Making Light :: Which SF writer are you? :: comments http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#comments Language, fraud, folly, truth, history, and knitting. Et cetera. en Fri, 13 Dec 2002 09:38:09 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.34-en Which SF writer are you? Yes, it's another one of those dumb tests, if not quite as dumb as some of them: Which SF Writer... Yes, it's another one of those dumb tests, if not quite as dumb as some of them: Which SF Writer... http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html Which SF writer are you? -- comment #1 from John Farrell comment from John Farrell on 13.Dec.02 Hmm, I haven't taken the test yet (linking over noew), but I like to think of myself as a mix of James Blish (er, without his reported sympathy for fascism, that is...)and Larry Niven.

:)

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 9:38 AM by John Farrell</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13191 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13191 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 09:38:09 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #2 from John Farrell comment from John Farrell on 13.Dec.02 Okay...so, I'm EE "Doc" Smith...? I was close, huh?

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 9:41 AM by John Farrell</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13192 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13192 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 09:41:14 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #3 from Dorothy Rothschild comment from Dorothy Rothschild on 13.Dec.02 I'm William Gibson?!

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:04 AM by Dorothy Rothschild</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13193 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13193 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:04:41 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #4 from John Owen comment from John Owen on 13.Dec.02 Hmm, I came out as Stanislav Lem, which surprised the hell out of me, but sort of makes sense -- Maybe.
Rastus

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:05 AM by John Owen</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13194 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13194 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:05:59 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #5 from John M. Ford comment from John M. Ford on 13.Dec.02 Apparently I am Hal Clement, which I think would amuse Harry Stubbs no end.

Actually, I thought I was (for this particular value of the verb) Chip Delany, except for, well, that, and that, though not necessarily that, and Iva. But I'm not sure he's an available answer and I'm not sure I want to see the generative questions therefor.

And Ayn Rand is a science fiction writer in the same way that Poli-Grip is a toothpaste.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:10 AM by John M. Ford</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13195 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13195 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:10:20 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #6 from David Moles comment from David Moles on 13.Dec.02 I also came up Hal Clement, which really tightens the screws on me to finally get around to reading Mission of Gravity.

I had a go at trying to get the thing to come up with Chip Delany, but the best I could manage was John Brunner. (Not bad, though.)

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:19 AM by David Moles</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13196 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13196 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:19:00 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #7 from David Moles comment from David Moles on 13.Dec.02 Mr. Ford, I am going to treasure that description of Ayn Rand forever.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:20 AM by David Moles</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13197 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13197 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:20:49 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #8 from Iain J Coleman comment from Iain J Coleman on 13.Dec.02 I got Heinlein, but I'm going to pretend I got Bester.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:24 AM by Iain J Coleman</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13198 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13198 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:24:51 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #9 from Christopher Hatton comment from Christopher Hatton on 13.Dec.02 I'm Ursula K. LeGuin, which pleases me more than I understand.

And yes, Mr. Ford, that description of Rand is not nailed down.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 11:02 AM by Christopher Hatton</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13199 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13199 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 11:02:18 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #10 from Greg van Eekhout comment from Greg van Eekhout on 13.Dec.02 I'm Hal Clement. Half the people I know are Hal Clement. And I so wanted to be Ursula K. LeGuin.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 11:17 AM by Greg van Eekhout</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13202 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13202 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 11:17:01 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #11 from Erik V. Olson comment from Erik V. Olson on 13.Dec.02 We can test this! T -- call all the ones that are still with us, and see what their answers are, and see if they are really them.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Benford, you're really Hal Clement."

(Call it abusing editorial privledge for the sake of science. Or something.)

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 11:33 AM by Erik V. Olson</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13203 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13203 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 11:33:35 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #12 from Charlie Stross comment from Charlie Stross on 13.Dec.02 I'm Arthur C. Clarke, apparently, and Feorag is William Gibson. But the really weird thing is that Ken MacLeod came out as ...


... wait for it ...

