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From: jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: (Worst) He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
Date: Wed, 22 May 2024 13:03:13 -0000 (UTC)
Organization: Public Access Networks Corp.
Message-ID: <v2kqeh$ln2$3@reader1.panix.com>
References: <v2i6cn$1ei$1@reader1.panix.com> <v2kpno$1651a$2@dont-email.me>
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In article <v2kpno$1651a$2@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 21/05/2024 08.08, James Nicoll wrote:
>> 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.

-- 
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
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