Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ucla-cs.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!cepu!ucla-cs!jeanne From: jeanne@ucla-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Spider Robinson Message-ID: <2882@ucla-cs.ARPA> Date: Thu, 20-Dec-84 13:20:16 EST Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.2882 Posted: Thu Dec 20 13:20:16 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 23-Dec-84 01:21:48 EST Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 57 This is going to be a rapturous rave for Robinson's work. I've loved it for several years, but that was mostly based on the Callahan Crosstime Salooon stories--I have a weakness for puns and Spider has some really "vile" ones in his stories. However, in the last couple of months I have read a couple of his more serious works and have been unbelievably impressed. The man writes beautifully. I am normally the type who tears through books as fast as I can because there is just so much to read and so little time to read it all. When I notice the writing (as opposed to the story itself) on the first read through a book, there has to be something very special about it. I've never read descriptive passages in anything to compare with those in Spider's works; I've actually stopped to savor the descriptions and my reactions to them--it takes something special to stop my headlong flight through my reading. I finished reading "Mindkiller" last night. Needless to say, I recommend it extremely highly. It has two parallel plots (alternating chapters), both of which involve people you care about, in situations that challenge their minds, emotions, and lives. Some of the things that happen can be anticipated (or at least speculated about as possible), but there are some real surprises. (Chapter 2 appeared in Omni as a story called "God Is An Iron.) The other book I read (a couple of months ago) was a collection of Spider's short stories, called "Melancholy Elephants" (the title story won the Hugo Award for short story in 1983). Unfortunately, the book is only available in Canada at the moment. If you live there, get the book as quickly as possible. If you are here in the States, you either have to wait until the book comes out late in 1985 here, or get hold of friends or relatives in Canada and get them to send it to you. The book is worth the trouble to find it. The depth of human feeling in the stories is I met Spider and his wife, Jeanne, at Worldcon, and fell instantly in love with both of them. For those of you who are caught up on Spider's work, here's the word on what he has coming up. There is going to be a third Callahan book (in March) (hooray!). He is also finishing up his new novel (working title is "Time Pressure). He read the first chapter at the convention and it is an awesome beginning. So, for those of you who have yet to discover Spider Robinson, find his books wherever you can. It will be well worth the effort.