Stephen wrote:
>> Stories of how medieval peasants deal with the first knights in 
>> armor would be SF in my book.
> 
> Sorry, for me this is historical fiction. It did happen, you know. :) 

Well, yes. And Jules Verne's stuff was SF, even tho it became real. :-)

OK, so do the Mark Twain bit. That was SF too.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     It's not feature creep if you put it
     at the end and adjust the release date.

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On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:50:58 -0800, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>>> Stories of how medieval peasants deal with the first knights in 
>>> armor would be SF in my book.
>> 
>> Sorry, for me this is historical fiction. It did happen, you know. :) 
>
>Well, yes. And Jules Verne's stuff was SF, even tho it became real. :-)

I won't argue with that :)

>OK, so do the Mark Twain bit. That was SF too.

I've only read "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" * and yes I would
class it as SF. 
Remember that he is not one of my national authors so the "so do the Mark Twain
bit." intrigues me. Over here he is mostly known for Tom and Huck with a lot of
irrelevant shouts of racism. But I believe that he is required reading in the
US. Is there an old chestnut in your words?  

*	That could be classed as SF

Regards
	Stephen

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And lo on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:41:33 -0000, Sabrina Kilian <"ykgp at  
vtSPAM.edu"> did spake, saying:

> Dan Byers wrote:
>> Sabrina Kilian <"ykgp at vtSPAM.edu"> wrote:
>>> Hmm, maybe Brook's Magic Kingdom For Sale. Heinlein's Glory Road comes
>>> to mind, too.
>>
>> I grew up on Brooks' "Shannara" series (LOTR for dummies, like me).   
>> Never read
>> the "Magic Kingdom" series, though.  I was under the impression that was
>> fantasy, not sci-fi...
>
> It's been ages since I read it. I just recalled the start of it,
> something about an amulet that transported a person from a spot just a
> few miles up the road from me into another world.
>
> Guess the difference in that is if it's science that transports him,
> it's fantastical scifi. If it's magic, it's fantasy. Guess I need to
> re-read it and find out.

I'd put the series in the same fantasy category as the Xanth series, which  
it resembles closely.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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And lo on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:07:21 -0000, stbenge <stb### [at] hotmailcom>  
did spake, saying:

> Grass, Sheri S. Tepper
> http://www.amazon.com/Grass-Sheri-S-Tepper/dp/0553285653
>
> My mom suggested this book to me, but I just couldn't get into it. It  
> was too frickin' boring.

Heh I've just read the first paragraph and felt ill.

> Also, the Pern (one letter off from porn) series by Anne McCaffrey. I  
> read one book of it, and had a hard time finishing it. Fantasy sci-fi  
> just isn't that interesting, IMO.

I tried one ages ago and couldn't get into it either, might try again some  
time though.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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Sabrina Kilian wrote:
> stbenge wrote:
>> Sam
>>
>> Poll: What do you like more?
>> a) hard science fiction
>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>> c) space operas
> 
> A good mix of all three, depending on the mood. I find it really hard to
> read a) when I'm trying to relax and let my brain fall asleep, but when
> I have a day off it's a great way to spend time.

Hmm, I feel a) is perfect for falling sleepy to. There's only so much 
the brain can take before demanding rest. Then, you get to have all 
sorts of dreams related to what you just read. Good times.

Sam

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Mike the Elder wrote:
> stbenge <stb### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> (quoted out of order)
> ....
>> Poll: What do you like more?
>> a) hard science fiction
>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>> c) space operas
> 
> Sort Answer: a) & b)... NOT c)
> 
> I enjoy works that creatively explore the realm of possibilities, especially
> those that provide a brief excursion, albeit an imaginary one, outside the
> sphere of the mundane.  Generally, I'm a fan of "The Classics": Asimov,
> Bradbury, Heinlein, Clarke, Pohl, Kornbluth, del Rey, and the rest of that
> beloved old rouges gallery. 

