I¹ve never won for Best Novel, only for Novellas and Short Story.
>
> I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year. The Hugo Award,
> SF¹s highest honour, is one of very few arts awards voted by the customers:
> anyone can vote.
>
> Until June 30, it costs only US$50 or £28 to nominate and vote for the Hugo,
> by becoming a Supporting Member of the World Science Fiction Convention
> (This year¹s is Nippon 2007 in Yokohama; $220/£125 for an Attending
> Membership). It¹s easy! Visit <http://www.nippon2007.us/registration.php>
> for a printable registration form. They take credit cards or personal
> cheques, and there¹s a US mailing address so many of you won¹t even need
> international postage.
>
> Publishers pay serious attention to the Hugo Award results. It is the
> field¹s highest honour. Worldcons outside North America usually have
> comparatively tiny memberships: your ballot will never be more influential.
David M. Silver
ScarG...@gmail.com wrote:
> Forgive me, as I am new to this group as well as the entire "posting"
> concept....However, didn't RAH die in 1988? (I'm quite sure he did as I
> recall the exact spot I was when the Vindictive bastard HS English
> teacher, who liked neither me nor RAH, felt it important to be the one
> to tell me....This was pre-internet access so I found out a day after.)
> That would make this his 19th year since his passing, not 29th. Unless
> there is some rule regarding Hugos distribution which only allows 10
> years to pass before acceptance.
>
Somehow, that reminds me of how fortunate I was to have teachers in high
school who with very minor exceptions were decent human beings. You have
my condolences. At times, I think we'd be far better off to have an
ombudsman with the powers of Judge Dredd in every school district.
Have you ever noticed the change in attitude in Heinlein's writing
regarding secondary education that takes place between Rocket Ship
Galileo and Have Spacesuit--Will Travel, and wonder what occasioned it?
> I admit it may be a little on the nit-picky side however, I am
> surprised that it was not pointed out before. I didnt see this posted
> anywhere else and If it was, my appologies.
>
> best,
>
> ----Scargordon
>
In September 2003, at the World SF Con, held in Toronto, the Heinlein
Society thanks to the programming staff of TorCon held a panel entitled
"Heinlein: Lost, Strayed, Misplaced, and Found Again" panel, which was,
of course, mostly about the discovery and publication of _For Us, The
Living_. We distributed the flyers Simon Schuster had provided, as _For
Us, the Living_, was then due out in a month or two. It was a wonderful
panel, the most successful we've had. Spider Robinson, who was invited
to participate because he was Toastmaster Guest of Honor in Toronto,
Eleanor Wood, Art Dula, and Robert James participated along with your
humble obedient servant. I had to pinch hit on it for one of our other
members, Bill Patterson, who was then Heinlein Scholar at the University
of California Santa Cruz, which is the repository of the Heinlein
Archives, who had been caught up in a transportation glitch, and I
managed to keep out of trouble among the far more august members of the
panel. Dr. Robert James, the person who mainly tracked down the lost
manuscript of For Us, the Living, who had been briefed about a few
things the Heinlein Scholar had found in the Heinlein archives he was
then cataloguing for the Trust, and helped out by mentioning several
unpublished items in the archives, e.g., scripts and outlines for some
proposed television program series, etc. He also mentioned that there
had been found a near-complete outline for a novel, apparently a
juvenile, that Heinlein had never written.
There were about five hundred people in the audience. One of them, a
Heinlein Society member named Kate Gladstone, who occasionally posts on
AFH, shouted out, "You should have Spider finish it," or words to that
effect.
The rest, as they say, is history: after the panel ended, two of the
panelists, Art Dula, a trustee of the Heinlein Prize Trust, who is also
the successor literary executor for most of the corpus of Heinlein works
still in copyright, and Eleanor Wood, who is literary agent for the
Heinlein works, met with Spider and offered him the opportunity to do
so. The result, three years after the panel, is _Variable Star_, which
made the book stores in November last year.
Happy to help bring you up to speed, Scargordon. Enjoy AFH.
[snipped solicitation for votes]
--
David M. Silver
http://www.heinleinsociety.org
"The Lieutenant expects your names to shine!"
