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From: dann@wxlvax.UUCP (Dan Neiman)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Prince Ombra
Message-ID: <212@wxlvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Jan-84 12:34:29 EST
Article-I.D.: wxlvax.212
Posted: Mon Jan  9 12:34:29 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Jan-84 00:49:34 EST
References: druxt.858
Lines: 37



   This is a sort of counterpoint to a favorable review of Prince Ombra.

   I recently read the book and was disappointed.  The age level 
   aimed at seemed to mid-teens.  Most of the concepts, particularly 
   the classic hero versus the force of darkness were not particularly
   original, nor particularly believable.

   The plot seemed essentially simplistic, and like most books of this 
   type the final confrontation with the evil Prince of Darkness was 
   about as believable as Dorothy throwing the pail of water on the 
   witch in the Wizard of Oz.


   We're not talking about an incredibly bad book by any means, there 
   were some nice touches.  But any reasonably sophisticated reader of 
   F&SF is going to have seen this one go by too many times before to 
   really enjoy it.


   Change of subject -- 

      Is anyone else getting tired of all the retread fantasy novels on 
      the market today?   There doesn't seem to be a spark of innovation
      in any ten of them.  And they all seem to be number x in the new
      XXXXX cycle.  I'm tired of badly written, imitative fantasy and I'm
      tired of serials.  And there is *no* new hard sf being published
      to speak of.  As a friend of mine is wont to say, 'What's the world
      *coming* to?'


      I guess it's time to start reading serious literature.



dann