When on holidays, I'll often pop into any used book store that I come across for a quick peek at the science fiction shelves. I recently came away from one store with a collection of short stories by Brian Aldiss called Starswarm, and two copies of Asimovs Science Fiction (Feb 2013 & Oct/Nov 2014). Got them to read on the flight home.
The stories in Starswarm all appear to have been written in the late 1950's early 1960's. I found them to be a bit of a mixed bag, not quite to my taste. I am far from being any sort of qualified literary SF critic, so forgive my conclusion if I am wrong, but to me these seemed to be classic 'New Wave' stories. However if the purpose of New Wave is to get one puzzled, then at least one story accomplished it for me: Intangibles Inc.
Minor Spoiler Below.
I thought perhaps there might be some Brian Aldiss fans lurking about in this forum, so I am curious to know if anyone has read this story, and what you thought the meaning of the two china pots was? I read the story, then got my wife to read it, and we both came away with opposite conclusions (my various English teachers would have been delighted). I know this story is going waaaay back, but I figured this might be a good place to ask! Help me! I can't sleep at night! (well, not quite).
I only recall reading one story from Aldiss, the Heliconia trilogy. That was many years ago. I don't remember much except the giant wheel that prisoners had to push (or pull?) for twenty years for a complete rotation, and the feeling that there were unfinished threads left hanging in the various books. Maybe I'll have to re-read that set. And I've seen a couple of Aldiss recommendations in other threads in this forum that have me interested. Seeing as how winter has come very early in our part of the woods, I think I'll have some time to catch up on some of the classics (have to look at the positive side...).
Will
The stories in Starswarm all appear to have been written in the late 1950's early 1960's. I found them to be a bit of a mixed bag, not quite to my taste. I am far from being any sort of qualified literary SF critic, so forgive my conclusion if I am wrong, but to me these seemed to be classic 'New Wave' stories. However if the purpose of New Wave is to get one puzzled, then at least one story accomplished it for me: Intangibles Inc.
Minor Spoiler Below.
I thought perhaps there might be some Brian Aldiss fans lurking about in this forum, so I am curious to know if anyone has read this story, and what you thought the meaning of the two china pots was? I read the story, then got my wife to read it, and we both came away with opposite conclusions (my various English teachers would have been delighted). I know this story is going waaaay back, but I figured this might be a good place to ask! Help me! I can't sleep at night! (well, not quite).
I only recall reading one story from Aldiss, the Heliconia trilogy. That was many years ago. I don't remember much except the giant wheel that prisoners had to push (or pull?) for twenty years for a complete rotation, and the feeling that there were unfinished threads left hanging in the various books. Maybe I'll have to re-read that set. And I've seen a couple of Aldiss recommendations in other threads in this forum that have me interested. Seeing as how winter has come very early in our part of the woods, I think I'll have some time to catch up on some of the classics (have to look at the positive side...).
Will