Ayn Rand!

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 12:03 PM by Charlie Stross</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13204 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13204 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:03:42 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #13 from Emmet comment from Emmet on 13.Dec.02 I would appear to be Ursula LeGuin too. If that's so, I hope I can get to be a pre-Always Coming Home Ursula LeGuin. I'm a bit peeved with some of the questions - question 2, frex, could really do with an "all of the above bar the first and last" option - which would I think have applied rather well to Dr. Asimov for one - and question 5 feels orthogonal to anything sensible I could say on the subject.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 12:10 PM by Emmet</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13205 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13205 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:10:08 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #14 from Stefan Jones comment from Stefan Jones on 13.Dec.02 Huh.

Apparently, I'm James Tiptree Jr., AKA Alice Sheldon.

There go my dreams of being the new Raymond Z. Gallun, (AKA Ramona Aloyisius Garboyne III.)

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 12:23 PM by Stefan Jones</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13206 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13206 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:23:49 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #15 from Adam Rice comment from Adam Rice on 13.Dec.02 Somehow I could just tell that I'd be William Gibson before I was halfway through...And so I am.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 12:28 PM by Adam Rice</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13207 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13207 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:28:41 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #16 from Paul Riddell comment from Paul Riddell on 13.Dec.02 I got Stanislav Lem. And here I was, hoping that I'd get someone cool, like John Shirley or Ernest Hogan. Ah well.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 12:58 PM by Paul Riddell</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13208 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13208 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:58:26 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #17 from Arthur D. Hlavaty comment from Arthur D. Hlavaty on 13.Dec.02 I'm happy with mine: Isaac Asimov.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 1:14 PM by Arthur D. Hlavaty</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13209 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13209 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 13:14:59 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #18 from Mary Kay comment from Mary Kay on 13.Dec.02 I think this is all my fault. I ran across the test on Live Journal and posted it to RASFF where Patrick saw it and seems to have passed it on. No doubt others are doing the same. Wow, I've never been a virus before.

I turned out to be William Gibson myself. But then I went back and changes several of the questions where I had trouble choosing to my other possible choice and turned out to be Ursula LeGuin. An interesting combination.

I also went through choosing what I thought of as the Pournelle answers and ended up with Mickey Spillane! The test maker avers he uses 'futuristic elements'.

Teresa: I had said I went through answering as I thought Jordin would and got Hal Clement. Last night he got back fromt he freezing wilds of Conn. and took the test, and sure enough, Hal Clement.

MKK

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 1:22 PM by Mary Kay</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13210 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13210 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 13:22:37 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #19 from Avram comment from Avram on 13.Dec.02 I'm another James Tiptree Jr. I linked to this on my LiveJournal on Dec. 6th, after seeing it on Bruce Baugh's LJ. Don't know where he got it from.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 1:42 PM by Avram</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13212 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13212 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 13:42:12 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #20 from Jane Yolen comment from Jane Yolen on 13.Dec.02 Hal Clement here, though with one change I was Asimov. Go figure. I wanted to be Le Guin. In my dreams I am her.

Jane

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 1:54 PM by Jane Yolen</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13213 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13213 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 13:54:24 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #21 from Myke comment from Myke on 13.Dec.02 I got Mickey Spillane, who I've never even heard of before.

If I had my druther's I'd be China "it-boy" Mieville, but I suppose he's more Weird Fiction (as he puts it) than SF.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 1:56 PM by Myke</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13214 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13214 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 13:56:44 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #22 from Adrienne Martini comment from Adrienne Martini on 13.Dec.02 Just for the record, Delany is possible. And, it would seem, I am he.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 2:11 PM by Adrienne Martini</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13215 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13215 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 14:11:36 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #23 from Mark Bourne comment from Mark Bourne on 13.Dec.02 Another Hal Clement here. Now I'll never eat lobster without thinking of Mesklinites.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 2:25 PM by Mark Bourne</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13216 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13216 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 14:25:49 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #24 from Derryl Murphy comment from Derryl Murphy on 13.Dec.02 I'm John Brunner. Karl Schroeder ended up as Ursula Le Guin (she and Tiptree are the only women I've heard of on the list), Candas Jane Dorsey was Delaney, Peter Watts was Vonnegut - he was disappointed he wasn't Brunner.

