From: "Strong, Lee" <StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL> To: "'WSFA members'" <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net> Subject: [WSFA] Re: So Many Universes, So Little Time Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 11:24:10 -0400 Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net> Concerning human "elves", I read about the condition in _Newsweek_ magazine's Medical section last year or so. Unfortunately, I do not recall the name of the condition or the date of the article. There are physical and mental effects. The primary physical effect distorts the head slightly, elongating the face, which gives the traditional view of elves as humanoid but not quite human. (The movie _Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring_ suggested this view with makeup, tying the elven characters' hair back and camerawork.) The mental effects include disinterest in mundane matters and fascination with music, again, characteristics attributed to Norse elves [and at least some fans!]. The article specifically connected the condition with elfinkind. There was no mention of any pointed ears, but that's easily explained by long hair partially obscuring the ears. Concerning multiple universes, I highly recommend the website "www.uchronia.com" for a comprehensive listing of alternative physical universes and alternative histories on one 20 page list. Every listing is a button with a fuller reference to the book or other media that describes the alternative. Utopia for us alternative history freaks! Lee/3/Right -----Original Message----- From: Erica VD Ginter [mailto:eginter at klgai.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 11:11 AM To: 'WSFA members' Subject: [WSFA] Re: So Many Universes, So Little Time I also liked it, although not as much as some of his other books. The commentary on doctorates in education is spot on! I liked "I Will Fear No evil" better, but as LeeOTR says about TNOTB, sometimes the sexuality gets in the way of the story. What's this genetic condition that approximates elves? I'd love more details. Erica who has enough problems handling one universe -----Original Message----- From: Strong, Lee [mailto:StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 8:28 AM To: 'WSFA members' Subject: [WSFA] So Many Universes, So Little Time Well, first, the conflict of interest warning: I'm working on a vast spacetime scheme of my own that goes Heinlein one or two better so I might not be the best critic. On the other hand, I regard him as one of my three most favorite authors, so maybe it balances. I liked much of _The Number of the Beast_ (TNOTB) but disliked many of the details. The basic concept of universe hopping is a big favorite of mine and entering fictional worlds is another favorite. If you assume a sufficiently large universe of universes, you can theoretically find a universe that matches any arbitrary criteria allowed by the physical laws of the universe of universes. Since scientists recently described an odd genetic disorder that causes humans to approximate Norse elves, a fairyland somewhat like Oz is theoretically feasible. More than one source identifies Oz with Australia including an old issue of _The WSFA Journal_. One complaint that I have at this point is that the characters did not explore any of the alternate universes in any detail except for the rather boring Anglo-Russian Mars-ten. I would have prefered a plot in which the lead characters had a more significant impact on the various universe, perhaps by introducing helpful tools and ideas. Surely the Lensmen would have benefited from integrated circuit technology! Sidebar: I recommend avoiding Philip Jose Farmer's _A Barnstormer in Oz_ which rationalizes the alternate universe of Oz in SF terms, but utterly loses the flavor that makes Oz Oz. Never heard of Edgar Eager's _Seven Day Magic_. I had three major problems with TNOTB, which I also had with much of Heinlein's later work. First, I lost willing suspension of disbelief when he described his time-space twister technology. Applying pressure on gyroscopes from four axes would simply result in a crushed mass of metal, not higher dimensional transitions. And I *really* choked on the idea that universe jumping is energy cost free. Further, the fact that the characters jump to their literary favorite universes rather than random universes strikes me as too cutesy by half. I would prefer to see them explore a number of universes before realizing that they can focus on favorites. Second, the character development was not my cup of tea in several areas. While I have experienced similar arguing over command relationships while playing Dungeons & Dragons, it struck me as stupid that the Carter-Burroughs family of geniuses would continue arguing for over 100 pages <I counted> while in life & death situations. The sexuality of the Long Family is not my cup of tea and I'll leave it at that. Third, there's no resolution to the main plot. The "Black Hats" are introduced as the critical threat but never effectively dealt with nor did they play any special role in the main plot of the book as it developed. Not good writing IMHO. On the other hand, it does seem to be self consistent in terms of the book in which the universe of universes is a Myth of Myths. If you want a review of Heinlein's TNOTB, I give it three stars our of five for great concept but poor execution. -LS -----Original Message----- From: Samuel Lubell [mailto:lubell at cais.com] Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 11:42 PM To: WSFA members Subject: [WSFA] Re: Are You An Islar or Islata? I'm probably forfeiting any claims to being a good judge of literary merit but I *liked* _Number of the Beast_. The idea of being able to enter your favorite books fascinated me as a kid reading Edgar Eager's _Seven Day Magic_ and seeing Heinlein's take on Oz was fascinating. I never understood why the book was so hated. Now _I Shall Fear No Evil_ is a different story altogether.