On SF

Praise for Thomas Disch:"One of the most remarkably talented writers around."---Washington Post Book World"[Disch] is without doubt one of the really bright lights on the American SF scene."---Fantasy and Science FictionThis collection by the much-loved and lauded science-fiction writer Thomas Disch spans twenty-five years of his career, during which he has supplemented his creative output with reviews and critical essays in publications as diverse as the Nation, the New York Times Book Review, the Atlantic Monthly, and Twilight Zone.Disch's perspectives on his genre are skeptical, novel, and often incendiary. The volume's opening essay, for example, characterizes writers of science fiction as "the provincials of literature." Other essays explore science fiction's roots-Poe, Bradbury, Clarke, Asimov, Vonnegut-as well as modern practitioners such as Stephen King, Philip Dick, Robert Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and William Gibson. Disch entertains and provokes with essays on UFOs, Science Fiction as a Church, and Newt Gingrich's Futurist Brain Trust. Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Madame Blavatsky also get the Disch treatment. Throughout, the writing is lively, agile, and irreverent, exhibiting an incisive honesty that is undiluted by Disch's own attachments as a sci-fi practitioner. On SF will appeal equally to lovers of science fiction and connoisseurs of the finest critical prose. Science Fiction - History and Criticism Cover 1 Copyright page 6 Contents 7 Part One: The Forest 9 The Embarrassments of Science Fiction 11 Ideas: A Popular Misconception 24 Mythology and Science Fiction 29 Big Ideas and Dead-End Thrills: The Further Embarrassments of Science Fiction 33 Dinosaurs versus New Wave versus Cyberpunk 37 Youth, Too Often Callow 40 Part Two: Forefathers 45 Poe's Appalling Life 47 Luncheon in the Sepulcher: Poe in the Gothic Tradition 50 BRAVE NEW WORLD Revisited Once Again 57 A Tableful of Twinkies 60 Sic, Sic, Sic 64 A Bus Trip to Heaven 67 The Doldrums of Space 69 Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) 73 On Asimov Sampler 74 Jokes across the Generation Gap 75 Time, Space, the Limitlessness of the Imagination—and Abs to Die for 80 Part Three: The Bully Pulpit 85 The King and His Minions: Thoughts of a TWILIGHT ZONE Reviewer 87 Talking with Jesus 97 The Labor Day Group 105 1979: Fluff and Fizzles 113 The Feast of St. Bradbury 122 Part Four: Selected Larger Trees 139 A Different Different World 141 Crowley's Poetry 144 Wolfe's New Sun 149 The Champion of Cyberpunk: On Two Works by William Gibson 152 Queen Victoria's Computers 155 Dick's First Novel 158 In the Mold of 1964: An Afterword 168 Part Five: Crazy Neighbors 177 The Village Alien 179 UFOs and the Origins of Christianity 192 Science Fiction as a Church 198 The Evidence of Things Not Seen 206 The Road to Heaven: Science Fiction and the Militarization of Space 213 Speaker Moonbeam: Newt's Futurist Brain Trust 221 A Closer Look at CLOSE ENCOUNTERS 228 Primal Hooting 231 Part Six: After the Future 241 The Day of the Living Dead 243 The Fairy Tale Kingdom of Baghdad 246 SF: Guides to the Ghetto 250 Over the River and Through the Wood 253 Measures of Hanging 256 The Secret Code Language of Bright Kids 258 Double Talk, Double Dutch, Dutch Chocolate 260 Acknowledgments 269 Index 271 science,fiction;,history;,criticism science fiction,history,criticism Pt. 1: The Forest. The Embarrassments Of Science Fiction -- Ideas : A Popular Misconception -- Mythology And Science Fiction -- Big Ideas And Dead-end Thrills : The Further Embarrassments Of Science Fiction -- Pt. 2: Forefathers. Poe's Appalling Life -- Luncheon In The Sepulcher : Poe In The Gothic Tradition -- Brave New World Revisited Once Again -- A Tableful Of Twinkies -- Sic, Sic, Sic -- A Bus Trip To Heaven -- The Doldrums Of Space -- Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) -- Jokes Across The Generation Gap -- Time, Space, The Limitlessness Of The Imagination, And