RIP Frederik Pohl, the man who transformed science fiction

io9 ^ | September 2, 2013 | Annalee Newitz

[Lee N. Field]

Reads like a bunch of lefty crap.

When he talks politics, yes. Much more interesting are the personal rememberences of the mid 20th century SF scene.

[Ransomed]

Vance was great buddies with Poul Anderson and Herbert, but everything I have heard him say about Herbert was always in terms of a tongue in cheek amusing scoundrel kinda thing.

Vance might be the only sci-fi author of any note that stopped reading his peer’ work, at least according to him. He has stated he had never read Dune, despite living with the Herberts in Mexico when Herbert had the kernels of the book. Robert Siverburg was buddies with Vance for decades but has stated Vance had never read any of Silverburg’s work. Looking at how unique Vance’s work is, I find it plausible.

Freegards

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

OF Interest from the Smithsonian re: James Bond:

http://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=226583

[Humbug]

"I don't have much respect for Frank Herbert, i think he's...i won't go into detail, but i don't have any respect for him at all. I knew him pretty well."

To me sounds like he meant it but maybe he didn't intend for it to come out it did. You could definitely tell though he still had a great fondness for Poul Anderson.

Interesting how he avoided reading his peers. Maybe concerned he would lose his uniqueness if he did? By the way, don't know if you're be care to read this or not but here's a nice write-up that first introduced me to Jack Vance (the site also introduced me to RA Lafferty): http://greatsfandf.com/AUTHORS/JackVance.php

So far i've only read one thing of his, the first Dying Sun book, but i'm planning to read the Lyonesse series soon.

[LauraJean]

I have to agree with you, didn’t care for his politics but I remember the first time I met Fred Pohl. I was at my first science fiction convention about 28 years ago. I was running after my then 4 year old son and we nearly knocked into Fred. He was always gracious to me the times we have talked.

His death was not unexpected. However this thread is good as I enjoy hearing from other sci-fi freepers about their contacts with him.

[Ransomed]

Yeah, now that you quoted it I recall it being a little bit more serious. I don’t know. Is the story about Herbert fooling people into thinking he was an accomplished pianist at parties on that interview? Star ship sopha has at least one more recent JV interview.

I have always thought that the first Dune book was very Vancian what with all the footnotes. Both used the other’s and Poul Anderson’s name as anagrams of characters in their books. I think Vance wrote ‘blue world/the Kragen’ as a tongue in cheek nod at Herbert’s Dune.

It’s kinda funny, that first Dying Earth book is really nothing like his subsequent efforts for Dying Earth, I think a lot of folks have sorta are surprised when they read the rest. I think it’s brilliant, a sort of darker but still funny PG Wodehouse vibe.

Lyonesse is fantastic, JV doing pre-Arthurian.

I also recommend

Dying Earth series
Demon Princes series (sci-fi)
Planet of Adventure series (sci-fi)
To Live Forever (stand alone sci-fi)

RA Lafferty is a truly unique great writer, criminally unknown. But for my money I have to say that the best I have come across are Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe. It’s funny that both RA Lafferty and Gene Wolfe are/were conservative Catholics.

Here’s a NY Times Magazine article from 2009:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19Vance-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Here’s Jack Vance’s official site:

http://www.jackvance.com/

Freegards

[Humbug]

Is the story about Herbert fooling people into thinking he was an accomplished pianist at parties on that interview?

No, he was telling a story about a time when the three of them (Herbert, Poul,and himself) had a problem with their houseboat and Herbert basically said "to heck with this" and left.

Thanks for the recommends. I had planned reading the rest of the Dying Earth books but just never got around to it. Will do so soon, now that you have piqued my interest again. What i remember of the first book is that i wasn't too keen about it initially, but eventually it grew on me.

Lafferty is definitely an acquired taste. I didn't "get" the Fourth Mansion until i found out it was inspired by the writings of St. Teresa of Avila. The Past Master is my favorite, although i've heard that his short stories are where he really excelled (i've only read a few though).

His book on Alaric was interesting. He made the point that the world really can come to an end (in relation to how people say "oh don't worry about such and such, the world's not going to end no matter what happen") and in fact has done so many times. It came to an end when Rome was sacked by Alaric. An entirely new world came into existence, one that wasn't nearly so good.

I have been strongly reminded of that concept in recent years.

To me Wolfe is similar to Lafferty, except Wolfe at his best is better able to create works that can be enjoyed at the surface level even if the depths remain murky to the point of opaqueness. He has lost me a bit with some of his more recent works (didn't care for the Knight) but i still return to Severian every so often.

Another good conservative Catholic writer is John C Wright. I've only read The Golden Age but it's one of my favorites.

By the way, does your FR name refer to Ransom from CS Lewis' Space Trilogy?

[Ransomed]

Past Master was really great. Completely unique. I dimly recall Lafferty creating a scandal by supporting the Vietnam war.

I actually looked it up, here is a huge list published in a 1968 Galaxy (Pohl editing) of sci-fi writers for and against the war.

http://www.natsmusic.net/articles_galaxy_magazine_viet_nam_war.htm

It’s pretty fascinating, all these famous names for and against.

I am a huge john C wright fan, I have read the golden age series ( I think he was still an atheist at this point?) and the first book of the hermetic millennium. But I have read a lot of his blog, which tackles writing, politics and religion, all from a conservative pint of view.

http://www.scifiwright.com/

Freegards, good luck with Vance.

[Ransomed]

Sorry, yes, ‘Ransomed’ comes from the Lewis space trilogy.

Freegards

[Humbug]

Interesting list. Of the names i recognized they lined up pretty much as i would have expected other than Bradbury (who i admit to not having read much but i was under the impression that he was fairly conservative). Also interesting that Frank Herbert’s name was missing.

My guess is that a similar survey today (on a current topic dividing the country, such as immigration or homosexual marriage) would result in a far great disparity in favor of the left.

Thanks for the link to Wright’s site. He is quite a prolific blogger i see. And great choice for your FR name. Perelandra especially has long been a favorite of mine.

[Ransomed]

If I absolutely had to choose between them purely on a writing/enjoyment basis, I would pick the ‘for’ list, but for sure I have enjoyed many of the ‘against’ list too.

“My guess is that a similar survey today (on a current topic dividing the country, such as immigration or homosexual marriage) would result in a far great disparity in favor of the left.”

For sure, I agree. Even if they might actually disagree, I doubt that a big % would make that fact known in this age of twitface internet fueled boycott outrage, especially on the subject of ‘gay marriage.’ That’s what makes Wright so cool, the guy just doesn’t give a hoot as far as I can tell. The lib sci-fi fans really hate his guts I take it. I have gone back through his blog a lot, some really insightful stuff there. Plus, he isn’t ashamed to admit he still digs space princesses.

Freegards

[Humbug]

It’s kind of fun to imagine the reaction if Wright and Orson Scott Card co-wrote a book. That would really get them howling!