An anthologist new to me
The fact that he died young and was only active between the sixties and the mid-eighties - not my favorite decades for SF - is probably the reason I am just now disccovering Terry Carr. He was a writer and an anthologist (winning Hugos in this latter role), who had a Year's Best series from 1972 to 1987, which is how I happened to come across him.
I recently finished The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2, which is his collection of stories printed in 1972 - and contains quite a few good tales (and some typically seventies bad ones!). The most memorable story in the volume has to be "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" by Gene Wolfe. It wasn't particularly satisfying at the end, but the world he creates is absolutely fascinating, and the writing does pull you in. I am slowly becoming a convert, although the words "acquired taste" seem to describe Wolfe's writing perfectly. I often find it unnecessarily - even distractingly - pretentious, but his worlds and characters do stick with you. Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to admit that I may have been wrong in my initial assessment of his writing.
I still won't recommend him to any but the truly snobbish, though!
Writing: I actually got 850 word in today and finished a new fantasy story. That makes me happy.
I recently finished The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2, which is his collection of stories printed in 1972 - and contains quite a few good tales (and some typically seventies bad ones!). The most memorable story in the volume has to be "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" by Gene Wolfe. It wasn't particularly satisfying at the end, but the world he creates is absolutely fascinating, and the writing does pull you in. I am slowly becoming a convert, although the words "acquired taste" seem to describe Wolfe's writing perfectly. I often find it unnecessarily - even distractingly - pretentious, but his worlds and characters do stick with you. Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to admit that I may have been wrong in my initial assessment of his writing.
I still won't recommend him to any but the truly snobbish, though!
Writing: I actually got 850 word in today and finished a new fantasy story. That makes me happy.