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Robert Heinlein and Zane Grey
Apr. 24th, 2014 10:28 amA while back, Toni Weisskopf of Baen Books released an essay. The gist of the essay was "back in the good old days, we all worshiped at the alter of Robert Heinlein and all was well. Now that we don't, problems will follow."
As it happens, I like Robert Heinlein's stories, and I think he was a good writer. But, folks, he's dead. Been that way for a while, and I for one think it's a good thing we don't all worship at his altar.
See, back in the day, Zane Grey wrote westerns. They were damn good westerns - got made into movies and such. Everybody who read westerns said "if it ain't a Zane Grey western, I ain't buying."
But Zane Grey's dead. Been that way for a while. And when was the last time you walked into a bookstore and saw a section of westerns? Bueller? Anybody? I won't ask when you bought a western.
My point is obvious - westerns got tied to a dead guy, and they died out. If science fiction allows itself to be tied to a dead guy, so will we.
As it happens, I like Robert Heinlein's stories, and I think he was a good writer. But, folks, he's dead. Been that way for a while, and I for one think it's a good thing we don't all worship at his altar.
See, back in the day, Zane Grey wrote westerns. They were damn good westerns - got made into movies and such. Everybody who read westerns said "if it ain't a Zane Grey western, I ain't buying."
But Zane Grey's dead. Been that way for a while. And when was the last time you walked into a bookstore and saw a section of westerns? Bueller? Anybody? I won't ask when you bought a western.
My point is obvious - westerns got tied to a dead guy, and they died out. If science fiction allows itself to be tied to a dead guy, so will we.
