steven@qubix.UUCP (Steven Maurer) (02/17/84)
I am sure that there are people out there who hate Heinlien, because of his "right wing" (and sometimes libertarian) slants. However, I might note that Heinlein is hardly atypical in this respect. I have noticed that almost all authors try to fit their own particular brand of politics into their stories, from The Martian Way, up to 1984. What is really terrible is to see a once excellent author, like Heinlein, go bad. A little politics is fine, especially if it is incorporated well into the plot line. But when the author starts to harrangue, that is where is becomes not worth reading. There are some authors that I buy just because they have written the story, and I feel really ripped off when I start reading a real politicized dog. The latest author who has fallen into this pit is Marion Zimmer Bradley. Her Darkover novels have always been written with a bit of "feminine slant" (i.e. the plots center around: women forced to have children, women rebelling against the sexist society they live in, the creulty of men, protagonists who are helpless in their fate, woman/woman relationships, etc.), HOWEVER her latest novel Thendara House really tears it. God what a suck novel. Instead of having the heroine try to choose between her husband, and her honor -- or choose between the Terran or the Darkover culture -- instead, she makes the husband become an absolute caracicature of MCPig'ism. He is set up like a piece of cardboard. He greedily lusts after her womb, and is generally so obnoxious it is hard to believe that she would stay with him for more than 1 chapter. The rest of the book is drooling self-anylisis, streching a 2 chapter plot over 300 pages. I certainly hope that Ms. Bradley gets over her extremism. I know it can be done, even Heinlein has gotten a lot better with his new book Friday. Steven Maurer
jmike@uokvax.UUCP (03/01/84)
#R:qubix:-84900:uokvax:5400043:000:900 uokvax!jmike Feb 22 11:55:00 1984 [] Well I'm a male and I enjoyed Thendara House. As I read the book I took no offense, but then maybe that was because the author wasn't talking about me. Were you like one of the characters in the book? Is that why you took offense? I though that Zimmer wrote an excellent book portraying a clash of cultures. Keep in mind that she isn't necessarily writing about our culture (although I'm not so sure it doesn't fit in many cases). The plot was very well written and really made me think about culture clashes and looking beyond what most of us take for granted. (and i'm not just refering to male-female relationships... i'm refering to thousands of pseudo behaviors that society has created). But I suppose that if you were preoccupied with worrying about your male ego, you might have missed that. mike ...ctvax!uokvax!jmike
steven@qubix.UUCP (Steven Maurer) (03/06/84)
>> Well I'm a male and I enjoyed Thendara House. As I read the > book I took no offense, but then maybe that was because the author > wasn't talking about me. Were you like one of the characters in > the book? Is that why you took offense? No, I guess I just take offense easily. In the same vein, I am unlike any character in any GOR book I have ever looked at, but also take offense at the plastic portrayals of people. The major difference between GOR and Thendra House simply seems to be the thrust of the novels: One creates an absolutely sexist society to revel in sado-mashochism, one creates an absolutely sexist society, to attempt to show that it is no different than our own. Both are such bad writing, they made me barf. > I though that Zimmer wrote > an excellent book portraying a clash of cultures. Keep in mind that > she isn't necessarily writing about our culture (although I'm not > so sure it doesn't fit in many cases). The plot was very well > written and really made me think about culture clashes and looking > beyond what most of us take for granted. (and i'm not just refering > to male-female relationships... i'm refering to thousands of > pseudo behaviors that society has created). It would help Marion Zimmer Bradely, if she ever read any NON-FICTION books on the same subject. Perhaps she might wake up from her fantasy long enough to realise that there are quite a few present day culture clashes, considerably more interesting than her own. More interesting because they are not totally centered around male-female relationships, and because they are REAL. (In Thendara House, not a man from either culture is presented as a loving, caring person; in NONE of her books, does any "good" male protagonist like the society he are living in. -- Perhaps if she (or you) read anything by Fernia about Islamic culture for instance, you might actually loosen up that feminist cultural bigotry that you have. > But I suppose that > if you were preoccupied with worrying about your male ego, you > might have missed that. This is an example of "feminist cultural bigotry". I dislike that preachy book, therefore I am "preoccupied with worrying about" my MALE ego..... Steven Maurer