"We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address
"this particular Heinlein book is not very good either", referring to "The Number of the Beast".
I'll grant you; not his best work. The problem is that the premise undercuts the basis of fiction. Every conceivable fictional work exists as an alternate reality, and the Gay Deceiver can access them ALL. Whatever problem you have, there's a solution SOMEWHEN. Need an incredibly strong, unbreakable wire? Go to a Niven universe and bring home some Sinclair Monofilament. Communications problem? Go borrow a Lensman.
I remember buying that book as a teenager with great anticipation (having read all of his other books and now I got a chance to read a new one!).
The story started off okay but then wandered off the reservation into a morass of conflicting ideas...no central storyline to tie it all together.
But I have always remembered his discussion about the idea that people could personally select where their taxes would be used when they paid for them. I would give anything if I could do that now...
"this particular Heinlein book is not very good either", referring to "The Number of the Beast".
ReplyDeleteI'll grant you; not his best work. The problem is that the premise undercuts the basis of fiction. Every conceivable fictional work exists as an alternate reality, and the Gay Deceiver can access them ALL. Whatever problem you have, there's a solution SOMEWHEN. Need an incredibly strong, unbreakable wire? Go to a Niven universe and bring home some Sinclair Monofilament. Communications problem? Go borrow a Lensman.
I remember buying that book as a teenager with great anticipation (having read all of his other books and now I got a chance to read a new one!).
ReplyDeleteThe story started off okay but then wandered off the reservation into a morass of conflicting ideas...no central storyline to tie it all together.
But I have always remembered his discussion about the idea that people could personally select where their taxes would be used when they paid for them. I would give anything if I could do that now...