Comments on: How to spot bad science fiction (or fantasy) http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:37:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: gilmae http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173627 gilmae Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:17:51 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173627 He's a bit older now of course and may well have succumbed to the "no heart-no brain" aphorism; but Birmingham did a pretty good job of impersonating someone not of the Right in Falafel and Leviathan. Particularly Leviathan. In light of that, I choose to believe that any perceived Rightism is a) in the eyes of the beholder, b) influenced by the genre itself, and c) driven by the need to have plot, and you can't really have a techno-thriller plot if it turns out that the USA is the root of all geo-political conflict and after it disappears we solve all our problems without a big stick lurking in the background. He’s a bit older now of course and may well have succumbed to the “no heart-no brain” aphorism; but Birmingham did a pretty good job of impersonating someone not of the Right in Falafel and Leviathan. Particularly Leviathan.
In light of that, I choose to believe that any perceived Rightism is a) in the eyes of the beholder, b) influenced by the genre itself, and c) driven by the need to have plot, and you can’t really have a techno-thriller plot if it turns out that the USA is the root of all geo-political conflict and after it disappears we solve all our problems without a big stick lurking in the background.

]]> By: One cop who can read, another who can write, and another to keep an eye on the two intellectuals http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173626 One cop who can read, another who can write, and another to keep an eye on the two intellectuals Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:49:18 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173626 Information leading to klaus k's capture can be forwarded to the Committee for State Security, Meanjin Directorate. Information leading to klaus k’s capture can be forwarded to the Committee for State Security, Meanjin Directorate.

]]> By: klaus k http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173625 klaus k Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:38:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173625 I *was* holding out... I *was* holding out…

]]> By: klaus k http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173624 klaus k Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:29:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173624 Is that what happened, Posey? I won't bother asking you to explain how that is the case: I'm sure it all comes down to something ineffable that I can barely comprehend. My fear of life perhaps. Or is it to be another variant on false consciousness? So, which member of the liberal intelligentsia will you be dobbing me in to this time? I'm holding out for David Malouf, but I'll settle for Inga Clendinnen. Is that what happened, Posey? I won’t bother asking you to explain how that is the case: I’m sure it all comes down to something ineffable that I can barely comprehend. My fear of life perhaps. Or is it to be another variant on false consciousness?

So, which member of the liberal intelligentsia will you be dobbing me in to this time? I’m holding out for David Malouf, but I’ll settle for Inga Clendinnen.

]]> By: Shaun http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173623 Shaun Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:47:53 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173623 Well of course Jim.;-) Speaking of Birmingham, I don't really know his political leanings. But "Without Warning" does take a collection of looney right wing ideas of what would happen if the USA disappeared to base the plot around. Even with the suspension of belief in regards to how the US disappeared, Birmingham's application of politics is clumsy. But it would be just as clumsy if he used a caricature of the looney left as a basis for what would happen if the US disappeared. As I said in my review, a good idea gone bad. Well of course Jim.;-)

Speaking of Birmingham, I don’t really know his political leanings. But “Without Warning” does take a collection of looney right wing ideas of what would happen if the USA disappeared to base the plot around. Even with the suspension of belief in regards to how the US disappeared, Birmingham’s application of politics is clumsy.

But it would be just as clumsy if he used a caricature of the looney left as a basis for what would happen if the US disappeared.

As I said in my review, a good idea gone bad.

]]> By: Jim Treacher http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173622 Jim Treacher Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:17:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173622 When I do it, it's glib. When you do it, it's pithy! ;) Anyway, calling Birmingham right-wing is ridiculous beyond measure, but it's probably not your fault. When I do it, it’s glib. When you do it, it’s pithy! ;)

Anyway, calling Birmingham right-wing is ridiculous beyond measure, but it’s probably not your fault.

]]> By: Posey http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173621 Posey Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:04:40 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173621 Wimped out yet again, he did, Helen. Wimped out yet again, he did, Helen.

]]> By: Shaun http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173620 Shaun Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:01:32 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173620 Jim, just a pithy response to your glib comment @ 62. Jim, just a pithy response to your glib comment @ 62.

]]> By: Jim Treacher http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173619 Jim Treacher Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:00:28 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173619 <blockquote>Book review via a faulty generalisation. How quaint. And wrong.</blockquote> Then why did you write it?

Book review via a faulty generalisation. How quaint. And wrong.

Then why did you write it?

]]> By: Shaun http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173618 Shaun Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:47:41 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/08/how-to-spot-bad-science-fiction-or-fantasy/#comment-173618 Book review via a faulty generalisation. How quaint. And wrong. Book review via a faulty generalisation. How quaint. And wrong.

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