So, I was reading this post by addienfaemne, entitled "On Sexism in the Speculative Fiction Canon" (http://addienfaemne.livejournal.com/790108.html?thread=5317724), which largely consisted of a long quote from a person called Bidisha in the Guardian, "When Harry Met Sexism ( Read more... )

This isn't a complete review of _Red Mars_. This is a critique of
certain points which I believe the author handled unrealistically,
badly, or without much knowledge of the topic that he was writing on.

This is a slightly-edited reprint of an old Usenet post.
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I basically liked Red Mars, especially the characterization and the planetology. ( Read more... )

The discussion about the New Wave that sprang from my post on "Doc" Smith caused me to remember this post, originally on Usenet's rec.arts.sf.written, regarding Litcritters and their main product ( Read more... )

E. E. "Doc" Smith is today sometimes dismissed as "merely" a pulp science fiction writer who produced "cliche" space operas. What is not commonly realized is the extent to which he actually originated many ideas which were so widely copied by other writers that they became "cliche." Here is a quick and brief listing of some of his most important ( Read more... )