Lousy Combat Sci-Fi Novels [CLEAN STAMP]

Hiya,

I have to agree with Tom here... I just tried to re-read a few combat
sci-fi novels last month by David Drake and Jerry Pournelle, and I
found them to be so insipid & dull that I just couldn't finish them.
I ended up putting them back on the shelf half-read, with a mental
note to sell them to the local used bookstore.

-- Rick

> Tom Anderson wrote:

***
I just tried to re-read a few combat sci-fi novels last month by David
Drake and Jerry Pournelle, and I found them to be so insipid & dull that I
just couldn't finish them.
***

Well, I've already taken flame for disliking their handling of
characterizations and plot, but on this list, I'm assuming combat descriptions
are more important. Having not finished a single HS, I must say the combat was
at least intriguing, though usually a bit deus ex machina. The weapon and
vehicle descriptions were compelling, or so I thought. Were these at least
your cup of tea?

In comparison, did you enjoy the Dorsai series? Still a bit juvenile, but I
thought the characters were FAR more interesting. And how about subriparine
engineers!

The_Beast

-Douglas J. Evans, curmudgeon

One World, one Web, one Program - Microsoft promotional ad
Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer - Adolf Hitler

> On Mon, 26 Jun 2000 devans@uneb.edu wrote:

> ***

the problem with HS (at least, the first book - i understand that at
least
one later book is different) is that it's a fight between the high-tech,
organised, well-led Hammer's Slammers and the fairly tatty locals. now,
this is part of the point of the book, and stems from Drake's experience in
Vietnam, but i didn't find it made for very good action. ymmv.

> In comparison, did you enjoy the Dorsai series?

i really must get round to reading one of those.

ooh! ooh! the SF society library just got given a copy of 'Voice of the
Whirlwind'! i loved 'hardwired', and then my local library got rid of it, so
i've got it out for the vacation. is VotW as good?

tom

[quoted original message omitted]

On Mon, 26 Jun 2000 08:33:04 -0400, "Rick Rutherford" <Rick@esr.com>
wrote:

> I have to agree with Tom here... I just tried to re-read a few combat

I haven't gone back and read Drake's books. Sometimes it's best to leave your
childhood memories intact. I do remember reading some of his Slammer's books
and finding the characters a bit "lacking" (to put it nicely). There was one
where this non-com took a deep dislike to the officer character, and
proceeded to do everything he could to destroy the character. The officer was
such an obvious "ironman" and the NCO a "straw man" that I almost threw the
book across the room. Okay combat scenarios, though.

Niven and Pournelle have never been great at characters. They do interesting
"good guy heroes" but that's an easy thing. Their minor characters have always
had problems. The minor characters in "Footfall" and "Legacy of Herot"
(particularly women) drive me round the bend. Of course, sci-fi authors
aren't alone in this. Tom Clancy can't write a half decent female character to
save himself...

To be honest, very few combat writers can handle characters. They usually
devolve into cliche and stereotype.