Those last three don't even ring the smallest bell. Could you provide 
some favorite titles from these authors? I'm about to embark on a 
mission to acquire some creative works, but I don't think your reply 
will reach me in time.

> Doug Adams was a true genius and any zarking
> turlingdrome who says otherwise is full of jujuflop and can go straight to
> Belgium!  Interesting ideas can come out of either the "hard" or "fantastical"
> styles, so I like them both.  Generally, mixing the two styles is a bad idea,
> but a truly inventive writer just might create an exception to just about any
> rule.

The general feeling here seems to be that any work, properly executed, 
has the potential for adoration regardless the genre.

> I find "Space Opera" wholly repugnant.  The same modern pop culture mass
> marketing mindset that gives us fat-free ice cream and decaffeinated coffee
> brings us idea-free science fiction... "all the spaceships, explosions and
> blinky lights that the public loves, with none of those annoying challenging
> concepts to dilute the nonstop ACTION!"

Having been exposed to the Star Wars trilogy very early in life, I was 
given an appreciation for those particular LucasFilms. Maybe it's the 
love of nostalgia more than an intellectual love. I guess it's the same 
reason I like The Moody Blues an Jefferson Airplane now.

> Like many who have read Heinlein, I often find myself thinking "That's really
> clever!" one moment and "How can you say THAT!" the next. This having been
> said,  I present the following excerpts to bridge the gap between threads:

Time to find some new authors....

Sam

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Stephen wrote:
>>>> Stories of how medieval peasants deal with the first knights in 
>>>> armor would be SF in my book.

>> OK, so do the Mark Twain bit. That was SF too.

> I've only read "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" * and yes I would
> class it as SF. 

That's what I was referring to. I just couldn't remember the title. :-)


-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     It's not feature creep if you put it
     at the end and adjust the release date.

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stbenge wrote:
> Sabrina Kilian wrote:
>> stbenge wrote:
>>> Sam
>>>
>>> Poll: What do you like more?
>>> a) hard science fiction
>>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>>> c) space operas
>>
>> A good mix of all three, depending on the mood. I find it really hard to
>> read a) when I'm trying to relax and let my brain fall asleep, but when
>> I have a day off it's a great way to spend time.
> 
> Hmm, I feel a) is perfect for falling sleepy to. There's only so much
> the brain can take before demanding rest. Then, you get to have all
> sorts of dreams related to what you just read. Good times.
> 
> Sam

Hard sci-fi doesn't do that to me. I start reading about the science and
then start thinking about how to make it happen.

For graphical depiction of me and hard sci-fi, see http://xkcd.com/356/

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On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:32:13 -0800, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>>>>> Stories of how medieval peasants deal with the first knights in 
>>>>> armor would be SF in my book.
>
>>> OK, so do the Mark Twain bit. That was SF too.
>
>> I've only read "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" * and yes I would
>> class it as SF. 
>
>That's what I was referring to. I just couldn't remember the title. :-)

I'm pleased to be of assistance :)

Regards
	Stephen

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On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:45:58 -0800, stbenge <stb### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:

>> I enjoy works that creatively explore the realm of possibilities, especially
>> those that provide a brief excursion, albeit an imaginary one, outside the
>> sphere of the mundane.  Generally, I'm a fan of "The Classics": Asimov,
>> Bradbury, Heinlein, Clarke, Pohl, Kornbluth, del Rey, and the rest of that
>> beloved old rouges gallery. 
>
>Those last three don't even ring the smallest bell. Could you provide 
>some favorite titles from these authors? I'm about to embark on a 
>mission to acquire some creative works, but I don't think your reply 
>will reach me in time.

You must try Frederik Pohl one of IMO the greats. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederik_Pohl#Collections

The Heechee, Eschaton, Starchild Trilogy (with Jack Williamson) and of course
the Space Merchants, series are recommended.


Cyril M. Kornbluth collaborated with Pohl a lot.


Lester del Rey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_del_Rey#Novels
says it all.


Regards
	Stephen

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