Kilted Sci-Fi Writers

[O'Callaghan]

Why the great surprise that a group of people who are about looking forward to the future don't see the need to model their kilt wearing on the norms of the 19th century?

[Gryphon57]

[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...

[Deirachel]

I don't think the separation of science accuracy applies. Bluntly, by the current model, Faster than Light travel is impossible. But, all three of the "Masters" have FTL systems in their stories at one (or more) points.

To be honest, I think it's purely a marketing BS. Clarke is one of the Masters because some publisher said so.... just like diamonds are rare, because DeBeers says so.

[Geoff Withnell]

To be honest, I think it's purely a marketing BS. Clarke is one of the Masters because some publisher said so.... just like diamonds are rare, because DeBeers says so.

Actually, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have awarded the Grand Master award (now called the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award) to living authors starting in 1975 to Robert Heinlein. Clarke got his in 1986.Unfortunately, "Doc" Smith had already passed in 1968, I believe.

[kennethrmc]

I have written several dozen published books, fiction and non-fiction, but not in the sci-fi mode. I'm currently working on a fantasy novel and am in touch with a publisher for that. The list of kilted notable authors is very encouraging to say the least! I know I write better when kilted