John Brunner had the chance to become the next big name in science fiction, but he disappeared for a lot of years, slowing his career and eventually bringing it to a halt before his death.
It's tough to make a shift in mid-career successfully. But it tends to demonstrate why it's a bad idea to chase the success of others rather than making your own way as best you can.
I don't think Brunner was ever going to be the next Heinlein, though. His books aren't bad, but they are somewhat overrated. I read a number of them back in high school and always found them to be a bit on the bland side despite the praise for them. I'd say he was low second-tier or high third-tier in the SF ghetto. Zelazny and Lee were both better writers who failed to break through to the mainstream.
The books Brunner wrote that I like best are Stand on Zanzibar, which I've read a half a dozen times and The Sheep Look Up. Though I've read several others, I can't say I remember them now.
I read Polymath and enjoyed it, then found Total Eclipse and the depressing ending turned me off to Brunner. I don't think I have read anything from him since.
His earlier work has a pulp energy to it: the stories that made up INTERSTELLAR EMPIRE, the three Zarathustra Refugee novels including SECRET AGENT OF TERRA. I have heard his last stories in WEIRD TALES are quite good.
It's tough to make a shift in mid-career successfully. But it tends to demonstrate why it's a bad idea to chase the success of others rather than making your own way as best you can.
I don't think Brunner was ever going to be the next Heinlein, though. His books aren't bad, but they are somewhat overrated. I read a number of them back in high school and always found them to be a bit on the bland side despite the praise for them. I'd say he was low second-tier or high third-tier in the SF ghetto. Zelazny and Lee were both better writers who failed to break through to the mainstream.
The books Brunner wrote that I like best are Stand on Zanzibar, which I've read a half a dozen times and The Sheep Look Up. Though I've read several others, I can't say I remember them now.
Two excellent books that still feel relevant. I couldn't make it through Shockwave Rider, for some reason.
I read Polymath and enjoyed it, then found Total Eclipse and the depressing ending turned me off to Brunner. I don't think I have read anything from him since.
At their time, Shockwave Rider and Stand on Zanzibar were unlike anything else in print.
Today, they’re not as impressive, but that’s because everyone stole from them.
His earlier work has a pulp energy to it: the stories that made up INTERSTELLAR EMPIRE, the three Zarathustra Refugee novels including SECRET AGENT OF TERRA. I have heard his last stories in WEIRD TALES are quite good.
I've read a lot of Brunner but never heard of this book before. I bought a used copy off of Amazon as the book was never converted to an eBook.
"Shockwave Rider" was very bland and solidly "70s" in tone.
Some interesting concepts, but overall, 70s beige.
Fascinating.
Great write up. I'd not heard of him until I found Stand on Zanzibar in a local tiny library. Next up on my read list. 👍