Re: (Worst) He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad

In article <v2kpno$1651a$2@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:

On 21/05/2024 08.08, James Nicoll wrote:

He Walked Among Us by Norman Spinrad
 
Can the comedian from tomorrow avert dystopia and save a disgruntled
SF author's ailing career in the process?
 
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/pass

>
I always have concerns about stories featuring authors whose careers
are on the skids; especially when they're written by authors whose
careers were on the skids.

It's kind of depressing to consider authors like Silverberg, Brunner,
Spinrad, and Disch--and no doubt others--who were willing to put in
the effort to produce ambitious works, only to be rewarded with
disppointing or flat-out awful sales. In Brunner's case, in two
separate episodes. In the case of Disch, to have one's big success
be a kid's book.

Gene Wolfe seems to have escaped that trap. I wonder how?

Silverberg briefly retired, then returned with skillful pablum.
Brunner... well, I won't get to that part of his career until August.

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