The naivete of early SF

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Jeffbert

I suppose the writers grasp at any convenient theory known to them, if not simply fabricate their own.

I don't know how it is at present, but it certainly used to be that most writers in the sf field kept up with at least the popular digests' coverage of what was going on in the various sciences; and, of course, quite a few were actually scientists or trained in the sciences themselves. Even Phil Farmer was very conscientious about keeping informed on the latest discoveries and/or views....

[hopewrites]

Hi
I'm new to SciFi/SF, just picked up 2000 leagues under the sea, I think I'm about 1/3 of the way in (hard to judge reading on my phone).
I'd just like to say that I'm really enjoying it. And ask if I should pick up more Jules Verne when I finish, or is there someone else along these lines I could enjoy?
Thanks
HW

[j. d. worthington]

For starters, I'd suggest going to the other titan of sf from the early days, H. G. Wells....

[Connavar]

I couldnt finish my first and only Verne book for some reason and H.G Well is easily read,important SF author to me. I would call The Time Machine a must for every SF fan.

[RJM Corbet]

I know that what attracts me to science fiction movies is the sfx.

I loved 'Independence Day' for instance. 'Star Wars' was huge in its time, those spacecraft filmed from underneath, passing slowly overhead with all their detailed construction, filling the screen.

I thought 'I Robot' was well done.

But nowadays there are movies that are more about the sfx than about the story, especially the ones that rely on explosions etc.

Old movies weren't able to do that. The story had to carry the movie. The sfx of later Star Trek series has never bettered the characters in their pajama outfits and the quaintly philosophical, story-driven essays of the original series?


Point being that perhaps it applies to some extent to books as well? They were the sfx creations of their day in words, not on the screen?

There's a certain amount of acceptance in modern readers, a sort of code. But it originated with Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury etc. Even HG Wells and CS Lewis. Then came Banks, Donaldson, etc. Excellent stuff.

They were the Beatles and the Rolling Stones of sci-fi.

Everyone who came after has used their base to build on?

[Vertigo]

Originally Posted by hopewrites

Hi
I'm new to SciFi/SF, just picked up 2000 leagues under the sea, I think I'm about 1/3 of the way in (hard to judge reading on my phone).
I'd just like to say that I'm really enjoying it. And ask if I should pick up more Jules Verne when I finish, or is there someone else along these lines I could enjoy?
Thanks
HW

Definitely second H G Wells recommendation, possibly Conan Doyle's Challenger books (but avoid In the Land of Mist unless you're seriously into spiritualism). There's also George Allan England and Garrett Putnam Serviss. I have a couple of books of theirs from Gutenberg but haven't got around to them yet,m so can't really recommend.

Actually a good way of finding some of these old classics is these two 'bookshelves' from Gutenberg:
Precursors of Science Fiction
and
Science Fiction (Bookshelf)

I keep meaning to spend some time just reading these old classics but there's always something else demanding my attention!

[RJM Corbet]

To pursue the music analogy, Bob Dylan advises musicians: Don't listen to the new stuff, listen to the old stuff.

[j. d. worthington]

I would not advise too heavy a proportion either way. What is good, what has been influential, what opened the way, and what developed it, what is currently coming from it, can often work hand-in-hand, especially when it comes to being a writer of sff. In fact, I'd say it's damn' near essential.

G. P. Serviss... I'm not sure I'd recommend his fiction, particularly (though he was a fine astronomer of the period... and for those interested, he had some influence on H. P. Lovecraft as well); it's very much a matter of taste, and often acquired taste at that. Sort of like the work of Eric Temple Bell (published as John Taine).

[RJM Corbet]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

I would not advise too heavy a proportion either way. What is good, what has been influential, what opened the way, and what developed it, what is currently coming from it, can often work hand-in-hand ...

That's obviously true ...

