Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tekecs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!tekecs!patcl From: patcl@tekecs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: aliens in STARTIDE RISING Message-ID: <3504@tekecs.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Feb-84 20:43:29 EST Article-I.D.: tekecs.3504 Posted: Wed Feb 15 20:43:29 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 18-Feb-84 07:04:17 EST Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 40 > "the aliens in STARTIDE RISING are entirely > plausible---not only plausible, but realistically > and distinguishably varied despite the fact that > most of them are presented only in brief sketches. > Some of them may seem less than three-dimensional, > but remember that they are mostly fanatics, mostly > being presented under conditions of considerable > stress, which tends to cause many facets of personality > to disappear in a general haze of aggression. Maybe > you're simply offended by the thought of mankind not > even being considered an equal by the aliens?" 1. I don't see how a fictional character being in a stressful situation is a reason for cardboard characterization. The level of the author's craftmanship should not depend on the particular situation the author has invented. Now maybe if the *author* is under conditions of stress... 2. Smart aliens, dumb aliens, stuck-up aliens...any kind of aliens that are believable can be interesting. I'd hardly take personal offense because a fictional character had attitudes I didn't like. 3. Brin uses a technique for creating aliens which is usually associated with comic books or bad 1950's space operas; that is, make up a lot of strange words and throw them together to get something that sounds "weird" and "beyond human comprehension"... I mean, if the Xyzerbletch just rotated through a Quantumized Hyperchronic Field into a 0-dimensional warp, then we must be talking about some pretty alien aliens, right? I prefer a little less arm waving and more solid imagination; ie., something very strange but obviously well thought out and believable. Pat Clancy