The Letters to the Editor department is intended to be a forum for our readers to express their own opinions and ideas. While we appreciate the many complimentary letters we receive each day, you won't find them on this page. Instead, you will find letters that go beyond or even contradict what we have written, letters that offer a different perspective and provide a different view of science fiction. If you would like to submit a letter, please use our feedback form or send a message to scifiweekly@scifi.com.
-- Craig E. Engler, Editor
Plot is not that important
our review of Ports of Call is well done and for the most part accurate, though you place too much emphasis on the importance of a "central plot" (a common fault of literary criticism). Actually, a plot is simply the course of events, like the course plotted for a sailing vessel, and it need be no more than this to yield satisfying results. Thus, the title Ports of Call precisely characterizes the form of the book--a fictional travelogue. Remember, Henry Fielding's Tom Jones and Cervante's Don Quixote lack "central plots," and yet they are among the greatest works of fiction ever penned. Ports of Call is more than an excellent read; it is a brilliant jewel, as good as anything Jack's ever written, and I've read all his works several times. Someday, when all the hype about "who's the best" is over, Vance will be recognized as one of the very most talented and important writers of fiction in the 20th Century, and an equal of Fielding, Swift, Butler, Dickens.
David Pierce, Jr.
mtnhome@colorado.net
LiS isn't Heinlein or Asimov
just got back from seeing Lost in Space for the second time. Why this movie has earned the ire of movie reviewers everywhere is quite beyond me. It makes no pretense to being the next Solaris or 2001. It is no worse a science fiction film than Star Wars and is a thousand times more human than any of those pictures.
Reviewers: it's Lost in Space, not Heinlein or Asimov. Watch it and have fun with it, because that is all it is for. And all it was ever for!
J.B. Lee
StoOdin101@aol.com
LiS is great for the family
ost in Space for the most part was very entertaining. I agree that the "space monkey" character was a bit much but no more so than the monkey on the original LiS with the "Vulcan ears." As for the characters...William Hurt played a scientist...anyone who has ever been around one would agree that his performance was in character...Mimi Rodgers played a great matriarch when needed...all in all the entire cast portrayed characters that were a great deal more realistic than the "perfect Robinson family" of the original LiS. If you're looking for a Star Trek/Star Wars type of movie then go see one...some one in another comment mentioned that this was a great SF film for the entire family and I couldn't agree more. I would love to see a sequel.
Bokaan
Bokaan@hotmail.com
Disillusioned and ripped off
was a bit surprised to read the gushing commentary on the X-Files Expo. I attended last Saturday in Chicago. First, we didn't get a computer disk as was mentioned by the other attendee. The only disk we got was one for America Online, which I already use. We obviously didn't have anyone offering to take our picture, since we received no disk and were not permitted to bring our own cameras. There were terrible lines formed around everything. I did wait about 45 minutes to get a $4 picture of myself behind Mulder's desk, but I couldn't stomach the four-hour wait to get an autograph. Or even two plus hours to see a short preview of the upcoming movie. I could sit through the entire movie in that amount of time! I left feeling disillusioned and ripped off. I love the show, but this attempt to capitalize on its devoted fans was very poorly done.
Star Nelson
Treeskull@aol.com
What's the deal with Heston's chest?
enjoyed your review of The Omega Man. Coincidentally, I had finally seen it all the way through just last night after it was shown on AMC cable. I agreed with just about all of your observations and chuckled at your mention of the "Action Jackson" type soundtrack, which really bothered me. One other note: While watching the movie, I wondered aloud to my wife about why Heston spent so much of the movie showing off his (I estimated), mid-50's bare chest look. She observed that his conditioning was probably considered in top shape before Nautilus machines arrived. I've always had a warm spot in my heart for Heston, despite his right wing leanings, and I think his Bud lite commercials on the radio are hysterical. Thanks again for your review, it added to my enjoyment of the film.
Brad Hamann
brad@interport.net
Read the book
am glad to see that people are bringing classic science fiction back into the public arena. The movie version [of Richard Matheson's book I Am Legend] starring Vincent Price [The Last Man on Earth] is also worth seeing (a better film [than The Omega Man] I think). However neither film is anywhere near as good as the book. By the way, I look forward to each issue of your magazine. I`m glad I`m not alone in my love for classic horror/SF. At least not as alone as Robert Neville (read the book).
Brian Brothman
broth49@pcom.net