D

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 3:36 PM by Derryl Murphy</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13217 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13217 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 15:36:16 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #25 from Scott Janssens comment from Scott Janssens on 13.Dec.02 I'm Frank Herbert. That's kind of nice since Dune is my favorite novel. Here's a list of the authors possible:

a: Isaac Asimov
b: Alfred Bester
c: Arthur C. Clarke
d: David Brin
e: Octavia E. Butler
f: Philip Jose9 Farmer
g: Gregory Benford
h: Frank Herbert
i: Samuel R. Delany
j: Jerry Pournelle
k: Mickey Spillane
l: Ursula LeGuin
m: Stanislav Lem
n: William Gibson
o: Olaf Stapledon
p: Philip K. Dick
q: Hal Clement
r: Robert A. Heinlein
s: E.E. "Doc" Smith
t: James Tiptree, Jr.
u: Jules Verne
v: Kurt Vonnegut
w: H.G. Wells
x: Cordwainer Smith
y: Ayn Rand
z: John Brunner

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 3:47 PM by Scott Janssens</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13218 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13218 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 15:47:26 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #26 from Greg van Eekhout comment from Greg van Eekhout on 13.Dec.02 Mickey Spillane wrote SF?

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 4:50 PM by Greg van Eekhout</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13219 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13219 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 16:50:19 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #27 from Graydon comment from Graydon on 13.Dec.02 Oh, well, I'm John Brunner, then.

(The answsers page wouldn't load, but the letters show up in the URL.)

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 5:18 PM by Graydon</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13220 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13220 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 17:18:50 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #28 from John M. Ford comment from John M. Ford on 13.Dec.02 I can't think of anything sfnal by Spillane -- he wrote a children's book (about pirates. "'Arr,' she said huskily, her cutlass peeling off like barnacles.") There might have been a short story or two in his pulp career. The alternative is to imagine that the test designer confused him with John D. McDonald or Donald Westlake, which is an extremely big imagine with Cadillac tailfins.

Porquoi c'est pas des Jules Vernes?

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 5:19 PM by John M. Ford</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13221 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13221 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 17:19:09 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #29 from Kate Nepveu comment from Kate Nepveu on 13.Dec.02 I don't _like_ cyberpunk. Why am I William Gibson?

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 8:30 PM by Kate Nepveu</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13223 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13223 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 20:30:15 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #30 from Paul Riddell comment from Paul Riddell on 13.Dec.02 Could be worse, Kate. You could be Bruce Sterling. Or Terry Brooks.

]]> <p>Posted December 13, 2002 10:08 PM by Paul Riddell</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13224 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13224 Fri, 13 Dec 2002 22:08:07 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #31 from Mike Kozlowski comment from Mike Kozlowski on 14.Dec.02 Oddly enough, I appear to be the only David Brin around...

Except for the actual one, I mean.

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 12:01 AM by Mike Kozlowski</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13225 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13225 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 00:01:10 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #32 from Graham Sleight comment from Graham Sleight on 14.Dec.02 And I'm Samuel R. Delany as well. (Changing two answers made me Gregory Benford - go figure.) Shame there's no Lionel Fanthorpe option.

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 12:56 AM by Graham Sleight</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13227 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13227 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 00:56:51 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #33 from Robert "Stanislaw" L comment from Robert "Stanislaw" L on 14.Dec.02 And i so wanted to be Philip K. Dick.
Spillane had a story in one of the earliest issues of Fantastic. I haven't read it, but I believe it's sort of a Mike Hammer battles ghouls kinda thing. And there's the glowing suitcase in Kiss Me, Deadly (the film, at least).
Actually, though, Spillane's universe is such a total product of his imagination--in the same way, say, that P. G. Wodehouse's is--that it might as well be sf, for all the relation it bears to the actual universe...

