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Brian Aldiss: the pre-eminent science-fiction writer – and always a gentleman Brian Aldiss: the pre-eminent science-fiction writer – and always a gentleman
(30 days later)
I encountered Brian Aldiss when I was a boy. I liked him as a writer, but even more than I enjoyed his writing, I loved his editorial choices: his influence on Penguin’s science fiction through the 1960s was immeasurable, and he introduced me to many of my favourite writers.I encountered Brian Aldiss when I was a boy. I liked him as a writer, but even more than I enjoyed his writing, I loved his editorial choices: his influence on Penguin’s science fiction through the 1960s was immeasurable, and he introduced me to many of my favourite writers.
Brian Aldiss obituaryBrian Aldiss obituary
As a teen I enjoyed his novels more (Brian was a writer for adults), and delighted in the richness of his world-building. The Helliconia sequence in particular, set in a world with seasons that lasted for many centuries, observed by a satellite from Earth, was a glorious, long storytelling sequence set at the intersection of many sciences, and felt, even as it was being published, like a classic of the field. I learned from his critical writings, including Billion Year Spree, his history of the science-fiction world.As a teen I enjoyed his novels more (Brian was a writer for adults), and delighted in the richness of his world-building. The Helliconia sequence in particular, set in a world with seasons that lasted for many centuries, observed by a satellite from Earth, was a glorious, long storytelling sequence set at the intersection of many sciences, and felt, even as it was being published, like a classic of the field. I learned from his critical writings, including Billion Year Spree, his history of the science-fiction world.
So when I met Aldiss, in 1984, it felt like I knew him already, as if he was an old friend. And Brian was kind to me, a 23-year-old journalist, and he remained kind as the years went on. Always a gentleman, full of anecdotes from his years as a writer, with a blustery charm and a delight in getting people’s backs up. I took huge pleasure in writing an introduction to his novel Hothouse in 2008, when it was chosen as a Penguin Modern Classic.So when I met Aldiss, in 1984, it felt like I knew him already, as if he was an old friend. And Brian was kind to me, a 23-year-old journalist, and he remained kind as the years went on. Always a gentleman, full of anecdotes from his years as a writer, with a blustery charm and a delight in getting people’s backs up. I took huge pleasure in writing an introduction to his novel Hothouse in 2008, when it was chosen as a Penguin Modern Classic.
Brian Aldiss was a writer of science fiction, mainstream fiction, and experimental fiction. He was a memoirist, an editor, a genially opinionated giant. He was the pre-eminent English science-fiction writer, and he will be missed, as a writer and as a man.Brian Aldiss was a writer of science fiction, mainstream fiction, and experimental fiction. He was a memoirist, an editor, a genially opinionated giant. He was the pre-eminent English science-fiction writer, and he will be missed, as a writer and as a man.
Science fiction booksScience fiction books
Neil GaimanNeil Gaiman
FictionFiction
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