October 25, 2002
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I have been a science fiction fan all my life. As a child, I started out with Isaac Asimov(who has to be one of the most over-rated writers of all time ), van Vogt (one of the most under-rated, even if one of his novels did become a Marvel comic), Robert Heinlein (who jumped the shark with Stranger in a Strange Land), and Doc Smith. Then, many years later when I was in college and editing some of Dean Koontz’s early fiction (we were on the literary magazine together), a wonderful thing happened–I got laid. No, sorry, wrong blog. Dune happened. Written by Frank Herbert, this book turns up on just about every critic’s list of the all-time great SF. Dune was followed by Children of Dune (not so good), Dune Messiah, and God Emporer of Dune. LAter on came stuff like Charterhouse Dune, set way in the future relative to the original.
After Frank died, his son and some other guy (I don’t remember his name, and all I remember from the cover blurbs is that he was nominated for lots of awards but never got any, which is guess makes him a first-rate second-rater), started writing sequels and/or prequels, partly out of reverence for Frank, but mostly (I think) to make a fast buck. The latest book in their series, The Butlerian Jihad, is an absolute disaster. In short, it sucks. Big time. It reads at times like an uninspired National Lampoon take-off, at times like the script for a 50′s SF flick. When I started to read the book, I wanted to review it, but after slogging through all 17000 pages or so (it just seemed that long), I decided it is not worthy of a review, but it does merit a warning. So be warned–under no circumstances should you spend money on this book. Check it out of a library if you must, but don’t buy it, that will only encourage the perpetrators.
Comments (10)
You edited some of Dean Koontz’s stuff??? Wow.
Also, thanks for the warning us about Butlerian Jihad. I’m almost tempted to read it to see just how bad it is.
You ALWAYS make me chuckle…I loved Dune, but soon got bored of the sequels…And about your comment…I could only pick one of the SNL characters…there were so many others that I liked too…Rosanna was a classic, the Wide Bottoms, Lisa and Todd, etc…and I will never forget the skit about Julia Childs…LOL!
Spot
I scored 0/10 on your quiz…guess I need to do some brushing up, huh?
Spot
Waiting for the blog on getting laid in College.
I never read Dune. Simply because everyone and their brother/sister was and they were saying I had to read it and…being of a particularly stubborn nature *cough* I didn’t/wouldn’t do it. I guess I could now and not be called a lemming, eh?
So did Koontz go by that name back then or had he already segued into one of his pseudonyms by then? He’s the diggity. One of my favorite books is his Watchers. The lab…he always gets me if he includes a Lab (four legged, not scientific venue) in his book)
saw brian at a book signing the other day; by your words i should be glad i had no inclination to get the book, signed or otherwise. i’d rather buy a bad book used, and rue the three dollars rather than the thirty.
Robert Sheckley was the best sci-fi short story writer, predicted much that has happened and is happening in our so-called civilization. (Vogt — is that spelt right?) was good, too, with the novelettes). Olaf Stapledon wrote the niftiest superhuman novel with Odd John. Most young rebels and otherwise identify with John. Of course, I did. Sheckley got spacey in his mature novels. I quit reading him and most sci–fi about then anyways, but it’s still in me, kind of like baseball and apple pie and beer. And it must be in you, too, I presume. I’ve never read Dean Koontz. My mother reads him, though.
If you’ve never read science fiction written by women, you’re in for a treat. They have a whole other notion of how to write it. You just have to try it … if you like to laugh and be amazed.
I’m not talking about writers recognized in the genre but those published by The Women’s Press, in London. I’ve only read a couple books, one by Naomi Mitchison: Memoirs of a space Woman; and one byJosephine Saxton. They were really different. I doubt if a man could have written them.
Wow…Jihad is that bad, huh? I think I’ll take your advice and get it from the library, or borrow it from any friend who might have had the misfortune to buy it..*chuckle* thanks for the warning! Have a comfortable week! Pax~ Z
Final Conflict, a science fiction with daily one hour episodes is the best sci-fi that’s ever been shown on TV. If you’re not watching it you’re missing it.
I been hearing about this Final Conflict and checkin it out. I admit I really like it, but some days, I gotta say this, it reminds me of Flash Gordon. Well, nuthin can be high art alla time, ya know. Still, it’s clever as all get-out.