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 6:30 AM by Robert "Stanislaw" L</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13228 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13228 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 06:30:10 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #34 from Dorothy Rothschild comment from Dorothy Rothschild on 14.Dec.02 Hmm, I'd say Ayn Rand is a bit more of a science fiction writer than that, in the George Orwell/Aldous Huxley negative utopia vein. (Throw Margaret Atwood in there too, I dare ya.)

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 8:39 AM by Dorothy Rothschild</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13229 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13229 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 08:39:41 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #35 from John Farrell comment from John Farrell on 14.Dec.02 Hmph! James Blish isn't even on the list!

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 10:05 AM by John Farrell</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13230 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13230 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 10:05:23 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #36 from Laurie Mann comment from Laurie Mann on 14.Dec.02 I came up as Robert Heinlein - something
must be seriously wrong with that test!

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 11:28 AM by Laurie Mann</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13231 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13231 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 11:28:17 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #37 from Alan Bostick comment from Alan Bostick on 14.Dec.02 I came up "Greg Benford," which kinda leaves me feeling that I'd been slimed.

Talking over dinner last night, it came out that D. Potter is *also* Greg Benford. Maybe she's Greg and I'm Jim?

("Towner, they are husband and wife!")

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 12:46 PM by Alan Bostick</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13232 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13232 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 12:46:38 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #38 from Emma comment from Emma on 14.Dec.02 I'm GREGORY BENFORD? I'm suing that blankety-blank site!
OK, one of my friends has been bugging me to read some of his stuff. I guess, since I'm writing it, I should read it...

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 2:26 PM by Emma</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13233 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13233 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 14:26:39 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #39 from Lucy comment from Lucy on 14.Dec.02 I am honored to be Chip Delaney. And frightened.

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 3:04 PM by Lucy</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13234 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13234 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 15:04:17 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #40 from BSD comment from BSD on 14.Dec.02 I came up as the man himself, I. Asimov. Makes me feel kind of warm and happy inside.

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 3:49 PM by BSD</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13235 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13235 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 15:49:22 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #41 from John M. Ford comment from John M. Ford on 14.Dec.02 Re KISS ME DEADLY -- in the novel, the McGuffin is just a big stash of narcotics, nothing sci-tech. Spillane did not write the screenplay. I can still make no sense out of the "futuristic elements" comment, though I'm not exerting much effort on it.

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 6:38 PM by John M. Ford</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13236 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13236 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 18:38:15 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #42 from Laura comment from Laura on 14.Dec.02 Greg Benford. Go figure.

(26 authors. 4 of them women. 15%. hmmmmmm. Representative?)

]]> <p>Posted December 14, 2002 8:05 PM by Laura</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13237 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13237 Sat, 14 Dec 2002 20:05:14 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #43 from Christopher Hatton comment from Christopher Hatton on 15.Dec.02 Didn't they misspell Stanislaw Lem?

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 2:04 AM by Christopher Hatton</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13238 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13238 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 02:04:11 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #44 from Kate comment from Kate on 15.Dec.02 Hmm, According to this I'm Cordwainer Smith.
I suppose I should actually read something of his, now.

I don't think I can take two or three more weeks of being out of work.

Kate

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 2:18 AM by Kate</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13239 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13239 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 02:18:12 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #45 from Robert "Stanislaw" L comment from Robert "Stanislaw" L on 15.Dec.02 "My name is Gregory Benford."
"My name is Gregory Benford."
"My name is Gregory Benford."
"Good evening, and welcome to 'What's My Line.'..."
Kate, you should definitely read some Cordwainer Smith. Look on the bright side of beinng out of work--at least you have time to read what you want...Why not start at the beginnning, with "Scanners Live in Vain"?

