[stone monkey]

A lot of literary snobs don't think 1984 or Frankenstein are sf either.

[Werthead]

Indeed. And that's idiotic. Brian W. Aldiss published a lengthy essay about 30 years ago which basically and persuasively argued that Frankenstein was the first-ever SF novel.

[stone monkey]

It's not just an essay, it's a whole bloody book; Trillion Year Spree - it was the very first serious sf reference work that I ever read - back in the 80s. It's precursor,Billion Year Spree, was published some time in the 70s - I've never seen a copy.

[Whelp]

Imho, Frankenstein and similar novels (Verne's works, for example) could go under the steampunk heading

[GardenGnome]

Actually, Werthead, Magician was released in two volumes in Norway - because Tiden are greedy bastards. They even published the last book in the Belgariad in two volumes - and also changed the layout of the coverdesign, the silly twits. When they released the 5th WoT book in 3 parts, I threw up my hands in disgust, and promised not to buy Tiden again. Besides, their translators aren't too good.

[Varunwe]

I thought Frankenstein was horror. What makes it sci-fi?

On topic: I'm currently rereading The Shadow Rising. I still like it very much; I'm glad to say books 8-9 have done nothing to change my enjoyment of the earlier books. What I like about WoT are the good world-building, nice characters and IMHO compellling story. Can't say much about the writing style, just that I like it.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Varunwe;140453 said:

I thought Frankenstein was horror. What makes it sci-fi?

Probably the mad scientist doing an experiment to create a new living being from parts of the dead. I would say that brings it into the realm of sci-fi.

[Abyss]

Varunwe;140453 said:

...I'm currently rereading The Shadow Rising. I still like it very much; I'm glad to say books 8-9 have done nothing to change my enjoyment of the earlier books. ...

I think that most readers of the whole or most of the series would agree that the later weak books didn't ruin the fun of the earlier, so much as dissappoint.

- Abyss, uses the 'it's all a dream, a horrible dream' rationale.

[Werthead]

I find this inexplicably hilarious.

[Reborn]

GardenGnome: Well, in Sweden Magician was published in three parts.That doesn't come close to what was done to William's Memory, Sorrow & Thorn, though, which was divided into twelve books. : )

[Werthead]

I believe Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy was divided into 14 books in Italy :eek:

[caladanbrood]

Werthead;140709 said:

I believe Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy was divided into 14 books in Italy :eek:

To be fair.... that makes more sense;)

[Werthead]

This story is actually pretty impressive.

Interesting things to note: Tor Books plans to release A Memory of Light in 2009. Tor have discussed with Jordan what will happen if he doesn't make it. The current plan is indeed to have Harriet finish the book and Jordan is making detailed notes in case of that eventuality. However, he is confident he'll be around to do it himself.

[High House Death]

Werthead;140623 said:

I find this inexplicably hilarious.

:lachen70:

[Abyss]

Werthead;141582 said:

This story is actually pretty impressive.

Interesting things to note: Tor Books plans to release A Memory of Light in 2009. Tor have discussed with Jordan what will happen if he doesn't make it. The current plan is indeed to have Harriet finish the book and Jordan is making detailed notes in case of that eventuality. However, he is confident he'll be around to do it himself.

- Abyss, oh COME ON....

[Dolorous Menhir]

What, do you think he can't live that long?

[Abyss]

No. I think Harriet has all the writing talent of a Star Trek Mary Sue self-insertion fanfic author who writes the kind of ffic where the lead character has bi-threesomes with Spock and Kirk before and after saving the ship twice, teaching the Klingons that a group hug is better than war, and deprogramming the Borg with a hairpin and a poem about her cats.

Lest we forget, imnsho, but the utter downward spiral of the books happened when RJ became involved with her and she started doing whatever it was she was doing beyond notionally being his editor or lack thereof. I don't remove the blame from RJ, but from what little i do know, she was, perhaps not half the equation, but a chunk of it.

- Abyss, almost made a 'jump the Bones' comment there.

[Dolorous Menhir]

So they only got married after book 6 came out?

[Werthead]

I'm pretty sure they were married some years before that, whilst he was working on The Eye of the World in 1984-90 if not before.

I also think that Harriet has been a pretty good editor in the past (she edited Ender's Game) and have no idea about her writing skills. It could be great, it might not. It's worth noting that once those with RJ's disease start taking regular treatment, the average survival time goes up to four years or more, so the overwhelming likelihood is that RJ will be able to finish this book himself.

[Abyss]

My sense of the timeline is incomplete. From what i gather, she became his editor, they became involved, and the downturn in quality overlaps. By all reports she's a perfectly nice person who treats him well and is pleasant to the fans.

But for her to write the last book... my eyes almost bleed.

- Abyss, doesn't bleed optically for just any reason.