MRT wrote:
<<They teach Bradbury but they don't teach Sturgeon --
an injustice to Sturgeon.>>
No kidding. Sturgeon has really gotten the short end of the
fame stick over the years.
The very first adult book I received as a child was Groff
Conklin's Big Book of Science Fiction, which included a
Sturgeon story entitled 'Mewhu's Jet'. That was almost fifty
years ago, and that book is still one of my most prized
possessions. There was a Ray Bradbury story in it, too,
entitled "Forever And The Earth".
About thirty years ago, Sturgeon appeared at UNC-Greensboro,
when I was working there in the University News Bureau. I had
the opportunity to have dinner with him and his companion at
the time, Jayne Tannehill, whom he referred to as 'Lady
Jayne'. We discussed at length his concept of 'ask the next
question', which became a major part of my psychological
practice over the years.
I had brought my already dog-eared copy of Groff Conklin's
Big Book of Science Fiction to the dinner, and I asked him to
sign the first page of 'Mewju's Jet'. He did, and included
the symbol for 'ask the next question'. He thumbed through
the book, and said, "Boy, this book has been loved, hasn't
it?"
Then, I brought up 'Sturgeon's Law'.
For those not familiar with Sturgeon's law, it basically says
that "Ninety percent of everything is crap."? Sturgeon
usually just said 'crud' to avoid the censors of the
day.
When I brought up Sturgeon's Law, he nodded, took a drink,
and said, "When I said that, I think I was drunk."
Then he waited a moment, and added, "...And
charitable."
They don't make 'em like that anymore... R
Richard Helms http://www.richardhelms.net
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