The Top Ten Rules Of Space Opera, article.
To my mind, Iain M. Banks is the king of space opera. One of the things he has down is the ridiculously immense object/ship/building thingy. Even his non-SF books has it, for example his main character will be living in a massive old converted church or the like. I a sucker for that shit.
Once again, I have little to comment right away, but thank you greatly for the documentation and, um, "writing tips".
ReplyDeleteIf you want to write parody, knowin' da rules is essential.
Pff. Iain M Banks is good, but he's no match for the late Frank Herbert. Dune is timeless, the Culture won't be.
ReplyDelete"Dune is timeless": you got THAT right!
ReplyDeleteThat story's universe isn't likely to turn silly with the advances of science, it's been solidly made.
I so love good, well written sci-fi.
Remember that Gary Larson drawing of a big meeting room for the annual meeting of "People Who Didn't Like Dances With Wolves"? The room had like three people in it.
ReplyDeleteMe and Algis Budrys had a similar club about Dune, and now I guess I'll have to go to the meetings alone.
you got THAT right!
ReplyDeleteThat story's universe isn't likely to turn silly with the advances of science, it's been solidly made.
I hope my sarcasm detector is working. I hope you're not serious.
I love the peculiar (to me) subcultures within science fiction (OK, sci-fi) that the British in particular seem so good at: one is giant things -- most every Brit seems to tackle it but Brian Aldiss was the best at it, for me - "The Giant," washed up on a beach... And they do world-class disasters better than anyone else (John Christopher, JG Ballard). John Varley, Disch, Niven (all USA) are great, too, at going big. Love the wonder tapped in these stories.
ReplyDeletePff. Iain M Banks is good, but he's no match for the late Frank Herbert. Dune is timeless, the Culture won't be.
ReplyDeleteI love how so many people state opinions as facts. It's like they're saying that because it's their opinion it doesn't need to be backed up by any facts or evidence, "Guys, come on, it's me saying this."
"they're saying that [...] it doesn't need to be backed up"
ReplyDeleteI love how so many people state opinions as facts...
F.A.C.T. : (Funnily Articulated Complete Tat)
M.A.T.T.
"You can just call me... Ivan."
Anonymous has sunk to a new low.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I haven't read Dune but the movie (theatrical and made-for-TV versions) haven't been all that impressive.