(Worst) He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad

[James Nicoll]

He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad

Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

[John Savard]

Post by James Nicoll
He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

Your brief synopsys of the plot made it sound... like its plot was
very implausible. However, it also sounded like a very entertaining
read, so I was surprised that you then went on to inform us of just
how terrible it was.

And, since the current pope doesn't have the power to haul people
before the Inquisition, Galileo's big mistake only would have existed
for Norman Spinrad in a different form... had he lived in some country
which, unlike the U. S. of A., was not blessed with
Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of speech.

But I can now see a potential problem with this novel as you describe
it. It deals with a Big Idea, saving the world from ecological
catastrophe caused by human carelesness, but reduces it to a plot of
outrunning the Bad Guys who want to silence you.

Speaking of popes, that reminds me of the movie Foul Play. The one
that starred Goldie Hawn as the glory of the world.

John Savard

[Michael F. Stemper]

Post by James Nicoll
He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

I always have concerns about stories featuring authors whose careers
are on the skids; especially when they're written by authors whose
careers were on the skids.

I've read very little Spinrad, since none of what I read after the
wonderful collection _The Last Hurrah of the Golden Horde_ had any
appeal whatsoever.

[James Nicoll]

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by James Nicoll
He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

I always have concerns about stories featuring authors whose careers
are on the skids; especially when they're written by authors whose
careers were on the skids.

It's kind of depressing to consider authors like Silverberg, Brunner,
Spinrad, and Disch--and no doubt others--who were willing to put in
the effort to produce ambitious works, only to be rewarded with
disppointing or flat-out awful sales. In Brunner's case, in two
separate episodes. In the case of Disch, to have one's big success
be a kid's book.

Gene Wolfe seems to have escaped that trap. I wonder how?

Silverberg briefly retired, then returned with skillful pablum.
Brunner... well, I won't get to that part of his career until August.

[William Hyde]

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by James Nicoll
He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

I always have concerns about stories featuring authors whose careers
are on the skids; especially when they're written by authors whose
careers were on the skids.

It's kind of depressing to consider authors like Silverberg, Brunner,
Spinrad, and Disch--and no doubt others--who were willing to put in
the effort to produce ambitious works, only to be rewarded with
disppointing or flat-out awful sales. In Brunner's case, in two
separate episodes. In the case of Disch, to have one's big success
be a kid's book.
Gene Wolfe seems to have escaped that trap. I wonder how?

Books like "Castleview" and "Free live free" did not, I think, sell
well. His career changed with "The Shadow of the Torturer". My copy was
in strong demand from impecunious friends who had never before heard of
Wolfe. I can only assume that a number of pecunious friends also
wanted to read the book.

Post by James Nicoll
Silverberg briefly retired, then returned with skillful pablum.

But also with "The Alien Years", which focuses largely on a
Heinlein-style family in confrontation with inconceivably advanced
aliens. It would be interesting to know what RAH would think of it, but
in his absence, perhaps we can ask Lynn.

Published about the same time as Dickson's "Way of the pilgrim" in which
our alien occupiers are also inconceivably advanced but not quite as
difficult to understand. Again dealt with in a manner not likely to
meet with the approval of John W. Campbell.

Post by James Nicoll
Brunner... well, I won't get to that part of his career until August.

He just seemed to vanish. I was puzzled at the time.

William Hyde

[James Nicoll]

Post by William Hyde

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by James Nicoll
He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

I always have concerns about stories featuring authors whose careers
are on the skids; especially when they're written by authors whose
careers were on the skids.

It's kind of depressing to consider authors like Silverberg, Brunner,
Spinrad, and Disch--and no doubt others--who were willing to put in
the effort to produce ambitious works, only to be rewarded with
disppointing or flat-out awful sales. In Brunner's case, in two
separate episodes. In the case of Disch, to have one's big success
be a kid's book.
Gene Wolfe seems to have escaped that trap. I wonder how?

Books like "Castleview" and "Free live free" did not, I think, sell
well. His career changed with "The Shadow of the Torturer". My copy was
in strong demand from impecunious friends who had never before heard of
Wolfe. I can only assume that a number of pecunious friends also
wanted to read the book.

Post by James Nicoll
Silverberg briefly retired, then returned with skillful pablum.

But also with "The Alien Years", which focuses largely on a
Heinlein-style family in confrontation with inconceivably advanced
aliens. It would be interesting to know what RAH would think of it, but
in his absence, perhaps we can ask Lynn.
Published about the same time as Dickson's "Way of the pilgrim" in which
our alien occupiers are also inconceivably advanced but not quite as
difficult to understand. Again dealt with in a manner not likely to
meet with the approval of John W. Campbell.

Post by James Nicoll
Brunner... well, I won't get to that part of his career until August.

He just seemed to vanish. I was puzzled at the time.

The explanation is very depressing.

Although not as bad as the choice he got later in life of taking
his blood pressure meds and living at the cost of losing the ability
to write, or retaining the ability to write at the cost of dying young
(Which I think is the same choice Kornbluth got).

[Paul S Person]

On Wed, 22 May 2024 17:07:24 -0400, William Hyde

Post by William Hyde

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by James Nicoll
He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

I always have concerns about stories featuring authors whose careers
are on the skids; especially when they're written by authors whose
careers were on the skids.

It's kind of depressing to consider authors like Silverberg, Brunner,
Spinrad, and Disch--and no doubt others--who were willing to put in
the effort to produce ambitious works, only to be rewarded with
disppointing or flat-out awful sales. In Brunner's case, in two
separate episodes. In the case of Disch, to have one's big success
be a kid's book.
Gene Wolfe seems to have escaped that trap. I wonder how?

Books like "Castleview" and "Free live free" did not, I think, sell
well. His career changed with "The Shadow of the Torturer". My copy was
in strong demand from impecunious friends who had never before heard of
Wolfe. I can only assume that a number of pecunious friends also
wanted to read the book.

Post by James Nicoll
Silverberg briefly retired, then returned with skillful pablum.

But also with "The Alien Years", which focuses largely on a
Heinlein-style family in confrontation with inconceivably advanced
aliens. It would be interesting to know what RAH would think of it, but
in his absence, perhaps we can ask Lynn.

I found it worth reading for a while but ultimately ... pointless.

Post by William Hyde
Published about the same time as Dickson's "Way of the pilgrim" in which
our alien occupiers are also inconceivably advanced but not quite as
difficult to understand. Again dealt with in a manner not likely to
meet with the approval of John W. Campbell.

Post by James Nicoll
Brunner... well, I won't get to that part of his career until August.

He just seemed to vanish. I was puzzled at the time.
William Hyde