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 4:15 AM by Robert "Stanislaw" L</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13240 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13240 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 04:15:29 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #46 from Avedon comment from Avedon on 15.Dec.02 It's a split decision, because there were too many questions where one of three or four answers would have been equally right for me. With a certain amount of messing around, I got: 1. Robert Heinlein, 2. ACC, and 3. Kurt Vonnegut. I think that's pretty funny.

(Now, if only Harry Stubbs could take the test and find out he is John M. Ford....)

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 1:14 PM by Avedon</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13241 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13241 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 13:14:13 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #47 from Stefan Jones comment from Stefan Jones on 15.Dec.02 Kate:

Ditto Robert's recommendation of "Scanners Live in Vain."

If you can FIND it, Smith's Norstillia is a trip. Particularly the brilliant prologue / summary.

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 2:53 PM by Stefan Jones</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13242 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13242 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 14:53:05 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #48 from not really Gregory Benford comment from not really Gregory Benford on 15.Dec.02 It's interesting that my real answers to most of the questions aren't even in the lists. Materials science, heck, even chemistry isn't listed in (2).

Randolph

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 3:20 PM by not really Gregory Benford</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13243 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13243 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 15:20:06 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #49 from marty comment from marty on 15.Dec.02 I tried to be Ellison, and failed. No wonder, he isn't on the list!

]]> <p>Posted December 15, 2002 6:33 PM by marty</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13245 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13245 Sun, 15 Dec 2002 18:33:16 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #50 from Jack Womack comment from Jack Womack on 16.Dec.02 Much as I'd have liked to have been Hal Clement, I find that I am instead Robert Heinlein. Which I think speaks for itself.

]]> <p>Posted December 16, 2002 11:41 AM by Jack Womack</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13250 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13250 Mon, 16 Dec 2002 11:41:06 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #51 from BethN comment from BethN on 16.Dec.02 I'm usually Hal Clement, but if I change one answer I turn into either Ursula LeGuin or Octavia Butler. Go figure.

Ditto on rec for Cordwainer Smith. I have a very soft spot for "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard."

]]> <p>Posted December 16, 2002 12:22 PM by BethN</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13251 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13251 Mon, 16 Dec 2002 12:22:47 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #52 from Barbara comment from Barbara on 16.Dec.02 I'm Ursula K. LeGuin, which tell me more about the test than about me.

]]> <p>Posted December 16, 2002 4:17 PM by Barbara</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13257 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13257 Mon, 16 Dec 2002 16:17:56 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #53 from Deborah Green comment from Deborah Green on 16.Dec.02 Coming in later as per usual...I turned out to be Gregory Benford (although I was hoping to be Ursula LeGuin). Best giggle I had all day. And I really needed it.

]]> <p>Posted December 16, 2002 11:49 PM by Deborah Green</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13262 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13262 Mon, 16 Dec 2002 23:49:47 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #54 from Alan Hamilton comment from Alan Hamilton on 17.Dec.02 I came out Ursula as well. Someone on SFF-NET said that Jerry Pournelle took it and came out Robert A. Heinlein.

]]> <p>Posted December 17, 2002 1:59 AM by Alan Hamilton</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13263 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13263 Tue, 17 Dec 2002 01:59:20 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #55 from Adina Adler comment from Adina Adler on 17.Dec.02 Stefan, you can find _Norstrilia_ very easily by ordering it from NESFA press. You can also do a search at abebooks.com if you'd rather have a used copy.

]]> <p>Posted December 17, 2002 10:45 AM by Adina Adler</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13265 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13265 Tue, 17 Dec 2002 10:45:02 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #56 from Lenny Bailes comment from Lenny Bailes on 18.Dec.02 Per a report on one of the fannish mailing lists, Greg Benford took it and exclaimed "Geez, I'm Clarke. How do you answer to be me?"

I took it, but don't feel like dignifying it by reporting the results. (What a killjoy, eh?)

I usually come out as either Scott McCloud or Kevin Smith on this one.

