Foray into Science Fiction Fandom (15)
Generally, the reading public calls any book with unrealistic or formulaic plots "escapist" fiction, but I use the term to mean fiction in which the character leaves our mundane reality for one in which other laws besides physics apply. Five of the most popular authors along this vein are Stephen Donaldson, Alan Dean Foster, Jack L. Chalker, Piers Anthony, and R.A. Salvatore.
Stephen Donaldson takes my breath away with his poetic descriptions and deeply human characters. He published an anthology of his own favorite short stories (called Strange Dreams, and a MUST READ for anyone interested), several of which made me laugh, cry, or both. His great escapist character was Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, a leper from our world and time who finds that the loam of the other world to which he travels will temporarily cure him.
Most know Alan Dean Foster as an unbelievably prolific author of humorous science fiction. He also published a series (in the seventies?) called Spellsinger in which a stoned college student finds himself in a fantasy world peopled by strangely-named and clothed talking animals. It's amusing and adventurous.
Jack L. Chalker wrote the Dancing Gods books, and to be honest, I don't remember them that well, except that at moments they seemed rather Joycean, especially when it comes to the source of fairy magic (hint: it isn't dust).
Piers Anthony and his Xanth novels will be mentioned in greater detail in an entry about humorous fantasy/science fiction, as will John Myers Myers' Silverlock.
R.A. Salvatore has probably made himself quite a bundle with his Forgotten Realms novels, but a long time ago he wrote a trilogy about a regular dude from this world who finds himself somewhere entirely different on a great quest for a spear (hence the Spearwielder nickname) accompanied by a fairy (can you believe I remember this) named Kelsenellenelvial Gil Ravadry (excuse the spelling. I can totally pronounce it).
Stephen Brust also wrote a significant work on this vein beginning with "The Mirror of Her Dreams," but it wasn't necessarily popular. He remains, however, one of my all-time favorite authors.
Way back when, Andre Norton's Witchworld stories began in a much similary fashion, but they are also no longer en vogue.
I think the signficant unifying thread is the need that the main characters (and readers?) have for distinguishing themselves, which they are unable to accomplish in this world. Popular, unpopular, couth, uncouth, fit, fat, however they begin, they would only be mediocre in the real world, unlike Flash Gordon, who is hero to the galaxies.
As an avid reader, do I also feel this need to distinguish myself? Is it as hopeless for me as it is for them?
Stephen Donaldson takes my breath away with his poetic descriptions and deeply human characters. He published an anthology of his own favorite short stories (called Strange Dreams, and a MUST READ for anyone interested), several of which made me laugh, cry, or both. His great escapist character was Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, a leper from our world and time who finds that the loam of the other world to which he travels will temporarily cure him.
Most know Alan Dean Foster as an unbelievably prolific author of humorous science fiction. He also published a series (in the seventies?) called Spellsinger in which a stoned college student finds himself in a fantasy world peopled by strangely-named and clothed talking animals. It's amusing and adventurous.
Jack L. Chalker wrote the Dancing Gods books, and to be honest, I don't remember them that well, except that at moments they seemed rather Joycean, especially when it comes to the source of fairy magic (hint: it isn't dust).
Piers Anthony and his Xanth novels will be mentioned in greater detail in an entry about humorous fantasy/science fiction, as will John Myers Myers' Silverlock.
R.A. Salvatore has probably made himself quite a bundle with his Forgotten Realms novels, but a long time ago he wrote a trilogy about a regular dude from this world who finds himself somewhere entirely different on a great quest for a spear (hence the Spearwielder nickname) accompanied by a fairy (can you believe I remember this) named Kelsenellenelvial Gil Ravadry (excuse the spelling. I can totally pronounce it).
Stephen Brust also wrote a significant work on this vein beginning with "The Mirror of Her Dreams," but it wasn't necessarily popular. He remains, however, one of my all-time favorite authors.
Way back when, Andre Norton's Witchworld stories began in a much similary fashion, but they are also no longer en vogue.
I think the signficant unifying thread is the need that the main characters (and readers?) have for distinguishing themselves, which they are unable to accomplish in this world. Popular, unpopular, couth, uncouth, fit, fat, however they begin, they would only be mediocre in the real world, unlike Flash Gordon, who is hero to the galaxies.
As an avid reader, do I also feel this need to distinguish myself? Is it as hopeless for me as it is for them?
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