Abs To Die For -- Pt. 3: The Bully Pulpit. The King And His Minions : Thoughts Of A Twilight Zone Reviewer -- Talking With Jesus -- The Labor Day Group -- 1979 : Fluff And Fizzles -- The Feast Of St. Bradbury -- Pt. 4: Selected Larger Trees. A Different Different World -- Crowley's Poetry -- Wolfe's New Sun -- The Champion Of Cyberpunk : On Two Works By William Gibson -- Queen Victoria's Computers -- Dick's First Novel -- In The Mold Of 1964 : An Afterword -- Pt. 5: Crazy Neighbors. The Village Alien -- Ufos And The Origins Of Christianity -- Science Fiction As A Church -- The Evidence Of Things Not Seen -- The Road To Heaven : Science Fiction And The Militarization Of Space -- Speaker Moonbeam : Newt's Futurist Brain Trust -- A Closer Look At Close Encounters -- Primal Hooting -- Pt. 6: After The Future. The Day Of The Living Dead -- The Fairy Tale Kingdom Of Baghdad -- Sf : Guides To The Ghetto -- Over The River And Through The Wood -- Measures Of Hanging -- The Secret Code Language Of Bright Kids -- Double Talk, Double Dutch, Dutch Chocolate. Thomas M. Disch. Includes Index. Praise for Thomas "One of the most remarkably talented writers around." --- Washington Post Book World "[Disch] is without doubt one of the really bright lights on the American SF scene." --- Fantasy and Science Fiction This collection by the much-loved and lauded science-fiction writer Thomas Disch spans twenty-five years of his career, during which he has supplemented his creative output with reviews and critical essays in publications as diverse as the Nation , the New York Times Book Review , the Atlantic Monthly , and Twilight Zone . Disch's perspectives on his genre are skeptical, novel, and often incendiary. The volume's opening essay, for example, characterizes writers of science fiction as "the provincials of literature." Other essays explore science fiction's roots-Poe, Bradbury, Clarke, Asimov, Vonnegut-as well as modern practitioners such as Stephen King, Philip Dick, Robert Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and William Gibson. Disch entertains and provokes with essays on UFOs, Science Fiction as a Church, and Newt Gingrich's Futurist Brain Trust. Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Madame Blavatsky also get the Disch treatment. Throughout, the writing is lively, agile, and irreverent, exhibiting an incisive honesty that is undiluted by Disch's own attachments as a sci-fi practitioner. On SF will appeal equally to lovers of science fiction and connoisseurs of the finest critical prose. Praise For Thomas Disch: One Of The Most Remarkably Talented Writers Around. ---washington Post Book World [disch] Is Without Doubt One Of The Really Bright Lights On The American Sf Scene. ---fantasy And Science Fiction This Collection By The Much-loved And Lauded Science-fiction Writer Thomas Disch Spans Twenty-five Years Of His Career, During Which He Has Supplemented His Creative Output With Reviews And Critical Essays In Publications As Diverse As The Nation, The New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic Monthly, And Twilight Zone. Disch's Perspectives On His Genre Are Skeptical, Novel, And Often Incendiary. The Volume's Opening Essay, For Example, Characterizes Writers Of Science Fiction As The Provincials Of Literature. Other Essays Explore Science Fiction's Roots-poe, Bradbury, Clarke, Asimov, Vonnegut-as Well As Modern Practitioners Such As Stephen King, Philip Dick, Robert Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, And William Gibson. Disch Entertains And Provokes With Essays On Ufos, Science Fiction As A Church, And Newt Gingrich's Futurist Brain Trust. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind And Madame Blavatsky Also Get The Disch Treatment. Throughout, The Writing Is Lively, Agile, And Irreverent, Exhibiting An Incisive Honesty That Is Undiluted By Disch's Own Attachments As A Sci-fi Practitioner. On Sf Will Appeal Equally To Lovers Of Science Fiction And Connoisseurs Of The Finest Critical Prose.