MovieChat Forums > Masters of Science Fiction (2007) Discussion > Mostly Not Masters and Not great stories...

Mostly Not Masters and Not great stories.

posted 11 years ago by digitalbookworm5678
4 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching the entire 6 episodes. As someone who has read Sci-Fi stories steadily for forty years, I would classify Heinlein as a master of the genre. Both Sheckley and Ellison are excellent writers. Sheckley is considered one of the best short story writers in the genre by many other writers, including Ellison. From '67 to '80 Ellison put out 8 excellent collections of short stories. His story "Jeffty is Five" is one of the greatest short stories ever written, but with no action or special effects it wouldn't go over very big on TV.
Of the other 3 writers Howard Fast was a great mainstream and historical novelist, not really known as a Sci-Fi writer. Same with Walter Mosley, a crime novelist who has dabbled in Sci-Fi. Kessel is at least a prolific short story Sci-Fi writer. Winner of the Tiptree Award, but not IMO a master (yet).
I would have picked some stories from the late 40s to early 60s. Anything that wouldn't necessarily be dated. Some stories that have always stuck with me:
"Rule Golden" by Damon Knight (one weird alien and lots of action)
"Huddling Place" by Clifford Simak (one of many great short stories comprising
his novel "City"
"Or All The Seas With Oysters" by Avram Davidson (really makes you think)
"Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett (a pseudonym of Henry Kuttner and
C. L. Moore)(a story on the same theme as "The Little Black
Bag" by Cyril M. Kornbluth)
"Scanners Live In Vain" by Cordwainer Smith (a pen-name of Paul Linebarger,
far-east advisor to JFK)
"The Weapon Shop" by A. E. Van Vogt (very topical in today's political
environment)
"The Nine Billion Names of God" by Arthur C. Clarke

These are just some of the thousands of good old Sci-Fi short stories that could be easily adapted to half hour to hour long teleplays

It's only with the heart that one can see clearly. What's essential is invisible to the eye.

[–] nephihaha 11 years ago

All white males I note.

Nearly all American, and all writing in English, AFAIK.

Thought science fiction was supposed to be international, not parochial!

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It's not "sci-fi", it's SF!

[–] sticksstoneswwiv 10 years ago

cordwainer smith is great.

[–] digitalbookworm5678 10 years ago

Just a couple of days ago I finished rereading 3 books of Dr. Paul Anthony Linebarger's (Smith's) stories. It's probably been about 25 years since I read them any of them. They're still just as good as ever.
Mother Hitton's Littul Kitton's would make a wonderful short film.

It's only with the heart that one can see clearly. What's essential is invisible to the eye.

[–] psydecar 10 years ago

I was expecting one of those people who only wanted super "hard" Hal Clement type of science fiction, because everything else is apparently "not real sf", but you mentioned some good stuff there.