Jack Williamson

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Always nice to see Fred Pohl's name cropping up... a writer who isn't really mentioned nearly enough....

Wait untill I start plowing through my TBR pile.....

[gully_foyle]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Always nice to see Fred Pohl's name cropping up... a writer who isn't really mentioned nearly enough....

I've read Gateway and its one of the best SF novels I've read for a while. While not wanting to hijack this thread, I'd love to hear what else is good.

[Briareus Delta]

Originally Posted by gully_foyle

I've read Gateway and its one of the best SF novels I've read for a while. While not wanting to hijack this thread, I'd love to hear what else is good.

While also not wishing to hi-jack this thread, I regard myself as Fred Pohl's Number 1 Fan, so I couldn't resist.

Man Plus and Jem are must-reads, as is The Space Merchants (with CM Kornbluth). Actually, anything he co-wrote with Kornbluth is worth reading. The Gateway sequels Beyond the Blue Event Horizon and Heechee Rendezvous are also worth a look.

I could go on, but as I say, I don't want to hijack this thread......

[HardScienceFan]

Poh with Williamson or Kornbluth,doesn't matter
greatest collaboration ever?
Jack Williamson once collaborated with James Gunn as well, hang on will Google
no i remember :Star Bridge
Remember it as good space opera

[Finnien]

I ordered some of the Masterworks books, mainly due to Gollum's recommendations, and the fact that the books that I had read on those lists were all terrific (with the personal exception of the Forgotten Beasts of Eld... ugh!)

I've read Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang, Ringworld, A Case of Conscience, Sirens of Titan, The Disposessed, The Demolished Man, Time Machine, Lord of Light, Babel-17, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Stars My Destination, The Man in High Castle, Replay, Anubis Gates, The Drawing of the Dark, The Chronicles of Amber, Fevre Dream, Forgotten Beasts of Eld, and, most recently, (the first of the masterworks I ordered) The Iron Dragon's Daughter. Every one of those books (except Forgotten Beasts!) I loved.

Now I've ordered a bunch more: The Child Garden, Was, The Space Merchants, Song of Kali, Time out of Joint, The Broken Sword, The Simulacra, Ubik, The Worm Ouroboros, Dying Inside, and a few more.

Gollum, are there any particular favorites you'd recommend I try? If I keep enjoying them I'll probably get through them all (ordering them from England is a pain in the ass though!), but if there are any all-time favorites that should be read ASAP, I'd take your recommendations.

And apologies for contributing to the thread-hijacking!

[j. d. worthington]

I'd also suggest Pohl's shorter works. My personal favorite, I think, would be "Day One Million"; that is a masterful use of prose technique counterpointing content... absolutely brilliant! (Though I'm also very fond of "The Day After the Day the Martians Came"... also a very quiet piece that goes for the jugular...)

[nomadman]

I picked up Reign of Wizardry the other day. So far it's a blast. Here are a couple of quotes:

Originally Posted by Jack Williamson

The Cretan archers loosed a storm of arrows. Slung stones hummed, burning sulphur made a suffocating reek. A gang of Cretan marines flung grapnel hooks, then crouched waiting with their nets and tridents to swarm aboard.

Originally Posted by Jack Williamson

The bronze beak retreated, and water poured into the Cretan galley. It listed sluggishly, a wave poured over the heavy prow, and it went down with chained slaves shrieking at the oars.

Originally Posted by Jack Williamson

The hulls crashed. Grapnels caught and ropes whipped tight. Bows twanged and slung stones drummed on shields. Smoke of sulphur and cordage and human flesh made a choking stench.

Originally Posted by Jack Williamson

His sword flashed. He heard a crackling sound, and saw a flash of blue, and caught a stinging odor. But the red-dripping silver vessel pitched out of dying hands into the sea. Severed clean, the priest's head followed it.

Hell, all these are just from the first two chapters!