Robert Anson Heinlein, USNA '29
Lt.(jg), USN, R'td
Robert A. Woodward
Chris Zakes <dont...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 3 Jan 2007 16:13:18 -0800, an orbital mind-control laser caused
> "Puppet_Sock" <puppe...@hotmail.com> to write:
>
<SNIP re: another AFH poster experience on alt.callahans>
> >
> >Gotta agree 100% with that, Bookman. There is sometimes some
> >intelligent, thoughtful, even keenly interesting conversation over
> >there.
> >But you have to wade through rivers of slime to get to it.
> >Socks
>
> I don't recall the folks at alt.callahans being quite that vitriolic
> back when I participated. On the other paw, I left that group several
> years ago, partially due to lack of time, partially due to lack of
> interest. It seems like the group has gotten worse since then. (Gee, I
> wonder what the Mercedes Lackey newsgroup is like these days?)
>
You mean 'alt.books.m-lackey'? That newsgroup is very quiet; the
number of posts per week has dropped drastically the last 5 years.
--
Robert Woodward <robe...@drizzle.com>
<http://www.drizzle.com/~robertaw>
Filksinger
> But the Quantum ramjet? Jeez-a-lou! Smells like Brown Kryptonite to
> me! Sorry, but I'm one of those scientific-engineer types that heard
> the explanation and threw up. I just can't bring myself to ignore the
> man behind the curtain.
Interesting. I, too, am one of those types, and hadn't the slightest
problem with it.
OK, the idea that the drive works by having special people meditate on
it, that mildly annoyed me, but it didn't ruin the story for me. For all
I know, that could be the way some similar technology some day will
work. It has been a staple of (often much better) science fiction for years.
However, the quantum hyperdrive is an unlikely but entirely plausible
technology, which has been suggested before by engineers, physicists,
and good, solidly scientific SF authors, including Arthur C. Clark and
Charles Sheffield, though Sheffield didn't use that terminology, IIRC.
--
Filksinger
AKA David Nasset, Sr.
Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
The Rocket Scientist
> The Rocket Scientist wrote:
>
> > But the Quantum ramjet? Jeez-a-lou! Smells like Brown Kryptonite to
> > me! Sorry, but I'm one of those scientific-engineer types that heard
> > the explanation and threw up. I just can't bring myself to ignore the
> > man behind the curtain.
>
> it, that mildly annoyed me, but it didn't ruin the story for me. For all
> I know, that could be the way some similar technology some day will
> work. It has been a staple of (often much better) science fiction for years.
>
The National Lampoon once described a meditation drive for a medieval
space program. It described a space race between good Christians and
heathen Mohomaddens (sic). The basis of the drive was a group of monks
who meditated in a room, rendering the structure so non-worldly that it
actually rose into the air, repelled by any earthly material objects.
Spider's Quantum Ramjet wasn't very different. The difference is, the
Lampoon was creating humor and wasn't remotely attempting to create a
scientifically plausible space drive. Spider Robinson was writing
Science Fiction.
Still no rocket ship.
Bill Sullivan
"Very sleek and fat did the cats appear, and sonorous with purring
content." - H.P. Lovecraft, "The Cats of Ulthar"
Gary
Spider Robinson wrote:
> Brethren and sistren,
I greet you as well.
> It has been exactly 40 years since Robert A. Heinlein last won a Hugo Award,
> for his novel THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He still holds the all-time
> record for most Best-Novel Hugos (4).
Not holds - shares. It has been a couple of years since Lois McMaster
Bujold won HER fourth Hugo Award for Paladin of Souls, Best Novel 2003.
> But isn¹t 5 a nice round number? And wouldn¹t he have loved becoming the
> first man ever to win Best Novel POSTHUMOUSLY, 29 years after his death?
> For a yarn he dreamed up over 50 years ago?
Wouldn't he also have loved watching a living Lois Bujold breaking the
tie and winning her fifth for a Novel she spent a couple of years
crafting? And The Sharing Knife: Beguilement is such a novel,
> As for me, it¹s been 23 years since I won my own third Hugo Award (2 of them
> shared). I¹ve never won for Best Novel, only for Novellas and Short Story.
