book reviews (rough)

Dave Barlow wrote:
I beg to differ. Admittedly, I have read less of the recent stuff as I now
have far too many other things to do....

Also, I am too poor to *buy* the books I want to read. So, I hang around
IFIS and borrow their books instead. You guys get my enthusiasm (sorry
b*minded moans) about the great unused resourse the library, until finally,
this year it re-surfaces in its new home in the Union.

Here is some very rough comments about some of my favorite authors/ current
books in the Library. Without books to hand, I cannot quote pulishing dates,
but a lot of these are newish, and all authors I believe who are still
writing.

Card, Orson Scott.

He is still or has recently finished the Enders game series. These are
science fiction, rather than some of his stuff which heads off into fantasy.
Its all good stuff, mind. unfortunately, I have not read them, so I have
only the vaguest of a clue as to the plot. Something based (a common theme
in this lot) around war, spacetravel and long periods of time.

Cherryh, C.J. A good older example of her stuff is the Faded Sun Trilogy,
which is about 15-20 years old, I think. Again, I would reckomend lots of
her stuff, and she is still writing. She is generally good at developing
believable aliens.

Stephen Donaldson. The stuff I have read is again older, ie the Thomas
Covenant Series. This is fantasy rather than SF, about an alternative world.
His use of language and legend is exceptional, and he realy does deserve the
comparism with Tolkein.

Gerrold, David. He is writing this series now, the b****tard. IFIS has the
first three ie Day For Damnation, A| Matter For Men, A| and ... This is an
excellent series of alien invasion, psychology, fighting, romance.

Haldemann, Joe|He wrote the Forever War, about soldiers fighting through
space wars, and gradually getting more and more isolated from Earth culture
due to time dilation. More recent stuff is the Worlds series, of which I
have the first two, plus receipts, so I am happy to hand them on to IFIS
once I have finished re-reading them because they are so brilliant. This is
about people living in O'Neille type colonies, and their experiences back on
Earth. Having finished the first one at around 1.30 am, , I was so
stunned/upset/impressed that I started the second one, read half of it till
4.30 am, woke up next morning, pulled a sickie on myself and finished it
off. Even for me, that is probably a record. I *must* get the third soon,
now that I am in some danger of having more than 5p to my name :-)

Harrison, Harry|He again keeps on writing them. Lots of them are light
hearted, eg the Stainless Steel rat series. Rather more thoght out are West
Of Eden |Winter In Eden| Set in alternative world where the intelligent
descendants of dinosaurs rule the world, and humanity is the underdog. These
explore very well the alien minds, and the conflict betwen the two. Much
more serious.

Mccaffrey, Anne| She wrote the Pern series, on another world colonised by
man, with dragon who are in telepathic link to fight the incursion of
thread. Good, but not deeply characterised. Hard to know where to start
reading them, as she went basck and wrote the history later. she has also
read loads of stuff recently, and Jonathon is a keen fan of some of her
recent stuff. We don't have it, but we sure can, if there is the demand :-)

Niven, Larry|He writes well though out aliens, and has a developed future
history, which has impressed other authors like Stephen Donaldson to name
one, to write short stories developing episodes within this. This is the
Niven, Larry (Set In Worlds Of)|Man Kzin Wars We need to complete this
series, as we have something like II, IV and VI. He also keeps on writing.
A classic two he wrote are Ringworld | The Ringworld Engineers.


If you want some depressing stuff, try Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn|False Dawn|
Its after a holocaust or some such, and is not disturbed by such matters as
hope. Or slightly lighter, Time Of The Fourth Hourseman. again, these are 15
or so years old, but I bet she is still writing.

Jenny Gould

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jenny@



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