As always, Stephen broadens my horizons. I've been reading SF for a good 30 years - unsupervised, so to speak. I've known some authors like Baxter since then - but not the Gene Rats movement. I have his channel to thank for rediscovering authors from the 60s and 70s in the context of his reviews or for discovering new current authors (e.g. Chris Beckett, Emma Newman)!
Helix is terrific intro into sf. Great old school sense of wonder adventure. Guardians of the Phoenix was originally a novella written for Mike Ashley's anthology The Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF. It was great. I haven't read the novel yet. Of his work I have read Serene Invasion, Devil's Nebula, Satan's Reach, Deep Future wich is a short story collection, Writer's Life, Helix, and his slim collaboration with Stephen Baxter, Space Time Pit Times Two. Oh yes, and his collection of horror stories, Ghostwritten, that made me sad that he didn't do more horror. I tried his Bengal Station novels, but set them aside. I just couldn't get into them. His short stories with Keith Brooke were also quite good Helix is beign reissued with introduction by Stephen Baxter. He was my least favorite of gene rats, but still very good. Great author.
Another great video....Engineman was the first of his books I read and I thought it was great. I like the way he drops in some cool concepts and tech with little exposition and you're left to get on with it....a little like Delany did with his earlier novels. Whilst he's certainly no Delany, his worldbuilding is very immersive and you do care for his characters. I agree with your thoughts on Helix too....I believe there's a sequel too. You've spurred me on to dig out some more of his works. Awesome Dr Feelgood shirt by the way....
Yes, there is a sequel which I've not read, 'Helix War'. The Feelgood T was a gift bought by a very old friend: were were at a Stranglers gig around 2013 and Wilko was supporting. I was enjoying his set so much when my friend 'went to the bar' and came back with the T for me, so kind!
My only experience with Brown is his debut novel Meridian Days (1992), which I read and wrote about earlier this year having picked up a copy in Hay. It shares a lot of ideas with these later books, as you describe them (artists, a reclusive protagonist, a coastal setting...). The fictional planet Meridian also orbits a real star (Beta Hydri).
I read Brown's 'Bengal Station' novels and really enjoyed them, with the exception of one in which Earth is taken over by benevolent aliens who alter the laws of physics so that it becomes impossible to commit violence. One of the characters, a masochist arms dealer, is driven to desperation by his inability to profit from war and commit suicide. Re Delta Pavonis - Patrick Moore said in one of his science fiction books that it was similar to our own Sun in spectral type, and so possibly could have a habitable planet with its own beings. Who might be watching our Sun, and wondering about the existence of intelligent life here.
I haven't read any Eric Brown books but his name seemed familiar, and I realised why - he wrote the introduction to the Penguin Modern Classics edition of The Man in the High Castle.
Hi Steve, I've been interested in Eric Brown recently too, not actively seeking him out, but if ai stumble across one in the wild I'm nabbing them. Yet to read any! I can't remember now whether it was PS or NewCon but one of em put out a tribute anthology recently.
I read Kings Of Eternity a coupl eof months ago after hearing an episode of the Interzone podcast "Remembering Eric Brown" episode. I enjoyed it immensely. It's not only well written, but the plot pays a very nice homage to golden age space opera. although its hard to talk about that without spoilers. I'm definitely on the lookout for more of his stuff, especially "Kethani" whcih Interzone suggested as another of his best.
Sounds like its well worth a gander . I am getting shades of Ian McDonald ??? Thanks for the gem , will try to seek out in an ever fading( in my land ) genra
Never read Brown but he sounds interesting and will, just finished Sir Launcelot Greeves by Tobias Smollett, loved by both Dickens and Orwell and I . Wrote review on Goodreads, an author sadly neglected today but consumed all his seven novels.
Hello I'm Garyth and living in Western Australia been a science fiction fan since I was 11 favourite writer UK JG BALLARD USA ALFRED BESTER. DECIDED TO GET DEEPER INTO YOUR CHANNEL. WATCHING YOUR CURRENT VIDEO ON Eric Brown read him in the past would love to read starship Summer but the cheapest copy I can find is on Amazon cost 250 pounds! Do u know of another more affordable price anywhere online? If not Iechyd Da. Pps enjoy your time with Michael Moorecock in paris. Read him great living legend.
I've read his "Xenopath" and "Helix", both of which weren't bad, but I preferred the former one. I've also read one of his short stories. He's not a bad author, but he wrote rather a lot of books, and I think you need to be a real fan to read a lot of them. I think he could have written better books, if he hadn't been so prolific.
I agree. The economics of the market and his low commercial profile clearly forced him to write more books, a common thing for genre writers for almost 100 years. I've just finished 'Kings of Eternity' which is easily the finest book I've read by him, review up in a week or so.
As always, Stephen broadens my horizons. I've been reading SF for a good 30 years - unsupervised, so to speak. I've known some authors like Baxter since then - but not the Gene Rats movement. I have his channel to thank for rediscovering authors from the 60s and 70s in the context of his reviews or for discovering new current authors (e.g. Chris Beckett, Emma Newman)!
