jmike@uokvax.UUCP (03/18/84)
#N:uokvax:5400047:000:1964
uokvax!jmike Mar 15 18:13:00 1984
This is a statement (story?) to defend "The Void Captain's Tale"
which, in my opinion, is its own best defense. However since it can't
be here to speak for itself, I shall attempt the effort. "The Void
Captain's Tale" is a story about the ways and mores of a possible
future society. To be more exact, this story is the conflict of one
man's changing philosophy of life versus that of his society's. This
note/response is prompted by a very surprising previous note giving
warning to avoid this book.
One person claimed the characters in this story to be shallow and
therefore unintersting. However I contend that the author purposely
made these characters to be shallow -- *not* a shallowness of the
ordinary sense but rather of a sense preprogramed to create an impression
of a society full of decadence and meaningless social ideals.
Certainly the plot in this story is shallow! (if you consider
it from an adventure book's point of view). But when one looks at the
book as it was meant to be seen, one finds an encredibly fascinating
interplay of social ideas. This is where the plot lies -- on a level
that some people seem might overlook. Certainly there are some who would
find this style uninteresting, but I would hardly call it weak.
In reading this book, one is first amazed by the complex yet talented
style in which the author writes. Then upon reflection the meaning of
the book settles in like the pleasing aftertasted of a fine wine. It is
rare that one finds an author *capable* of producing such works of
intricate finary and I would warn any reader not to read such a book too
fast lest he lose track of the flow, becoming confused or bored. I
will give this warning. This book is not for everybody. There will be
those who don't understand it and those who have no patience for the
written style. But if you are not limited to this catagory, find a copy
of "The Void Captain's Tale" and see what you are missing!