Ravening beams

[perlmonger]

Tenser, said the Tensor analyses Doc Smith’s usage of language in the Lensmen series. Lovely stuff, though I would disagree that the first two in the series are “lesser prequels”.

It’s probably getting on time to add the whole lot to my to-read heap again.

Comments

[ccomley.livejournal.com]

Yikes. What is it about this ghastly ghastly prose that people seek to read it - and then read it again?

[perlmonger.livejournal.com]

I'm really not quite sure, but something there is. There's a sort of special charm to its particular variety of awfulness that sucks at me every 12 to 18 months or so; a bit like a pressor beam sucks at a negasphere, really.

What's truly impressive is that he managed to insert a parody of space opera right into the heart of one them. I mean, quite apart from the rest of the book.

[ex-stevewpal562.livejournal.com]

I'll stick with the Foundation series. Thank you.

[elimloth.livejournal.com]

I vry much liked the Lensman series (and the Skylark series too). I am afraid, though, that a revisit of these wonderful novels might sully my fond memories of the expanse of places brought on by Bergenholm drive; will the prose endure the test of time? Or, shall I watch Farscape?