Stick with that format, Spider! You're excellent there. (So is Bujold,
but competition is good.)
> I ask you to consider our novel VARIABLE STAR this year. The Hugo Award,
> SF¹s highest honour, is one of very few arts awards voted by the customers:
> anyone can vote.
I'd rather consider The Sharing Knife: Beguilement. I'm a customer.
That's the way I'm voting.
> Until June 30, it costs only US$50 or £28 to nominate and vote for the Hugo,
> by becoming a Supporting Member of the World Science Fiction Convention
> (This year¹s is Nippon 2007 in Yokohama; $220/£125 for an Attending
> Membership). It¹s easy! Visit <http://www.nippon2007.us/registration.php>
> for a printable registration form. They take credit cards or personal
> cheques, and there¹s a US mailing address so many of you won¹t even need
> international postage.
>
> Publishers pay serious attention to the Hugo Award results. It is the
> field¹s highest honour. Worldcons outside North America usually have
> comparatively tiny memberships: your ballot will never be more influential.
> Thanks for your consideration, from me and from Robert. (And Jeanne and
> Ginny.)
>
> --Spider Robinson
Thanks for the info.
Gary
OJ
Gary wrote:
> Spider Robinson wrote:
[Snips]
> Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the most masterful dismembering of Spider's groveling I've
seen here.
OJ
Gary
It was not my intent to *dismember* anyone's "groveling" or "pandering"
or "soliciting." It was my intent to offer a better choice than the one
put forth. I'd rather recommend a superb "Bujold" over a merely
adequate "Heinlein-Robinson."
I've been a Heinlein fan since the summer of 1963. I've read them all,
under every name. I loved 'em for years, and love some and like the
rest, even the stinkers. He was a Master.
He's gone. He's missed. But there are other masters. I can mourn Rubens
while still enjoying Rembrandt.
Gary
Will in New Haven
I gotta start reading LMB. I know I am going to love the books but I
never get around to starting. As for the Hugos: I never know when the
books I read were released, or almost never, so I really don't know
what else is eligible. I better read the Bujold fast so I can have an
opinion. I know that <Variable Star> is not a Hugo-qualitiy book,
although I liked it. I suspect that the best book I have read, and it
is great, that is eligible is <Rainbows End> by Vinge but it may be
three years old for all I know.
My current to read: Varley's <The Golden Globe> which is not new enough
for the Hugo and which I would not vote for, although I am enjoying it,
one of Brust's multi-book Vlad Taltos collections, the second, Gene
Wolfe's <The Knight> and a re-read of Poul Anderson's <Three Hearts and
Three Lions> I guess I gotta fit the Bujold in there somewhere. Or
should I start Bujold's work with a different book altogether.
Will in New Haven
--
"Pot limit takes more thinking; young people don't think." Norman Chad
Gary
Will in New Haven wrote:
> I guess I gotta fit the Bujold in there somewhere. Or
> should I start Bujold's work with a different book altogether.
Bujold seems to be most famous for her "Miles Vorkosigan" stories. She
won Hugos and Nebulae for books in that series. You can get a sample
novelette for free online here:
http://www.baen.com/library/1011250002/1011250002.htm ("The Mountains
of Mourning")
Her next series is the Chalion series with "Curse of Chalion" being the
first. She won Hugos and Nebulae for books in that series. It was very
different from the Vorkosigan books.
Her latest series is the "Sharing Knife" series. She'll probably win
Hugos and Nebulae for books in this series. It is different from the
Vorkosigan books and the Chalion books, so far. "The Sharing Knife:
Beguilement" is the first of an expected four books in that series. I
liked it very, very, very much.
You might also enjoy "Falling Free," sort of a precursor to the
Vorkosigan stories. Darned near a Heinlein novel, that one.
Gary Jordan
kittent
i have to admit to being a Miles groupie. But "Falling Free" is
wonderful and I agree you should read it. (I'm prejudiced...we...4 of
5 borg...used the lyrics to the song written by tom smith about the
book as part of our wedding) <see http://www.tomsmithonline.com for
lyrics>
hugs,
kitten
Vance P. Frickey
Her "Shards of Honor" is pretty good, though I got hooked by
reading her Miles Vorkosigan short stories in /Analog/.
