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From: wab@reed.UUCP (William Baker)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: NofTheBeast - True STINKER
Message-ID: <1331@reed.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Apr-85 00:26:11 EST
Article-I.D.: reed.1331
Posted: Mon Apr 15 00:26:11 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Apr-85 00:41:06 EST
References: <147@yetti.UUCP>
Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Lines: 57

> 
> 	The Number of the Beast
> 
> 	Attn.: Sci-Fi General advises that DANGER to
> 	mental health  increases with amount of NoftB read. 
 ... 
> 	Having read SF books from all parts of the spectrum,
> 	[Brunner, Lem, Asimov, Clarke, Sheckley, Farmer, Pohl,
> 	Ellison, Niven, A.D. Foster, P.K. Dick, Hogan, R. Forward,
> 	D. Adams, Varley etc.], I consider this book an insult to SF 
> 	readership's intelligence and sensibilities, and it
> 	should be avoided. I had the expectation of something as 
> 	good as  "Moon is a Harsh Mistress" or "Time Enough 
> 	for Love". I forgot that very few SF writers can
> 	live up to their name consistently.
> 	So, close your eyes in your favorite book store, and grab
> 	a SF book at random. The probability is that you
> 	will get something better than NoftB.
> 
> 	
> 	
> 	Oz
> 	Electric:	{ihnp4|decvax|..}!{utzoo|utcs}!yetti!oz
> 
> 	




	Now, now, let's not be too hard on old Bob.  True, just
about everyone thinks that "NoftB" is a real dog.  However, don't
write off Robert Heinlein on the basis of that book.  Yes, it was
self-indulgent, almost like reading a bad parody of his earier
books.  It is true that after one reads two or three of his books,
the characters all sound the same, but that is not what makes him a
great s.f. writer.  It is, instead, his tremendous vision into the
future, the fascinating nature of his speculations, that hold the
reader.  I have read just about everything he has written.  Some of
his books have offended me (Starship Troopers, Farnham's Freehold)
and some have bored me (Number of the Beast and most of his
childrens books).  Still, I come back for more everytime, and I
find it irritating to have to wait until the paperback comes out so
that I can afford to read his latest novel.  Remember, his next
book after "NoftB" was Friday.  That was a work up to the standards
of Stranger in a Strange Land or The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.	
	As regards your comparison to the list of high-powered s.f.
writers, I would suggest you do some homework.  Look back sometime
and read what Clarke and Asimov have to say about Heinlein and his
books.  I think you'll find that they're quite appreciative.  Joe
Haldeman, my pick as the best of the second generation of s.f.
writers, makes no bones about it:  He grew up reading Heinlein and
pays homage to him in many of his books.  I'd say that that kind of
tribute should suggest something to you.


						Bill Baker
						tektronix!reed!wab