I've tried reading two different S/F novels today. Neither kept my attention. Oh sure, they have some interesting ideas, and they would be worth reading while on the airplane. However, as I am not a captive audience, and I refuse to waste my time, I shut them both.
John T. Phillifent's Genius Unlimited
Philip K. Dick's We Can Build You
Neither one grabbed me or rocked my world. Dick's book started out really fascinating--a strong hook and draw in that lasted. I read to page 60 even though it started to die out about 15 or 20 pages earlier. You know, wanted to give that book more of a shot.
Oh well.
No go.
Showing posts with label SciFi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SciFi. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Leiber & Hilton
Yesterday I read James Hilton's Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Friz Leiber's The Big Time. Mr. Chips was a fast, pleasurable, and incredible read. No bumps, lots of sentimentality, and yet it was not tear-jerking or otherwise pathetic. Excellent model for great writing. Yes.
Leiber's The Big Time was first published in magazine/ story form in 1958, and then it was published as a novel in 1961. I read the 1961 version. It's about battles over time, through time, and outside of time by various forces. In some ways it reminded me of Dr. Who. Overall, a great story, a pretty quick read, and it was quite a pleasurable read as well. The plot was interesting, the characters were somewhat interesting, but the ideas were grand.
Good stuff!
Leiber's The Big Time was first published in magazine/ story form in 1958, and then it was published as a novel in 1961. I read the 1961 version. It's about battles over time, through time, and outside of time by various forces. In some ways it reminded me of Dr. Who. Overall, a great story, a pretty quick read, and it was quite a pleasurable read as well. The plot was interesting, the characters were somewhat interesting, but the ideas were grand.
Good stuff!
Friday, June 29, 2007
More Reading: Goulart & Hinton
Started and finished S. E. Hinton's Rumble Fish. It was a fast and good read. I definitely get the appeal of that book. So far, tough thugs, playing pool, juvenile drinking, and smoking cigs all are repeated themes. Fights are too. I'm looking forward to reading more of the stuff. Somehow, this genre is working for me at the moment.
I picked up Ron Goulart's The Tin Angel because I recognized his name; he had at least one book published by Pulphouse in the 1990s. The book was thin, so I picked it up--a quick read I thought. It was quick; it was fun; it was enjoyable. Not exactly spectacle or universe-stunning text, but it was a solid read. It did exactly what I wanted it to do: entertain me with some new perspectives and ideas. When you have a talking android dog engaged in conspiracy between getting sauced and offering up tasteless jokes, you know there is a good blend going on.
Good read. I'm happy.
I picked up Ron Goulart's The Tin Angel because I recognized his name; he had at least one book published by Pulphouse in the 1990s. The book was thin, so I picked it up--a quick read I thought. It was quick; it was fun; it was enjoyable. Not exactly spectacle or universe-stunning text, but it was a solid read. It did exactly what I wanted it to do: entertain me with some new perspectives and ideas. When you have a talking android dog engaged in conspiracy between getting sauced and offering up tasteless jokes, you know there is a good blend going on.
Good read. I'm happy.
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