[SFRA-L] dan simmons query

[Sawyer, Andy]

Portions of the text are given to Stapledon/AC Clarke-style cultural screeds that are unremittingly "conservative" in tone and substance.

I’ve not read FLASHBACK but I’m interested by “Stapledon . . .  conservative” – Clarke yes, but Stapledon was associated politically with the Left, although his “cosmic” viewpoint might be seen otherwise. And what was radical-left in the 30s could well be construed as otherwise 70+ years later.

I’ve certainly noted Stapledonian-cosmic themes in some of Simmons’s sf, but I don’t think I was reading for specifically political content when I read him.

--------------------------------
Andy Sawyer
Science Fiction Librarian
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University of Liverpool Library
PO Box 123, Liverpool L69 3DA, UK.

Course Director, MA in Science Fiction Studies.
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From: sfra-l-bounces at wiz.cath.vt.edu [mailto:sfra-l-bounces at wiz.cath.vt.edu] On Behalf Of Easterbrook, Neil
Sent: 05 March 2012 17:37
To: sfra-l at wiz.cath.vt.edu
Subject: [SFRA-L] dan simmons query

Dear Hive Mind--

So I'm writing something abt "libertarian" sf, and one of the things I'm reading is Dan Simmons' newest book, _Flashback_.

Portions of the text are given to Stapledon/AC Clarke-style cultural screeds that are unremittingly "conservative" in tone and substance. (Certainly more "conservative" than "libertarian," at least so far.) Very much like, say, John Ringo's tone and commentary, in such things as _The Last Centurion_.

While I'm always careful to distinguish authors and narrators, consistent patterns across books does indeed indicate something abt authors.

I'm racking my brain, however: while I've read a good portion of Simmons' work--especially the sf books--I can't recall any text that went off on screeds abt contemporary US politics.

Does anyone remember anything in Simmons that's overtly, aggressively, and unequivocally a didactic fiction (or portion thereof) on politics, left, right, or center?


Thanks for yr efforts,
--Neil
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