From: c9005189@wombat.newcastle.edu.au (OH! WHAT A LOVELY SUMMERY DAY FOR STRINGY GREEN BEANS!!!!!!!)
Subject: Charles Harness Request & Book List Request
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 04:53:41 GMT

						8 October, 1992.


		    ATTENTION - INFO WANTED!!!!!
		    -----------------------------

Hi there folks!!!!

This is the first time that I have ever written to this group, so I hope you
can help me...

Could someone please give me some information on Charles Harness's science-
fiction novel "The Paradox Men" (1953).

I am interested to read this novel, but would firstly like some information
on the book, particularly some info detail on plot and Harness's other books
such as "Firebird", "The Rose" and a book, I, think, called "The Ritornel"
(1968) & any other literature by this author that you believe is worth 
reading.

Also I would appreciate some info on Harness, himself. I know that he hasn't
been a very prolific writer, and his writing has been described by
critic David Pringle as being similar to A.E Van Govt. 

Any incoming info would be most welcome.

Finally, I am after a list of brilliant/very well written science
fiction/fantasy books to read. Any list would be more than welcome.

My favourite science fiction/fantasy writers are:

Mary Gentle       (Particular her "Golden Witchbreed" Series)

Clifford D. Simak (Some novels such as "Ring Around the Sun" etc)

Philip Jose Farmer (particularly the first and second books of "The World of
		    Tiers" Series. The other books in this series are to
		    repetitious, and the writing at times seriously erodes.
		    An enjoyable series all the same.

Peter Grimwood     ("Replay" was an enjoyable novel. Probably one of the best
		    time-slip novels ever written. While there maybe nothing
		    brilliant about Grimwood's writing his ideas received
		    high-praise from me. I particularly like his jokes on
		    Steven Spielberg's films.)

Arthur C. Clarke   (All of Clarke's novels are enjoyable, except for his later
		    collaboration with Gentry Lee, which in my opinion, should
 		    never have happened. Lee's ideas are good, but he is more 
		    experienced at writing astro-technical papers for N.A.S.A.
		    My favourite Clarke novels are the impressive "Rendezvous
   		    With Rama" which has been often compared with Stanislaw
		    Lem's masterpiece "Solaris". I believe that it was wrong of
		    Clarke to write successive sequels to this well-written
		    novel depite at times the wooden characterisation. The
		    ending left the reader wondering of the implications of
		    such a visit and if there would be further visitations by
		    a similar hybernetic planet inhabitated by simple
                    prehistoric micorobic lifeforms, despite the occasionally
     		    dorsal finned shark like creatures which lived in the
		    surrounding acidic waters of the locus. I also loved
		    Childhoood's End & also 2001: A Sapace Oddyssey, even though it is horribly
		    out of date. It still stands up well, all the same. I am
		    eager to read Clarke's latest novel which has been out for
		    some time entitled "The Ghost of the Grand Banks" even 
		    though it isn't really science-fiction.)

Daniel Keyes	    ("Flowers for Algernon". Very enjoyable. The novel was 
		     an expansion on his novella version. This S/F novel really
	 	     plays on one's emotions, particularly during the closing
		     pages. One of the best S/F novels I have read. The novel 
		     deals with intelligence acceleration. Well worth looking
		     at if you haven't read it.)

Michael Moorcock's   (Elric series. A highly enjoyable series. Does anyone know
		      when the "Cornelius Chronicles" is coming back into
		      print? I have been trying to grab a hold of this series
		      for a while now. I haven't checked lately if it's back
		      on the bookstand, but I can't imagine as to why it would
     	              go at of print. I thought that this series was one of
		      Moorcock's most successful series, apart from Elric.)

Raymond E. Feist     (I liked his Magician series, even though it may have
		      been a bit too long and repetitous. I didn't particularly
		      like the last book of the Magician series, as much as I
		      liked "Magaician and "Silverthorn". "Prince of the Blood"
		      was a return to Feist's best. "Faerie Tale" was a great
		      disappointment and was panned by the majority of 
		      critics. "Daughter of the Empire", while being a bit slow
		      and drawn out is a promising work. I think Feist writes
		      best without collaborating with Janny Wurtz, not that
		      she isn't a good writer - she is....)

John Christopher     (I like most of his books. Paticularly, "The Death of
		      Grass" ("No Blade of Grass" - U.S Title). I also liked
		      "The White Mountains Trilogy" and "The Sword of the 
		      Spirits" series which shows of Christopher's literatary
		      abilitity at his best. His best fantasy/S.F series in
       		      my opinion.)

John Wyndham	    ("The Day of the Triffids" is certainly his best work. Very
		      terrifying, even today. I also liked "Chocky", even
		      though it was not as good a book as Wyndham's first 
		      major science-fiction novel. An immensely entertaining
		      and enjoyable writer, even though his themes and writing
		      may often appear at times to be old fashioned.)

Gene Wolfe	    (His "Book of the New Sun/Urth" series is a masterpiece 
		     in my opinion. This series is only for the most patient of
		     S.F readers. On reading the first few pages I was
		     instantly put off. But this was a novel/series that I had
		     heard so much off that I felt that I would have to do
		     some additional reading on the plot of the novel, and very
	   	     soon I discovered that many things in this novel are very
		     dreamlike, very surreal, which helps to add to the
		     intrigue of the series. All of Wolfe's novels are usually
		     very complex to read, and they should be read very slowly
		     for the reader to get the best from them. But, if the
		     reader concentrates he/she will appreciate this series and
		     Wolfe's other novels with a profound admiration. Wolfe's
		     other novel's include "Peace" which is about a dead man's
		     reflection on his previous life on earth, and 
		    "Free, Live, Free" which is a detective style S.F novel,
		     I, believe.)

I shall stop now. I could have included more science fiction and fantasy
writers, but the above are among my most favourite. I would be very grateful,
if readers to this newsgroup could include their own favourite science fiction
novelists as I am after some new, good science fiction writers. Please feel
free to include a blend of classic science fiction writers and novels, as well
as a listing of your favourite contemporary science fiction writers and their
respective novels. Also, feel free to include your favourite fantasy series and
trilogies as well as individual novels as I am always on the lookout for new
and imaginative fantasy literature. By all means, I expect some criticism to
the science fiction writers and the books of theirs I have chosen, as also
to the comments I have included about them and their books.

Please feel free to air your feelings about what I have written and my
suitability of choice. I always admire people who can criticise what others
have said providing they are able to justify their criticisms.

Also, please don't forget to send me info on my initial request regarding
Harness and his novels, particularly, "The Paradox Men" which was also
titled "Flight into Tomorrow", so, I, believe, many years ago.

You may either contact me via my email address, or just be responding to
my message in this newsgrouping.

Emailing would be preferable if you would like direct contact with myself.



						So long,


						Peter Longworth
						University of Newcastle
						Callaghan
						Newcastle, AUSTRALIA.