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He was the last of the giants, along with Heinlein, Clark and Asimov. As a kid in the 70s, I devoured their novels and stories from the 50s and 60s. Bradbury wa
by vannevar 14y ago
He was the last of the giants, along with Heinlein, Clark and Asimov. As a kid in the 70s, I devoured their novels and stories from the 50s and 60s. Bradbury was probably the most sophisticated writer of the four, though I preferred Asimov's straightforward, techie prose more back then. But we did get to read Bradbury in school, while none of the others was deemed lofty enough for the curriculum (except Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, and that wasn't until college).
- rootbear 14y agoMy experience exactly. I read a lot of Asimov and Clark in the 70s, but I read some Bradbury too. I need to get some of his books that I missed and read them now. I suspect I'll appreciate them as literature more now than I would have when I was younger.
- joshuahedlund 14y agoOrson Scott Card is not too far off, IMO.
- Retric 14y agoSadly, I found over time his newer books became steadily worse. It's odd to me that someone like Jim Butcher can get steadily better where other authors 'give up', start believing their own hype, use ghost writers, or something.
- RyanMcGreal 14y agoI've wondered if the declining arc of Card's writing is connected to his apparently increasing narrowness, rigidity and dogmatism in general.
- jordo37 14y agoCompletely agreed. I don't mind skimming through OSC's books now but they are just fun reads (plus I'm always looking for some of his more vile opinions to seep through, though that never really happens).
- pasbesoin 14y agoOf the more recent generations, I've particularly enjoyed Vinge and Brin, although Brin varies somewhat. There are probably a few others I could mention, but they have a nasty habit of not coming to mind when I make a conscious effort. For Vinge, I would recommend particularly A Deepness in the Sky and (prequel) A Fire Upon the Deep. For Brin, the second and third books of his Uplift Trilogy, adding also the first for context. The second and third are Startide Rising and The Uplift War. Also, his book Earth, which stands alone. P.S. Gibson and Stephenson. Gibson's Neuromancer and the two subsequent; after that, I couldn't continue (so, another "Card-esque" experience?). Also Gibson's collected short stories, Burning Chrome. I've quite enjoyed several Stephenson novels -- I guess they might tend to be his "older" ones. I tried The Baroque Cycle and could not stay with it.
- zem 14y agomy favourite recent author is unquestionably lois bujold (unless you want to count pratchett as recent). also, don't forget charles stross and stephen baxter.
- ilamont 14y agoCase in point: Frederick Pohl's Gateway series. The first book was amazing, the second was pretty solid, and then the series dropped off a cliff. I wonder how much the economics of publishing and personal financial need figures into declining quality of (some) authors, musicians and other artists.
- emmelaich 14y agoI love Ender's Game but my opinion of it has dropped over the years. His A Planet called Treason however affected me pretty deeply, and I still read it from time to time.
- ars 14y agoBrandon Sanderson as well.
- weavejester 14y agoI was going to point out that Sanderson doesn't really do science fiction, but on reflection his books tend to revolve around magic systems that obey very scientific rules. One could probably argue that's more science fiction than fantasy.
- mbq 14y agoDon't forget about Pohl.
- crag 14y agoThrow Frank Herbert in the mix and you have my reading list for the 70. Oh and Tolkien.
- shriphani 14y agoDon't forget Vonnegut.
- Rickasaurus 14y agoAnd I'm disappointed that Phil K Dick isn't mentioned anywhere here.
- D_Alex 14y agoThere are new giants! Greg Egan, William Gibson, Charles Stross, Vernon Vinge - to name a few. Also, don't forget Larry Niven and Joe Haldeman, they are still around!