tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post9033045926394045147..comments2023-07-08T08:33:50.710+01:00Comments on Speculative Horizons: Book review: VeteranJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-23309443790881489262010-08-24T00:04:40.869+01:002010-08-24T00:04:40.869+01:00Dan, glad you enjoyed the review.
I fully agree;...Dan, glad you enjoyed the review. <br /><br />I fully agree; doesn't matter how good an idea in an SF novel is, if there's no story there, or interesting characters. Veteran, as my review states, is a character-driven story with plenty of exciting action. But there's also some interesting ideas and these are explored without hindering the progression of the story. It's a balancing act, and Smith gets it right as far as I'm concerned. <br /><br />As for SF being a dying genre, I know that the argument for that is more about sales than a lack of quality. But as long as there's quality new books being released, the genre's got a chance of surviving.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-15210809120767792362010-08-23T23:55:12.271+01:002010-08-23T23:55:12.271+01:00I'm one that almost agrees with the concept th...I'm one that almost agrees with the concept that science fiction is "dying", but I'm also a staunch believer that the authors who do science fiction right will be its saviours.<br /><br />Too much of science fiction these days (from my experience) has been to tout the awesome idea, to flaunt the perfect concept, consequently minimalizing the need for actual story and characters, when so much of what the market seems to want is character and story. And GOOD character and GOOD story at that. Your review seems to reflect this impression in that you tout the story and the characters for some time, and then add that it had some "intriguing ideas there too". :) It warms my heart to see that there are new authors out there that will write science fiction and give us good story and good characters along with the awesome ideas. They're the ones that are putting the emphasis where it needs to be. It's these kinds of authors, in my mind, that are going to save science fiction, that will keep it from its death. And I applaud them.<br /><br />Will definitely be adding this book to my reading list. Thanks for the review, James.Dan Smythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03222564046098923782noreply@blogger.com