You should go back and look for my take on The Iron Dream as compared to David R. Palmer's Tracking (also in Analog, and to which the author himself offered a remarkably polite response).
But I do (kinda) take back my words about Sawyer. Nobody ever called Asimov a master-stylist, either — and he by god told some marvellous stories. And so is, and does, Sawyer.
I once described Sawyer's writing as very "workman" like. It's fucntional and tells a good story, but as you say not a metaphor or flashback in sight. I don't know if I have ever read one of his books that wasn't told in straight linear fashion.
Have you read Sawyer's "Flashback"? Its apparently being made into a pilot for ABC according to Sawyer's site. I've read it but never got around to reviewing it.
"Workman like" er, works for me. Wake has four narrative theads (two of which go entirely missing in the magazine version; very unlike the usual Analog serial), but they are all told in a fairly straight, linear manner.
I read the first book in the series, Hominids (also serialized in Analog, but I don't think I read any of the sequels.
I hope to hell NBC's thinking mini-series and not sit-com.
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Date: 2009-01-02 09:27 pm (UTC)Ouch!
I've mixed feelings about Sawyer's writing too, but you have to give the guy credit, he can write and get published with much success.
I (Kinda) Take It Back
Date: 2009-01-03 12:10 am (UTC)But I do (kinda) take back my words about Sawyer. Nobody ever called Asimov a master-stylist, either — and he by god told some marvellous stories. And so is, and does, Sawyer.
Re: I (Kinda) Take It Back
Date: 2009-01-03 02:22 pm (UTC)Have you read Sawyer's "Flashback"? Its apparently being made into a pilot for ABC according to Sawyer's site. I've read it but never got around to reviewing it.
Re: I (Kinda) Take It Back
Date: 2009-01-03 07:49 pm (UTC)I read the first book in the series, Hominids (also serialized in Analog, but I don't think I read any of the sequels.
I hope to hell NBC's thinking mini-series and not sit-com.
Re: I (Kinda) Take It Back
Date: 2009-01-03 08:05 pm (UTC)Not the Neanderthal series.
Re: I (Kinda) Take It Back
Date: 2009-01-03 10:59 pm (UTC)Re: I (Kinda) Take It Back
Date: 2009-01-04 05:39 am (UTC)Meanwhile, been adding a great many SF authors to my Facebook Friends list.