Replies

I'll agree with you about the schlock out there. Sometimes it's fun itself (and it IS entertainment, after all), like my admittedly-odd-at-my-age affection for movies featuring men in huge monster costumes smashing model buildings. That's pure escapist fantasy stuff.

For more cerebral, deeper stuff, I would certainly nominate the three I mentioned earlier, Alien, Predator,and The Terminator. All three ignite the imagination, leading the mind to endless "what if"'s using the concepts and creatures, so unique and imaginative were they themselves.

I'm not trying to be a snob. The SF world is too much of a literary ghetto for that. I only wanted to make it clear that buried deep within what the public generally sees (and which is mostly sci-fi) there is a genuine literary field with some gigantic talent -- some of whom, like Heinlein, are arguably among the best writers of the 20th Century. And if it's any comfort, I too enjoy a good old ray-guns-blazing space opera, notwithstanding the total lack of scientific or literary merit (e.g. Star Wars). But if you find "mere" sci-fi stimulating, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Try reading some of Heinlein's novels. Might as well go for "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," because it's possibly his best. Then you'll see the difference. And once you read the real thing, then you'll understand the difference.

Thanks for the advice. I just finished reading The Lord Of The Rings trilogy again, I'm in the middle of The Silmarillion right now and I've got two more books (both non-fiction) on my "to read" shelf, but I'll give your suggestions a look. I cannot pass up so enthusiastic an endorsment!

A.E. van Vogt's "The Weapon Shops of Isher" (and sequels) is interesting for the idea that an armed populace is a good counter to intrusive government. (Probably too libertarian for the Conservatives, however.) Van Vogt's prose is among the best. His two Null-A books make a good detective story (would have been better absent the General Semantics though.)

I also like P.J. Farmer for weirdness (as I do some of P.K. Dick.) Kornbluth's "The Syndic" is interesting too, shows a rather Clintonesque world.

Otherwise, I gave up on science fiction since the New Wave hit.