Bujold does a minimum of feminist pulpit pounding, and does
it agreeably, for the most part (she's the anti-Marion
Zimmer Bradley in that respect). She also spins a good
yarn. Only trouble I have with her is having to sneak her
more recent Miles books out of the library - their cover art
is estrogen poisoning, visually speaking. Shame, because
the books are still good reading.
--
Vance P. Frickey
remove "safety" from listed Email address to send mail
"Bleak are our shores with the blasts of December,
Fettered and chill is the rivulet's flow;
Throbbing and warm are the hearts that remember
Who was our friend when the world was our foe." - Oliver
Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Leo Petr
> I have to agree that SR's got some smooth moves - for his
> next novel, maybe he should start with a manuscript by Leon
> Uris, then write Noam Chomsky into it. Then he could go
> over to B'nai Brith and ask them for help promoting the
> novel - and lecture them on Israel's shocking tendency to
> defend themselves against terr, er, "insurrection" and the
> futility of anger.
Putting modern political opinions into the mouths of dead people is
disrespectful and dishonest, whether done by you or by Spider Robinson.
In the rush to condemn, do not forget that the offense is having it
contradict the politics of RAH, not the politics of you.
--
Leo
Filksinger
I partially disagree. As Spider Robinson almost certainly believes that
Heinlein would agree with him on this point, he didn't have it
"contradict the politics of RAH" in any malicious way.
The offense, in my opinion, was this:
1. Using the work of a deceased author to promote *any* political
opinion not specifically clearly stated by his earlier works. It would
be made worse by contradicting said deceased author's opinions, but
regardless of what we might think, Spider, I believe, didn't intend to
do so.
2. Doing it really badly.
Vance P. Frickey
> Vance P. Frickey wrote:
>> I have to agree that SR's got some smooth moves - for his
>> next novel, maybe he should start with a manuscript by
>> Leon
>> Uris, then write Noam Chomsky into it. Then he could go
>> over to B'nai Brith and ask them for help promoting the
>> novel - and lecture them on Israel's shocking tendency to
>> defend themselves against terr, er, "insurrection" and
>> the
>> futility of anger.
>
> Putting modern political opinions into the mouths of dead
> people is
> disrespectful and dishonest, whether done by you or by
> Spider
> Robinson.
Just how did I do that?
> In the rush to condemn, do not forget that the offense is
> having it contradict the politics of RAH, not the politics
> of you.
My problem was not Spider Robinson's contradiction of RAH's
politics /per se/ - his editor told him to write the best
Spider Robinson novel he could (which, starting from an RAH
plot outline, might have been a significant challenge).
My problem was with the character in Variable Star which
sententiously chides us in the United States for our
response to the events of September 11th, 2001.
Afterward, I also had a problem with Robinson openly
canvassing for Hugo votes ($50 a piece, cheap!) and invoking
RAH and Ginny's names and memory in the process.
Nowhere did I put any of my own opinions in RAH's mouth, and
I was careful to disclaim that act where in my judgment I
might have been appearing to do so.
In your rush to condemn my letter, try sticking to the
truth. I will cheerfully admit it when I am actually wrong.
--
Vance P. Frickey
remove "safety" from listed Email address to send mail
"Let war be so carried on that no other object
may seem to be sought but the acquisition of peace." -
Marcus Tullius Cicero, /De Officiis/ (I, 23)
Tian
>
>
> never get around to starting. As for the Hugos: I never know when the
> books I read were released, or almost never, so I really don't know
> what else is eligible. I better read the Bujold fast so I can have an
> opinion. I know that <Variable Star> is not a Hugo-qualitiy book,
> although I liked it. I suspect that the best book I have read, and it
> is great, that is eligible is <Rainbows End> by Vinge but it may be
> three years old for all I know.
If you don't want VS to win, probably the best course of action is to
nominate something better. That improves the odds that goveling won't
work.
--
Tian
I gave Mr. TV a South Dakota quarter.
http://tian.greens.org