Posted by Trusty Jules on April 20, 1998 at 04:42:10:
In Reply to: Re: Lyonesse Trilogy posted by The Professor on February 16, 1998 at 00:38:03:
: : I would like to know if anyone else has had this experience. I love the Lyonesse trilogy, it's my favorite high fantasy series. But every time I mention it to die-hard fantasy/SF fans, they SNEER!! Yes, that's right, they sneer! I have been looking for any one who finds this series as fascinating and moving as I do. I hope maybe I've found it. I do not have my own e-mail account at the moment. But I am interested in any one else who wants to rave about this fabulous series with me...
: I think the reason is that most of what is popular is generally, but not always, pretty crappy. It represents the LCD (lowest common denominator). A lot of the fantasy stuff I see at bookstores and have attempted to read is puerile, unimaginative, and drivel, with the same overused boring plot lines plot.
My experience and opinion on the matter is slightly different. The hard SF crowd certainly despises Vance despite the prizes he was awarded. The SF old-guard - Asimoc, Niven c.s. - insist on _SCIENCE_ Fiction. If you consider the various Ringworld books which Niven has written in recent times you'll see what I mean: he writes a book to explain/correct the physics of prior books.
For the rest, Vance is very much a matter of taste. I know virtually no-one with a bland reaction to Vance. It's either: 'I couldn't get through it' or 'I loved it, do you have more'. Aprt from that I agree with The Professor that average tastes seem to un to average quality works
Trusty