Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
Wordy and crap?
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Wordy, yep. Hubbard was an author that desperately needed an editor to rein them in and take an ax to their raw product. Crap? Depends on the work. His later stuff (
Mission Earth in particular) is absolutely ridiculous, but much of the stuff that established his rep is more "pulpy" and perfectly normal for the time period. Better than much of the crap that was being published then, or he wouldn't have developed that reputation.
From what books I've read of Hubbard's, I'd say that Norman sounds
far worse, but I can understand the comparison. Hubbard's writing was at least quick and easy to read, so I got some enjoyment out of it. I just had to turn off my brain and ignore all the stupid stuff + all the impossible stuff + all the ax-grinding stuff + all the Mary Jane insert stuff. (*cough*
jonniegoodboytyler*cough*)
I'm not defending Hubbard, but I can honestly say I'd reread
Mission Earth or
Battlefield Earth any day over something like Gentry Lee's Rama sequels. At least they weren't horribly depressing. I wouldn't recommend reading Hubbard's works (beyond maybe his early stuff) to anyone, though.