[net.sf-lovers] James P. Hogan's works

@RUTGERS.ARPA:pugh (04/24/85)

From: "pugh jon%g.mfenet"@LLL-MFE.ARPA


>James P. Hogan's "Twice Upon a Time".

Sorry, it was "Thrice Upon a Time" and it was great!  I also have enjoyed
everything Hogan has written, and especially this book.  It got a bit corny
from Hogan trying to work the love interest in, since his slant is so
obviously hard-sf, but it was acceptable.  I loved the idea of passing only
information back in time, especially with a PDP-11.  He also did a marvelous
job setting limits and then exceeding them.  The sending of info back in time
was limited to 2 weeks, but they sent a program that downloaded, and it sent
a program that downloaded, etc.  It also had a very logical and consistent
theory of time and the conservation of everything.

> Does anybody know if he has any short works?

I read just about every anthology I can get my hands on and I can't remember
ever seeing any by him.  I'll know better once I finsh transcribing my
library into my MacIntosh.  It will help a lot when I do those "What story
was that where ..." searches because I'll cross reference by short story,
author and book.  I'm also planning on a keyword scheme for plot, but there
are only so many hours in the day.

By the way, be sure to read _The_Genesis_Machine_ by Mr. Hogan.  It is great.
The best solution to detente I have ever read, but then I like the idea of
absolute power with no corruption.  I guess that's why I still like Superman,
even though the comics are too silly.  I'll just have to make mine Marvel.
Although there is a great comic called _Mage,_the_Hero_Discovered_ being
published.  Does anybody else like it or have you even seen it?  Good stuff.

                                        -- Jon Pugh --