tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post2755183928698102819..comments2024-03-26T21:58:50.501-04:00Comments on MPorcius Fiction Log: 1965 stories by Keith Roberts, William Spencer and Robert PresslieMPorciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15515742639389937221noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-61653584619980415002018-08-29T23:50:04.983-04:002018-08-29T23:50:04.983-04:00Too bad, that doesn't sound like something I&#...Too bad, that doesn't sound like something I'd be eager to read. But thanks for the detailed report!MPorciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515742639389937221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-10329416180123307682018-08-28T03:54:22.717-04:002018-08-28T03:54:22.717-04:00I reread the novel and my synopsis above is incorr...I reread the novel and my synopsis above is incorrect. The second part of the book is an autobiographical account of the childhood and early adult life of the telepath Elizabeth Maynard, and describes a number of dysfunctional relationships. At the end of the piece she is contacted by a gestalt.<br />The third part is from the POV of Rowley, a long-time friend of Jimmy (the protagonist of the first part). After not hearing from Jimmy for some time he receives a letter from him, with an invitation to visit. Rowley goes to Jimmy's pub and find he has a wife, Anne, and three adopted children. Elizabeth Maynard also lives there; all of the group have paranormal powers.<br />This last section takes place against a background of increasing tensions between the major powers, and a number of linked gestalts decide to intervene to prevent a nuclear war: Rowley is sent to London to be their observer. <br />I thought the first part of the novel, though mixed, was quite good; the second part okay, and the third rather meh. There are diminishing returns at work here.Paul Fraserhttp://sfmagazines.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-10888234292178517392018-08-21T14:18:51.151-04:002018-08-21T14:18:51.151-04:00Your summary makes the succeeding two parts sound ...Your summary makes the succeeding two parts sound pretty interesting; telling the story from different points of view is a good idea.MPorciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515742639389937221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-68903427642983483832018-08-20T19:43:07.474-04:002018-08-20T19:43:07.474-04:00Delete the redundant "from another perspectiv...Delete the redundant "from another perspective". Memo to self: do not post immediately before going to bed.Paul Fraserhttp://sfmagazines.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-32724536985895783902018-08-20T19:39:32.314-04:002018-08-20T19:39:32.314-04:00I looked at my old notes (not that they are much ...I looked at my old notes (not that they are much use) and they refer to it as a "telepathy novel". I also say that the second part partially stands on its own, and that the third part is sometimes a little confusing. Not much help. <br />If memory serves, the second novella is from another POV and details some of the same events from another perspective, and the last part is from the viewpoint of the gestalt.<br />I'm going to have to read it again, now :)Paul Fraserhttp://sfmagazines.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-20545209046618668532018-08-19T21:02:58.302-04:002018-08-19T21:02:58.302-04:00This is an interesting theory, as the edition of N...This is an interesting theory, as the edition of <i>New Writings in SF 6</i> with "SERIOUS BUSINESS" on the back was published in 1971, after the publication of <i>Dangerous Visions</i> and <i>England Swings SF</i>, though the first printing of <i>New Writings in SF 6</i> was in 1965, <b>before</b> those iconic New Wave anthologies appeared. Trying to ride the coattails of the much-hyped New Wave is definitely the kind of thing the boys in marketing would try to pull, though! MPorciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515742639389937221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-81953400304764989982018-08-19T20:47:34.878-04:002018-08-19T20:47:34.878-04:00Do the other two parts continue the story of Jimmy...Do the other two parts continue the story of Jimmy and Anne and the town of Warwell-on-Starr?MPorciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515742639389937221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-16682740675404610082018-08-19T20:42:37.601-04:002018-08-19T20:42:37.601-04:00I suspect that "Serious Business" is cod...I suspect that "Serious Business" is code for "New Wave" fiction. Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-10538113745673534922018-08-19T08:57:24.276-04:002018-08-19T08:57:24.276-04:00I own the tripartite novel but was not compelled e...I own the tripartite novel but was not compelled enough by the first third to read the other two parts.... I enjoy Roberts' SF quite a bit but I don't think it's close to his strongest work. Joachim Boazhttps://sciencefictionruminations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259460772864393968.post-8403234880172601822018-08-19T01:57:50.797-04:002018-08-19T01:57:50.797-04:00It’s been a while since I read The Inner Wheel but...It’s been a while since I read The Inner Wheel but it is a 3-part (or 3 novella) novel (or mosaic novel at worst) and not a collection. The story above is the first third or so of the book.Paul Fraserhttp://sfmagazines.comnoreply@blogger.com