Category: Influences

Influences: A.E. Van Vogt

In this case I’m mainly talking about the Null-A trilogy. This trilogy made the idea of General Semantics understandable, quite aside from being a wonderful read. A.E. Van Vogt has been criticised by reviewers, which seems to have marginalised to some extent. I’m not sure that those reviews were entirely fair, and in the balance of things I think he does belong among the great pioneers of Science Fiction among the ranks of Heinlein, Azimov and the other early greats.

At the very least, presenting General Semantics in an accessible way is a great achievement. I tried to read General Semantics by Korzybski itself, but it’s hell. I drowned in the introduction where Korzybski seems to take the time to explain why each an every person who ever sent him a letter disagreeing with his ideas is carefully counter argued. In any event, I don’t think a list of writers that influenced me could be complete without including the Null-A trilogy. I’ve read several of Van Vogt’s other books, but the Null-A series will always be the one that made the biggest impression on me.

Below is a link to the first book in the trilogy. Unfortunately the trilogy can be hard to find.

The World of Null-A

Influences: Joe Haldeman

The Forever War and its sequels. Did I like them? I’m not sure. But do I ever remember them. The scale, the inconsequentialness of the people. The tragedy. The sequels got a bit weird and seemed less profound. I’m sure those of you who look at the Total War setting will easily see some influences in the wormholes and the scale af space travel and maybe also in the military bits.

So, I don’t know if you’ll like it, but if you haven’t I’d certainly suggest reading Haldeman. I really only feel The Forever War is the one you truly shouldn’t miss.

The Forever War

Influences: Iain M. Banks

In my humble opinion, Mr. Banks is one of the great science fiction writers who deserves a place with the great ones like Heinlein and Burroughs. I particularly like his Culture novels, though even the other ones, including Feersum Endjinn all introduced ideas and a descriptive style that resonated with me. I doubt I’ll ever be write as well as Banks, but his worlds have been inspirational, giving a feeling for just how far you can go with science fiction. I wouldn’t call his work terribly easy to read or even all that accessible, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.

Feersum Endjinn
The Use of Weapons
The Player of Games
The Hydrogen Sonata
Look to Windward
Inversions
Excession
Consider Phlebas
The State of the Art
Matter
Surface Detail
The Algebraist

Influences: Dan Simmons

Simmon’s Hyperion Cantos (Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion),series is a wonderful work that weaves a wonderfully complex future world. The Canterbury Tales style telling of a large part of it, the wonderful references to 19th century poets and poetry and all the other strangeness are an intriguing example of how all sorts or real world history can be woven into a captivating science fiction story. The use of real world history, particularly military history is woven in throughout the the Total War setting.

This series is one I enjoyed reading immensely, so if you haven’t read it, I’d strongly recommend giving it a go.

Hyperion
The Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
The Rise of Endymion

Influences: Robin Hobb

I very much enjoyed the Farseer Trilogy and it has always been an example of what I feel a fantasy series should be. I must admit that I could never quite get my head around the quaint names, but it really doesn’t detract from the quality of the series.

I would be hard pressed to describe exactly in what way Hobb’s work influences the The Tales of Vatan setting. I’d say that the feeling the Elderling world evokes is something that I’d like to convey in my fantasy works. In any event, I’d strongly recommend Hobb’s work to any fantasy fan.

The Assassin’s Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin’s Quest

Influences: Robert Heinlein

The work of Robert Heinlein, one of the fathers of science fiction has been a big influence on the Total War setting. Most people know him from the book Starship Troopers and the awful movies that are based on it. (My apologies to the movie fans, but if you read the book first, the movie was a grand disappointment.) The book is part military coming of age novel, part political and social treatise, which are all themes that are at least a little present in the Clausewitz series.

Heinlein wrote much more than Starship Troopers. Stranger in a Strange Land tells the story of a human who grew up among aliens on Mars returning to Earth for the first time, giving a point of view of human society that’s just a wonderful exploration of our strange habits. Glory Road is one of my favourites. It’s a fantasy book, essentially and the story told seems to resonate though I never really know why. I think it appeals to everyone’s sense of adventure. The list of Heinlein’s work which can get very weird and even pornographic, exploring all sorts of taboos, is all intriguing. That man’s mind must have been an interesting place.

Here are Amazon links to some of my favourites and yes, I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links.

Starship Troopers
Glory Road
Stranger in a Strange Land