I adore "The Circus of Dr. Lao," so anything else by Finney is bound to be a bit of a disappointment in comparison.
Anderson is at his best when he has a story which is worthy of his talent for vivid writing. The "Operation" series is enjoyable, and let's hope F&SF prints more in the future.
Bester's pyrotechnic style is more to my liking than Davidson's rather eccentric style, which can seem affected sometimes. I can see how both authors would be acquired tastes.
I met Dickson once, and he was a perfectly charming fellow who chatted with me while I got his autograph, but I have to admit that I'm not in love with his fiction. It's not bad, to be sure, but it doesn't stand out for me. The Hoka series is too silly for me, although the equally whimsical "St. Dragon and the George" was enjoyable. I prefer his short stories that lean to the personal and emotional side rather than his more adventure-oriented fiction.
And then there's "Starship Soldier." Wow! Nobody can write in the "Astounding" style as well as Heinlein. He really grabs the reader with his seemingly straight-forward but carefully thought-out future, his matter-of-fact narration, and his lightning-fast pace. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, but so far it reminds me of "The Puppet Masters," which can also be read as an allegory of the Cold War. It will also be interesting to see how far the author goes with his eyebrow-raising lectures on politics and the military. (My favorite Heinlein is probably "The Door Into Summer," which is a little less typical of the author.)
Starship Soldier (and other things)
I adore "The Circus of Dr. Lao," so anything else by Finney is bound to be a bit of a disappointment in comparison.
Anderson is at his best when he has a story which is worthy of his talent for vivid writing. The "Operation" series is enjoyable, and let's hope F&SF prints more in the future.
Bester's pyrotechnic style is more to my liking than Davidson's rather eccentric style, which can seem affected sometimes. I can see how both authors would be acquired tastes.
I met Dickson once, and he was a perfectly charming fellow who chatted with me while I got his autograph, but I have to admit that I'm not in love with his fiction. It's not bad, to be sure, but it doesn't stand out for me. The Hoka series is too silly for me, although the equally whimsical "St. Dragon and the George" was enjoyable. I prefer his short stories that lean to the personal and emotional side rather than his more adventure-oriented fiction.
And then there's "Starship Soldier." Wow! Nobody can write in the "Astounding" style as well as Heinlein. He really grabs the reader with his seemingly straight-forward but carefully thought-out future, his matter-of-fact narration, and his lightning-fast pace. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, but so far it reminds me of "The Puppet Masters," which can also be read as an allegory of the Cold War. It will also be interesting to see how far the author goes with his eyebrow-raising lectures on politics and the military. (My favorite Heinlein is probably "The Door Into Summer," which is a little less typical of the author.)