]]> <p>Posted December 18, 2002 3:42 AM by Lenny Bailes</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13268 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13268 Wed, 18 Dec 2002 03:42:27 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #57 from Lenny Bailes comment from Lenny Bailes on 18.Dec.02 Per a report on one of the fannish mailing lists, Greg Benford took it and exclaimed "Geez, I'm Clarke. How do you answer to be me?"

I took it, but don't feel like dignifying it by reporting the results. (What a killjoy, eh?)

I usually come out as either Scott McCloud or Kevin Smith on this one.

]]> <p>Posted December 18, 2002 3:46 AM by Lenny Bailes</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13269 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13269 Wed, 18 Dec 2002 03:46:56 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #58 from Jennie comment from Jennie on 18.Dec.02 Any other Olaf Stapledons out there?

I'm curious enough to try reading him.

]]> <p>Posted December 18, 2002 3:10 PM by Jennie</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13273 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13273 Wed, 18 Dec 2002 15:10:29 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #59 from Elise Matthesen comment from Elise Matthesen on 19.Dec.02 I'm Chip Delany. Cool.

]]> <p>Posted December 19, 2002 12:39 AM by Elise Matthesen</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13274 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13274 Thu, 19 Dec 2002 00:39:12 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #60 from Vera comment from Vera on 19.Dec.02 I am Gregory Benford.

]]> <p>Posted December 19, 2002 10:18 PM by Vera</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13278 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13278 Thu, 19 Dec 2002 22:18:48 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #61 from Stefan Jones comment from Stefan Jones on 20.Dec.02 Jennie:

You want to read _Star Maker_ and/or _Last and First Men_. Not really novels . . . book-length future histories. Go read my reviews on Amazon.com.

]]> <p>Posted December 20, 2002 12:18 PM by Stefan Jones</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13279 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13279 Fri, 20 Dec 2002 12:18:00 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #62 from Larry Taylor comment from Larry Taylor on 21.Dec.02 I'm Cordwainer Smith? I admire his fiction, but can't I have a living writer?

Puzzled

]]> <p>Posted December 21, 2002 11:02 PM by Larry Taylor</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13293 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13293 Sat, 21 Dec 2002 23:02:13 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #63 from Jennie comment from Jennie on 23.Dec.02 Mr. Jones,

Thanks very much for the hint, and for the reviews. Whew! From your review, alone, I think that quiz has me pegged entirely wrong (not that I didn't suspect that)! Stapledon will possibly not constitute the light holiday reading I was contemplating for my couple of days this week...but I doubt I could find a copy by tonight, anyway. Perhaps for the next overnight bus journey, though. His writing sounds like it would benefit from long stretches of uninterrupted time.

]]> <p>Posted December 23, 2002 11:58 AM by Jennie</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13301 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13301 Mon, 23 Dec 2002 11:58:26 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #64 from Anne Murphy comment from Anne Murphy on 2.Jan.03 It says I am Gregory Benford. I like their description of what this means, anyway (a skilled literary writer who is also a real scientist).

Can someone please recommend some Benford I ought to read?

]]> <p>Posted January 2, 2003 8:31 AM by Anne Murphy</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13527 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13527 Thu, 02 Jan 2003 08:31:22 -0500 Which SF writer are you? -- comment #65 from ers comment from ers on 4.Jan.03 I'm Chip Delaney, too. I do have a copy of Nova autographed and marked with his lip-prints (and Ellen Kushner's lipstick), but I'm a tad disconcerted nonetheless. But honored.

I shall treasure Mr. Ford's assessment of Ms. Rand's SF credibility. _The Fountainhead_ is one of a number of books with which I fell in love during my high school years that did not age well (especially after a feminist awakening!). Dorothy Dunnett's _Lymond Chronicles_ stood the test of time admirably.

]]> <p>Posted January 4, 2003 1:18 AM by ers</p> http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13702 http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002155.html#13702 Sat, 04 Jan 2003 01:18:41 -0500