nathan@orstcs.UUCP (01/09/84)
#N:orstcs:11600026:000:1506
orstcs!nathan Jan 7 17:09:00 1984
Definitive comments on Tea With the Black Dragon:
Ms McAvoy is definitely a clever writer, quite good at
describing characters and conversations. But did none
of you who read it notice that the plot was almost
identical to every hack romance ever written?
On the first two pages we learn who's She is, and who
He is. Shortly thereafter some character warns Her
that He's dangerous. That they would both end up
in love, and running off with no responsibilities, was
never in doubt.
The sf angle, with microcomputer hackers involved, was never
more than a prop. The role could have been filled as well
by stock brokery or pharmaceuticals. Even as a prop, it didn't
wash; why didn't she have it proofread by someone who knew
the field?
For all that, the book works anyhow. I look forward to seeing
more of Ms McAvoy's work, as there did seem to be a great deal
of originality in TWtBG, and I expect to see more in later works.
The more she breaks away from formula plot devices and phony
props, the better she'll be.
------------------------------------------------
from the vicious cycle of:
>>----->>-------------( Nathan C. Myers )-----------------\
/ |
| ...!decvax!tektronix!ogcvax!hp-pcd!orstcs!nathan |
| nathan.oregon-state@RAND-RELAY |
\___________________________________________________/