Likewise. Really provokes curiosity and interest in exploring SF and better understanding its complexities.
Helix is terrific intro into sf. Great old school sense of wonder adventure. Guardians of the Phoenix was originally a novella written for Mike Ashley's anthology The Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF. It was great. I haven't read the novel yet. Of his work I have read Serene Invasion, Devil's Nebula, Satan's Reach, Deep Future wich is a short story collection, Writer's Life, Helix, and his slim collaboration with Stephen Baxter, Space Time Pit Times Two. Oh yes, and his collection of horror stories, Ghostwritten, that made me sad that he didn't do more horror. I tried his Bengal Station novels, but set them aside. I just couldn't get into them. His short stories with Keith Brooke were also quite good Helix is beign reissued with introduction by Stephen Baxter. He was my least favorite of gene rats, but still very good.
Great author.
Great, a whole clutch of new books for the tbr! Thanks for this, Steve. Top video,
Really hard to find here in the USA…i greatly enjoyed the few i have found.
Sounds like a solid read, will make a note. Great review and info. Hope the holiday went well.
Another great video....Engineman was the first of his books I read and I thought it was great. I like the way he drops in some cool concepts and tech with little exposition and you're left to get on with it....a little like Delany did with his earlier novels. Whilst he's certainly no Delany, his worldbuilding is very immersive and you do care for his characters. I agree with your thoughts on Helix too....I believe there's a sequel too. You've spurred me on to dig out some more of his works. Awesome Dr Feelgood shirt by the way....
Yes, there is a sequel which I've not read, 'Helix War'. The Feelgood T was a gift bought by a very old friend: were were at a Stranglers gig around 2013 and Wilko was supporting. I was enjoying his set so much when my friend 'went to the bar' and came back with the T for me, so kind!
My only experience with Brown is his debut novel Meridian Days (1992), which I read and wrote about earlier this year having picked up a copy in Hay. It shares a lot of ideas with these later books, as you describe them (artists, a reclusive protagonist, a coastal setting...). The fictional planet Meridian also orbits a real star (Beta Hydri).
I read Brown's 'Bengal Station' novels and really enjoyed them, with the exception of one in which Earth is taken over by benevolent aliens who alter the laws of physics so that it becomes impossible to commit violence. One of the characters, a masochist arms dealer, is driven to desperation by his inability to profit from war and commit suicide. Re Delta Pavonis - Patrick Moore said in one of his science fiction books that it was similar to our own Sun in spectral type, and so possibly could have a habitable planet with its own beings. Who might be watching our Sun, and wondering about the existence of intelligent life here.
I haven't read any Eric Brown books but his name seemed familiar, and I realised why - he wrote the introduction to the Penguin Modern Classics edition of The Man in the High Castle.
Hi Steve, I've been interested in Eric Brown recently too, not actively seeking him out, but if ai stumble across one in the wild I'm nabbing them. Yet to read any! I can't remember now whether it was PS or NewCon but one of em put out a tribute anthology recently.
I read Kings Of Eternity a coupl eof months ago after hearing an episode of the Interzone podcast "Remembering Eric Brown" episode. I enjoyed it immensely. It's not only well written, but the plot pays a very nice homage to golden age space opera. although its hard to talk about that without spoilers. I'm definitely on the lookout for more of his stuff, especially "Kethani" whcih Interzone suggested as another of his best.
I know there’s some “old new stock”Eric Brown books at a store in my city so now I have an excuse to buy them and enjoy them
Do that!
@@outlawbookselleroriginalupdate: went there and bought seven of them, including a mint “a writer’s life” and “the kings of eternity”
Just looked him up on Storygraph and he was incredibly prolific, not sure how I never heard of him. Another gone too soon.
Look at his own website, a far better source of information if you grow interested in his work.
Sounds like its well worth a gander . I am getting shades of Ian McDonald ??? Thanks for the gem , will try to seek out in an ever fading( in my land ) genra
Never read Brown but he sounds interesting and will, just finished Sir Launcelot Greeves by Tobias Smollett, loved by both Dickens and Orwell and I . Wrote review on Goodreads, an author sadly neglected today but consumed all his seven novels.
Hello I'm Garyth and living in Western Australia been a science fiction fan since I was 11 favourite writer UK JG BALLARD USA ALFRED BESTER. DECIDED TO GET DEEPER INTO YOUR CHANNEL. WATCHING YOUR CURRENT VIDEO ON Eric Brown read him in the past would love to read starship Summer but the cheapest copy I can find is on Amazon cost 250 pounds! Do u know of another more affordable price anywhere online? If not Iechyd Da. Pps enjoy your time with Michael Moorecock in paris. Read him great living legend.
I've read his "Xenopath" and "Helix", both of which weren't bad, but I preferred the former one. I've also read one of his short stories. He's not a bad author, but he wrote rather a lot of books, and I think you need to be a real fan to read a lot of them. I think he could have written better books, if he hadn't been so prolific.
I agree. The economics of the market and his low commercial profile clearly forced him to write more books, a common thing for genre writers for almost 100 years. I've just finished 'Kings of Eternity' which is easily the finest book I've read by him, review up in a week or so.