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From: @RUTGERS.ARPA:A.ALDERSON@[36.48.0.1]
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: SF-LOVERS Digest   V10 #70
Message-ID: <799@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 26-Feb-85 17:16:50 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.799
Posted: Tue Feb 26 17:16:50 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Feb-85 20:12:26 EST
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Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: Alderson@Score

Regarding Piers Anthony:  _Sos, the Rope_ was acceptable, as was the first
Xanth novel (although the puns were painful, they were non-obvious).  The
Juxtaposition trilogy was much better.  The rest of his stuff is schlock, like
that of Herbert (excepting only DUNE) or Murray Leinster.

Heinlein, on the other hand, even at his worst (_"The Number of the Beast..."_)
is a talented writer.  Most people probably are aware that _Stranger in a
Strange Land_ was written several years before some of his better "late period"
novels, such as _Glory Road_ or _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_.  They are also
aware that he is only making explicit in his later books philosophies that have
been implicit in all his work, from the very earliest--and not only in his
science fiction.

Mr. Eckel could certainly do worse than to emulate Mr. Heinlein.

						Rich Alderson@Score

P. S.  The Panshins were right about one thing:  Heinlein CAN'T write well
about sex.  On the other hand, I never expected him to do so.  rma
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