Shiffman%SWW-WHITE@MIT-MC.ARPA (08/16/84)
From: Hank Shiffman <Shiffman%SWW-WHITE@MIT-MC.ARPA> My reaction to Fuzzies And Other People was similar to that of Mr. Duntemann, particularly having read the two recent Fuzzy books by other authors: Fuzzy Bones by William Tuning and Golden Dream by <author forgotten>. Fuzzy Bones managed to succeed exactly where Piper failed. Tuning expanded the story in one major way (explaining the Fuzzies' need for titanium on a titanium-poor world) and moved characters along in other ways. To me, the book was a modest success, both as a pastiche of Piper's childlike writing style and as an explainer of some of the peculiarities of Piper's scenario. Now if only Piper had done so well... Of course, Piper was not one to worry too much about inconsistencies or biological improbabilities. In the original story Gunpowder God, he had humans mating (both naturally and successfully) with members of an alien humanoid (human-looking but NOT human) race. I believe it was John Campbell who caught him on this and suggested that he turn the story into a Paratime tale (which became Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen). Hank Shiffman Symbolics, Inc.
Shiffman%SWW-WHITE@SCRC-QUABBIN.ARPA (08/17/84)
My reaction to Fuzzies And Other People was similar to that of Mr. Duntemann, particularly having read the two recent Fuzzy books by other authors: Fuzzy Bones by William Tuning and Golden Dream by <author forgotten>. Fuzzy Bones managed to succeed exactly where Piper failed. Tuning expanded the story in one major way (explaining the Fuzzies' need for titanium on a titanium-poor world) and moved characters along in other ways. To me, the book was a modest success, both as a pastiche of Piper's childlike writing style and as an explainer of some of the peculiarities of Piper's scenario. Now if only Piper had done so well... Of course, Piper was not one to worry too much about inconsistencies or biological improbabilities. In the original story Gunpowder God, he had humans mating (both naturally and successfully) with members of an alien humanoid (human-looking but NOT human) race. I believe it was John Campbell who caught him on this and suggested that he turn the story into a Paratime tale (which became Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen). Hank Shiffman Symbolics, Inc.