@RUTGERS.ARPA:TIGQC356%CUNYVM.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA (02/06/85)
From: Mark F Rand <TIGQC356%CUNYVM.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA>
Hello..
Has anyone out there read the "Majipoor Chronicles", by Robert Silverberg?
There are three books (so far?) in the series..
1: "Lord Valentine's Castle"
2: "The Majipoor Chronicles"
3: "Valentine Pontifex"
I think these books were very imaginative and entertaining.
My favorite authors are Jack C. Chalker, Robert Silverberg, Juanita Coulson,
Jose' Farmer("Riverworld"), Andre Norton, and Ray Bradbury.
My selections for the best SF movies are(not in order of preference):
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Star Wars and (though more on the
fantasy side) Raiders of the Lost Ark.
See ya
Mark Rand (Tigqc356@Cunyvm)
Acknowledge-To: <@>@RUTGERS.ARPA:milne@uci-icse (02/10/85)
From: Alastair Milne <milne@uci-icse>
Hello..
Has anyone out there read the "Majipoor Chronicles", by Robert
Silverberg? There are three books (so far?) in the series..
1: "Lord Valentine's Castle"
2: "The Majipoor Chronicles"
3: "Valentine Pontifex"
I think these books were very imaginative and entertaining. My
favorite authors are Jack C. Chalker, Robert Silverberg, Juanita
Coulson, Jose' Farmer("Riverworld"), Andre Norton, and Ray Bradbury.
My selections for the best SF movies are(not in order of
preference): Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Star Wars and
(though more on the fantasy side) Raiders of the Lost Ark.
See ya
Mark Rand (Tigqc356@Cunyvm)
----------------------------------------
I have indeed read "Majipoor Chronicles", and was very impressed with
the stories. One comes to understand Majipoor much better for taking
a brief walk through its history. Personally I liked it better than
"Lord Valentine's Castle", though my best friend feels the opposite.
I have also ready the 3rd one, "Valentine Pontifex", and enjoyed it
greatly. I'm not sure, though, whether all the things that needed
explaining actually were explained. But even if they didn't (I don't
remember just now), I found the ending very satisfying. And it left me
wanting more.
My list of favourite authors has to start with Isaac Asimov and
Arthur C. Clarke, though not necessarily in that order. After that, the
list varies with the books considered. Ursula K. LeGuin; Robert Silverberg;
Robert Heinlein (depending on which book); Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
as a team; several others of lesser attraction.
The *best* SF movie? No question whatever in my mind: "2001: A Space
Odyssey". A classic, and not just of SF. Without question the most
beautiful and thought-provoking film I've ever seen. I much regret to
say that "2010" is a shadow of it. Not far after "2001" I would place
"Silent Running", possibly Bruce Dern's best film, and likewise beautiful
and thought-provoking. "Fantastic Voyage" also deserves a place on the
list. After them, the "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" films. And I *do*
like Star Trek I, possibly better than the others. I will debate this
separately, if anybody cares to do so.
The worst? Well, having been spared the dubious delights of "Plan 9
from Outer Space", (and having to confess that "Lost in Space", being a
series and not a movie, probably doesn't qualify), I think I'll go with
"Mad Max" and the others that go with it: "Road Warrior", "The
Destruction of Jhared-Syn" (different story: same ideas), "Adventure in
the Forbidden Zone", and more of same, whose titles I can't be bothered
to find out.
Alastair Milneasb224@uiucuxa.UUCP (02/23/85)
I must heartily agree regarding the Majipoor books by Silverberg. I was
a bit surprised by them, actually, as I don't like much of his early work.
The books are superb, in my opinion, chiefly for the imagination and originality
which marks them. I recommend them for all that haven't read them.
-Fred Brunner
UIUC