Clifford Simak is most often described as the "pastoralist" of science fiction, and it's an interesting label. I'm not quite sure what it means, but I read Simak for a particular feeling. I mean, great stories, fascinating ideas, and always a light, humorous touch — Simak was a...
prolific author
Patricia McKillip has written many books, but this trilogy, beginning with The Riddle-Master of Hed is my favorite. They're magical books, by which I mean the writing, the language, is magical.
I think the Litany against Fear — not simply the Litany, but the whole concept of the Bene Gesserit's instruction in mental control and discipline — was a major reason for my initial attraction to Dune.Very attractive to a teenager, and to an adult too, if it comes to that! Herbert's...
Can I choose a favorite? Pretty difficult. If I'm choosing a one-off, maybe, Pyramids? And Interesting Times. And … oh dear, now I've started it's hard to stop. Let's leave it there for the moment.
And as far as series are concerned, well, I have a fondness for the Guards books (...
I'm not a horror fan, but I make an exception for Barbara Hambly, whose fantasy novels do tend to be touched with horror (more than touched, sometimes). But I enjoy her writing so much — her style, her people — that, well, all I can say is that despite my avoidance of horror, she's...
There is no real connection between Ender's Game and the next three in the series except that Ender and his sister are in them. Ender's Game started simply as a short story, grew to a book, and then, many years later, took off on a completely different tangent. I don't mean there is no story...
Not an inspiring beginning, it might be thought. And yet, somehow, the words reach out and … entrance you. Yes, entrance is the word, I'm sure. I felt quite entranced, the first time I read this book (and, practically unique in my life, I remember exactly where I was when I read these...
