Charles Stross hates TNG, B5 and everything else

[Jonas]

By the way I met him at a con 2 months ago and he does not strike me as being that stupid or arrogant.

Well, just because he's totally pretentious and arrogant when it comes to this doesn't mean he's a prick in every other situation. Hell, I agree with him on quite a few things... but judging an entire medium without a single shred of evidence has made me lose all respect for his reasoning abilities, and undermined everything else he says or writes.

[babylonlurker]

Well, just because he's totally pretentious and arrogant when it comes to this doesn't mean he's a prick in every other situation. Hell, I agree with him on quite a few things... but judging an entire medium without a single shred of evidence has made me lose all respect for his reasoning abilities, and undermined everything else he says or writes.

Jonas,

Agreed - the sample is *by far* too small.

I could suspect that the piece he wrote there is meant to provoke a debate on the subject. I am working on my own response and may add it this week end.

[jal]

while he has some valid points as regards Trek (only bit i have in common with him) i have never heard of Stross before and i will likely never hear of him again.

[Jonas]

while he has some valid points as regards Trek (only bit i have in common with him) i have never heard of Stross before and i will likely never hear of him again.

Oh, I agree that Star Trek has quite a few problems. But the entire discussion seems to be a rejection of all the principles of art and imagination.

I imagine that Stross, upon hearing JMS's line about ships travelling at the speed of plot, would probably start frothing at the mouth.

[Doom Shepherd]

while he has some valid points as regards Trek (only bit i have in common with him) i have never heard of Stross before and i will likely never hear of him again.

Indeed. I read the article's title, thought "who?" and that told me pretty much all I needed to know about his opinion, right there.

And going by Mr. Stross's logic, that's entirely correct.

[babylonlurker]

Indeed. I read the article's title, thought "who?" and that told me pretty much all I needed to know about his opinion, right there.

And going by Mr. Stross's logic, that's entirely correct.

And - apparently , mo matter what anyone says he does seem to twist it into something he does not like . I realised the things I had to say have essentially already been said, so I think I will drop the comment I had in mind - maybe a very short version ...

All his complaints about Star Trek are, to a certain extent, valid, and all of his concerns (expressed in his blog entry) have been dealt with by B5.

Still - my main complaint to what hesays is the same as most people here, he judges something he does not know, and apparently he will not budge ..

It is ironic that after having stated he does not like "space opera", he has actually written one, albeit with a rather nice twist.

Jan : Even if we could not agree with him re. B5, I have read one of his novels (said space opera) and I liked the story. Do not make the same mistake as we accuse him of ... I have a few of his other books and plan to read at least part of that - but for now I consider other books more interesting, so his will be on the back-burner here.

[Jan]

Jan : Even if we could not agree with him re. B5, I have read one of his novels (said space opera) and I liked the story. Do not make the same mistake as we accuse him of ... I have a few of his other books and plan to read at least part of that - but for now I consider other books more interesting, so his will be on the back-burner here.

Good point, Jan. Really, though, I'm much less into 'hard' SF the last few years. I'm sure there are many examples otherwise (heck, Heinlein who got me into SF in the first place!), but I often find the characterizations in that kind of book lacking. So while it made a good insult, it's not as if I'd have been likely to encounter his writing anyway.

Jan

[babylonlurker]

Good point, Jan. Really, though, I'm much less into 'hard' SF the last few years. I'm sure there are many examples otherwise (heck, Heinlein who got me into SF in the first place!), but I often find the characterizations in that kind of book lacking. So while it made a good insult, it's not as if I'd have been likely to encounter his writing anyway.

Jan

No problem Jan,

I am doing a bit of a broader SF reading/viewing at the moment, I think the next reading project is likely to be the Hyperion series, but, as I see it, B5 will remain my fav story for a while - it is just hard to beat.

[Jonas]

You know, it's hilarious how Stross and all these other people make such a fuss about the horrible science errors, when the show has so many fans at NASA... same goes the film Moon, and other stuff they gleefully bashed.

I wonder... who's got a better grip on the physics, Charles Stross or JPL?

[babylonlurker]

You know, it's hilarious how Stross and all these other people make such a fuss about the horrible science errors, when the show has so many fans at NASA... same goes the film Moon, and other stuff they gleefully bashed.

I wonder... who's got a better grip on the physics, Charles Stross or JPL?

From all the fuss - Charles Stross, it would seem ...

[Jonas]

In the end, what matters is that we learn from this event, and expand our vocabulary:

http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/2009/10/18/stross-to-v/

[babylonlurker]

In the end, what matters is that we learn from this event, and expand our vocabulary:

http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/2009/10/18/stross-to-v/

I love that one, Jonas,

I will certainly link to it when I make my own blog entry on the subject.

Can I assume it should be for general use (iow do you mind if I cite the whole thing) ?

"To stross or not to stross - that is not even a question"

[Jan]

^^ Very good. Only thing is, I don't think that it's worth immortalizing.

*Thank You* for finding the entire Ellison quote, though. *That's* worth immortalizing!

Jan

[Jonas]

Can I assume it should be for general use (iow do you mind if I cite the whole thing) ?

Of course, feel free.

^^ Very good. Only thing is, I don't think that it's worth immortalizing.

I think it fits perfectly with bowdlerize.

*Thank You* for finding the entire Ellison quote, though. *That's* worth immortalizing!

Jan

It is most delightful, isn't it?

[babylonlurker]

Of course, feel free.

Thank you

...

It is most delightful, isn't it?

Yes, it is.



I just noticed the worst generalisation of them all in StrossÆ blog post (I did not notice at first because it was in paranteses) :

ômodern audiences want squids in space, with added laserö

WOW !!!! talk about a sweeping generalisation, the implied denigrating remarks about B5 pale in comparison.

(I am quite well aware of his reference)