Stainless Steel Advice

[yrdeni]

One of my favourite authors, Harry Harrison, died this year and I found myself drawn to Google over lunch to find out more about him.

This article by Neil Gaiman (another of my favourite authors, coincidentally - or perhaps not so coincidentally...), is a very interesting read. Particularly the end page is very relevant to NaNoWriMo: journal.neilgaiman.com/2012/08/harry-harrison.html

Lastly, does Mr. Harrison have any advice for would-be writers?
Well, sure. Firstly -- Forget it kid!

I especially love the section on the last page (second column) when Harry Harrison is talking about one of the Stainless Steel Rat books:

"... and it was meant to say `Who are you, why are you entering our space?' ... Instead I found myself typing `Hello, cutie?' My evil subconscious had noticed that to these things this creature was cute! The whole book changed at that point ... I was laughing as I wrote it!"

I can relate to this, especially during NaNoWriMo, as I'm sure many of you can.

I found the article both inspiring and depressing. Harry Harrison's outlook on the world of Science Fiction writing may leave something to be desired (optimism, perhaps).

Are you writing a story in the Science Fiction genre?

What are you thoughts on the article (which, I should remind you was written a number of decades ago)?

[limebirdwriters]

Um, nope I'm not writing a story in the sci-fi genre, but I do enjoy it! I think Dennis is your man here!

[yrdeni]

Nov 14, 2012 11:20:50 GMT limebirdwriters said:

Um, nope I'm not writing a story in the sci-fi genre, but I do enjoy it! I think Dennis is your man here!

What did you think of the article? Who's your favourite author, LimeBirdBeth, and have you ever read an interview with him/her?

[limebirdwriters]

Honestly it's WAY too long for me to read the whole thing now, I skimmed over bits of it. Hopefully when I've got some more time I'll read over it properly.

Oh that's a tough one, favourite author.. hmm... I honestly couldn't pick one.

For trashy books, I love Charlaine Harris, who is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Those books are addictive. Maybe Terry Pratchett.. I like fantasy and magical stuff like that

I don't know, too hard!!

[yrdeni]

If you only read one page, read the last page. All the good stuff's on there.

Sookie Stackhouse, as in True Blood? Watched most of that series and enjoyed it immensely. Vampires, sex, blood; what's not to like?

[limebirdwriters]

Oki dokies!

Yes! You should read the books, there about ummm 12 of them! They're awesome. However, the story is quite different in the books, more faeries and werewolves!

[bonusparts]

After taking a look at that article, I may have to go back and read the Stainless Steel Rat books again. I haven't done so since university! (Which would make it a long time ago.) I do recall chuckling and smiling through them, though...much like with the Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett books.

Have you read any of the books from either of them? I've always thought Adams in particular holds a rather cheeky optimism for science and future possibilities.

[ottabelle]

My last NaNo was sci fi... but I don't know what I think about anything, honestly. Going to give the article a read now, if I don't fall asleep. I'm dead tired!