Isaac Asimov -vs- Arthur C. Clarke

[Whoha]

they both kicked butt, but barring a celebrity deathmatch the answer will never be known.

[Paddy]

Asimov

[Fve Crathva]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
most of clarks novels I have read were the rama ones

and I only liked one of those..

Jon Miller

He only really wrote one of those. The others were written by that hack, Gentry Lee.

I don't think there are any hard SF writers better than Asimov and Clarke. Hard SF is about ideas, not writing, and both authors are top-notch ideas people. I haven't read Clarke in a while, but if I remember correctly, his narratives were more immersing than Asimov's. I enjoy space opera more though--Dan Simmons, Vernor Vinge, etc.

SP

[Jon Miller]

Benford writes decent hard SF

like Timescape

of course.. I must say that hard SF is not very interesting to me.. generally

Jon miller
(not the biggest fan of Niven (another Hard Sci fi person) either)

[Fve Crathva]

I started out liking Benford, but got cold on his writing after Artifact. Neither the ideas nor the narrative were up to the high standards set by other authors.

SP

[Asmodean]

Asimov, for the Foundation series. It has an epic quality, that I find rare.

But i truly enjoy Clarke, too.

Asmodean

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Clarke's quality is more consistant, but Asimov's best was better than Clarke's best.

[ahasverus]

Well I voted for Clarke only because I havent read Isaac and Clarke is good.

Before anyone starts telling me I should read Isaac.
I know but I've got 'bout 200-300 books in my bookcases I should read first

Well on Clarke shortstories v. novels I'll say that his shortstories are brilliant but his novels without collaberators pretty much go down the same lane.
The book you're talking about is "Rendevouz with Rama"
It is brilliant but then also is "2001", "Childhoods End" and "The Fountains of Paradise".

If you don't want to read his "Collected Shortstories"
or only want to read one, read "The nine billion names of God" The rest is good, very good, but there is a reason it has been named the best sci-fi shortstory ever.

[St Leo]

I enjoy Asimov for his demure style and clean prose.

Asimov

[DerSchwarzfalke]

Neither. Ursula le Guin wins hands down for storytelling, creativity, and character development.

The Dispossessed is a masterpiece of literature, period, let alone of the science fiction genre.

[reds4ever]

read the question, one has to win. BECAUSE THAT IS THE MATCHUP!!!!

[Ming]

Originally posted by reds4ever
read the question, one has to win. BECAUSE THAT IS THE MATCHUP!!!!

Actually... a "Some other Shmo" option is provided as well

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Ming


Actually... a "Some other Shmo" option is provided as well

Then the question was worded wrong! (Or the answers depending on how you look at it).

The third option should read something like "A more obsure author who makes me seem really smart and knowledgable"

[DerSchwarzfalke]

Ursula le Guin is hardly obscure, especially if you claim to like the science fiction genre.

[Jon Miller]

I don't really consider Le Guin to be a hard SF writer, although she is better than either Asimov or Clark.

Jon Miller