From: mike99 (mike99@lascruces.com)
Date: Tue Apr 30 2002 - 15:56:25 MDT
At 01:38 PM 4/29/02 -0600, Mike LaTorra wrote:
>Benford
>criticized science fiction novels that end with what he termed a
>"transcendental blowout." He mentioned specific works, including Clarke's
>CHILDHOOD'S END.
>he got Clarke's permission to re-write and extend the storyline in
>Clarke's THE CITY AND THE STARS. I had read the original many years ago and
>absolutely loved it. I read Benford's version and was revolted.
Damien Broderick replied:
Agreed. However Greg's sequel was not to THE CITY AND THE STARS, but to the
simpler novella that had preceded it by a decade, `Against the Fall of
Night'. (Novella and novel were, however, structurally equivalent, with the
same outcome.)
Mike:
Oh, right, I got them confused. I read both works when I was younger, and
then re-read THE CITY AND THE STARS more than once since then. Thanks for
the correction.
Damien:
I blame myself for this disaster; had I been a bit quicker
off the mark, none of this would have happened.
You'll find in Clarke's introduction to their joint volume that I'd sought
his permission to sequel CITY AND THE STARS around the same time, but had
been pipped at the post by Gregory (whose credentials, after all, were
better than mine; he's a professor of physics with expertise in the
mathematics of closed spacetimes). Later, I asked Arthur if I could do it
*right*, now (his commentary suggests that I might be allowed to take my
own shot at the novel in another decade, which has now come and gone);
alas, his ferocious agent refuses to let me through the door.
Mike:
Too bad you didn't get to do the new version, Damien. Unfortunate timing.
Is there anything we can do to convince Sir Arthur to give you the go ahead
now? A letter-writing campaign, perhaps? I fear that due to his advanced
age, Sir Arthur might not be around too much longer to give his blessing to
such a project. And I have no idea how the executors of his literary estate
might feel about the idea.
Damien:
I suppose the sf Greg who came closest to the pure Singularity quill is
Greg Bear, in BLOOD MUSIC.
Mike:
Yes, I agree that Bear's BLOOD MUSIC bio/nano Singularity was very well
done.
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