The Apolyton Science Fiction Discussion Group: July Nominations

[St Leo]

I thought that all Turtledove novels were WORSE Turtledove novel. A BETTER Turtledove novel is something I'd like to see.

[JohnT]

You know what I think? I think that Turtledove is so popular on this board we could have a "Turtledove" topic and get enough nominations and interest.

Frankly, I think the man was writing a bit before 1992, but nothing that anybody cares about other than maybe Guns of the South.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Guns of the South was much better than 'How Few Remain', St. Leo.

The main problem is that the new people in sci-fi aren't as good as the oldies. Though China Mieville may buck that trend .

[St Leo]

The American Civil War == Yawn.

I nominate Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft.

[Jon Miller]

ummm

John

did you not see my nomination?

Jon Miller

[Static Universe]

John,

Please use this blurb for my book

Slaughtermatic is a tale of a (hopefully) far future where crime is an art and being a victim makes a citizen the police's primary target. No need to worry about witnesses, either; they're doomed, too. These aren't crooked cops; they're Gordian knots of corruption and insanity.

All in all, it's a hoot. Many of the best lines are laugh-out-loud funny, or groan-and-roll-your-eyes bad. And both kinds are good.

That's the upside. Slaughtermatic is a mess. A chaotic, confusing tangle of virtual and fictional reality that, at times, is impossible to decipher. At times, it's easiest to let the prose wash over you and wait for understanding to catch up. Sometimes it doesn't, but by the last page the overall picture is clear enough, and the lasting impression is a positive one. Just don't insist on comprehending everything at once. Or every little word. Look for the big picture.

http://www.sfsite.com/07a/slot36.htm

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
ummm

John

did you not see my nomination?

Jon Miller

Nope. That's why I posted my list: to make sure I listed everybody.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
... well because if he has... I'll nominate a BETTER Turtledove novel .

I picked How Few Remain because (a) it's a stand alone and (b) it's a good intro to the Great War series.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Lonestar: I personally considered it the worst non-fantasy Turtledove I've read.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Lonestar: I personally considered it the worst non-fantasy Turtledove I've read.

Fine, howabout the first of the WorldWar Tetraology then?

JohnT Change my Nomination!

In the Balance
Harry Turtledove

This intelligent speculative novel depicts an alternate history in which, at the height of World War II, Earth is attacked by alien beings with weapons far more destructive than any possessed by the Allied or Axis forces. Turtledove ( The Guns of the South ) gives a surprisingly convincing flavor to the time-worn story of warring nations uniting to repel extraterrestrials; his human characters, both actual and invented, ring true as they struggle to trust each other after years of enmity, and although the alien threat has a B-movie feel, he makes an effort to portray the invaders sympathetically as well. The first in a projected series, the book ends where it began: in and around a battle. The smooth writing is marred only by slightly overdone dialogue for real-life figures like General Patton. The historical details, especially those concerning the weapons and methods available in the 1940s to defend Earth, are accurate and well rendered.

[St Leo]

How about American Front? I hate the Worldwar series.

[JohnT]

We're going to do How Few Remains for the simple reason that the WorldWar or American Front novels are not truly self-contained, unlike HFR.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Guns of the South is self contained .

How Few Remains is kinda part of the American Front series.

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Btw, it's a travesty we haven't picked Dune yet.

Ain't that the truth.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Eli
newly published novelist = no scanned versions on the net = bad.

library. Not just a part of the Civ game. Exists in real world too.