Kilted Sci-Fi Writers

**Geoff Withnell** · 8th July 12, 06:36 PM

I knew S.M. Stirling wears a kilt.
I knew Michael Z. Williamson wears a kilt.
I found out today that John Ringo also sometimes wears a kilt. My three favorite male sci-fi writers all wear kilts. Interesting. I say male writers, since my favorite writer is Lois McMaster Bujold, and she, afaik, does not wear a kilt.

**Riverkilt** · 8th July 12, 06:48 PM

Wonder if there's a doctoral thesis there somewhere - Freeing creativity with unbifurcated garments....

**xdepuydt** · 9th July 12, 12:15 AM

These writers think about the future, and the future in men's clothing is the kilt!!!

**fcgeil** · 9th July 12, 02:10 AM

I haven't been able to find anything saying whether or not he ever wore a kilt, but Robert A. Heinlein certainly was a proponent of them! I agree with X, too, that the kilt is the garment of the future.

**Joe I** · 17th July 12, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by fcgeil

I haven't been able to find anything saying whether or not he ever wore a kilt, but Robert A. Heinlein certainly was a proponent of them! I agree with X, too, that the kilt is the garment of the future.

I'm a big Heinlein fan, too.

Starr, Bill - The Treasure Of Wonderwhat

The author was using a nom de plume so I don't know HE wore a kilt, but his character Dawn-boy in this book wore one.

**fcgeil** · 17th July 12, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Joe I

I'm a big Heinlein fan, too...

That would explain your signature.

**Gryphon57** · 17th July 12, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Joe I

I'm a big Heinlein fan, too.

I don't think it is possible to take part in this discussion without acknowledging Heinlein. Of course, I also don't think you can be a true Scifi fan and not appreciate the works of the three masters of of the genre: Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke.

**Deirachel** · 18th July 12, 10:30 PM

[Threadjack]

Originally Posted by Gryphon57

I don't think it is possible to take part in this discussion without acknowledging Heinlein. Of course, I also don't think you can be a true Scifi fan and not appreciate the works of the three masters of of the genre: Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke.

Why does everyone say Clarke is one of the masters, but "Doc" Smith isn't? Smith almost single-handedly created the Space Opera subgenre. Without his works, we wouldn't have Star Wars, Star Trek, Bab5, or Lost in Space just to name the visual media alone.

Or, Jules Verne who pretty much invented the genre? Or, Frank Herbert?

Heinlien and Asimov I've always agreed with, but Clarke is an acquired taste (bluntly, I think he's boring as grass growing).

[/Threadjack]

**fcgeil** · 19th July 12, 03:28 AM

I think a good part of it is that Heinlein was such a huge Clarke fan (he adored Smith, too) , but I certainly think "Doc" Smith should be included as one of the masters. I also agree that Clarke is boring, but what do I know?

**Gryphon57** · 20th July 12, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Deirachel

[Threadjack]

Why does everyone say Clarke is one of the masters, but "Doc" Smith isn't? Smith almost single-handedly created the Space Opera subgenre. Without his works, we wouldn't have Star Wars, Star Trek, Bab5, or Lost in Space just to name the visual media alone.

Or, Jules Verne who pretty much invented the genre? Or, Frank Herbert?

Heinlien and Asimov I've always agreed with, but Clarke is an acquired taste (bluntly, I think he's boring as grass growing).

[/Threadjack]

My apologies for further hijacking the thread, but I think it boils down to breaking the genre into two sections: Scifi and sciFi. In the former, the math works. That's how those three end up together. Of the three, Clarke is my least favorite for the reasons you stated. Heinlein is my favorite. They have had influence in the invention and production of many devices in use today that were only fantasy at the time. Clarke peaked with Telstar, but he did still grasp the science. I will agree with you about Verne. He was a true visionary.

I love reading E.E. (Doc) Smith and Fank Herbert and have many of their books on the shelf. I also like H. Beam Piper, but those works more extraterrestrial fantasy than about the science. Anytime a list is made there will be a favorite author left out. Drawing a line is always going to be wrong by not including someone: David Drake, Spider Robinson, Harrison, etc...