[hopewrites]

OK the fish-lists are loosing me but I like nemo. Got the time machine off my dad's shelf and almost didn't make it back to work on time when I read it on my lunch hrs. I keep hearing how much I would love Asmonv (srry spelling ). Before I look him up are there recommendations on where to start? Its not that I'm lazy, just timid, once I start a book I have a hard time not finishing it. By the end of the fest paragraph it's like I'm commented to the last sentence.

Thanks again for the Time Machine, thinking bout the Invisible Man next, or should I go for War of the Worlds?

[j. d. worthington]

My personal preference is for War of the Worlds, but The Invisible Man is a fine story as well.

Asimov? Ooof. Given the man's prolificity, even in sf alone (he either wrote or edited over 400 books) it's a bit difficult to choose... especially not knowing just what sort of thing you might like.

A lot of people (myself included) have a strong fondness for his robot stories, which run quite a gamut to be honest, from "Robbie", which is about a robot nursemaid; to science fiction detective novels which feature robotics as well; to Cold War paranoia stories; to.... and there is a fair amount of humor to many of these tales, too, while others evoke a feeling of pathos.

Some of my favorite Asimov works are among his short stories: "Eyes Do More Than See", for instance, or "The Ugly Little Boy" are very moving stories (as is, in its own way, "The Bicentennial Man"); while "The Last Question" is a delightful take on the ultimate in where computer science may lead.

You may want to check out the collection-cum-novel I, Robot; or Pebble in the Sky for his early work; The Gods Themselves tends to polarize people, but I'd say it has some fine stuff to it. Then again, you may be among those (like me) who would also enjoy the original Foundation trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation). At any rate, these are a few suggestions. There are also numerous story collections and novels for you to check into should any of these strik your fancy....

[Toby Frost]

I'd recommend The Island of Doctor Moreau in particular from Wells' SF. I don't think I'd ever seen a book cram so many ideas so well into such a short space. And it's a very sinister story. One of the best SF stories ever, I'd say.

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by hopewrites

I keep hearing how much I would love Asmonv (srry spelling ). Before I look him up are there recommendations on where to start? Its not that I'm lazy, just timid, once I start a book I have a hard time not finishing it. By the end of the fest paragraph it's like I'm commented to the last sentence.

Partly verbosely repeating j.d., I'd recommend I, Robot (or The Complete Robot, which includes all the stories in I, Robot and more, but without the framing material of the original collection) if you'd enjoy an emphasis on logical puzzles. The Caves of Steel would be good if you'd like something still logical but more directly akin to a mystery and, while Susan Calvin of the robot stories is no slouch, that will introduce you to one of his best characters, Daneel Olivaw. (If you like that, you can continue on with The Naked Sun which is at least as good and even The Robots of Dawn which is different, but still good). But if you have a historical bent and like wide canvasses of space and time, The Foundation Trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation are the parts of that but I recommend an omnibus) is great and is basically responsible for my being an SF fan. But I've also always had a fondness for his Empire novels, maybe especially Pebble in the Sky. And if you like aliens (which he didn't usually do), The Gods Themselves would be the ticket. And for a good range of stories, there are probably various resorted collections if you were just getting one but I have all the primary original ones and maybe Nine Tomorrows or The Bicentennial Man would be among the best of those. I couldn't really say "read this single book" as he's got so many great ones and it depends on which would most interest you. If forced to say a single title in the abstract, I guess I'd say The Foundation Trilogy.

[Parson]

Hope, I am not going to repeat what J-Sun and J. D. have done so well. Asimov is a world beater in the SF category. But while I love his "robot" books I would say his very best stuff is the "Foundation Trilogy." It is among the most seminal of series and just cannot be beaten on the macro scale. I envy you getting to meet Harry Seldon and his calculations for the very first time.

[hopewrites]

So glad I figured out how to access this on my phone. Was in a local bookshop today *depressingly short on books* and found Prelude to Foundation (one copy) Foundation (three copies) and the one after that (also one copy)
bought Prelude, I'm as nervous/excited as I was for my first prom night*, but feeling this will go better.

*first prom i was asked to i got stood up. first prom i went to, i came home with the "wrong" date.