Active Users:638 Time:02/08/2025 11:28:07 PM
Back to Messageboard Post New Thread Search Help Stats Rules
I understand your point. However... Haggard Send a noteboard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM
Classic novels are books like A Tale of Two Cities, Don Quixote, The Brothers Karamazov or Les Miserables.

Most people wouldn't include science fiction as a category that generates "classic novels" (with some notable exceptions). The reason is that there is no "recognized value" (using your definition) to stories that are primarily entertainment but have little deeper meaning. Additionally, for those that do have deeper meaning (Lem, for example), frequently they are too recent to have established a consensus on "value" - part of what makes a book a classic is that it stands the test of time and retains value several generations after it is written.



I agree. I don't think the books I listed necessarily reach the level of "classics" as you describe. However, since this is a SF/F message board, I assumed folks would realize I meant classic SF/F.

If I was posting to a board devoted to rock music and I said I wanted to listen to some classics, people wouldn't assume I meant Beethoven or Mozart. I need to be more clear in the future. Lesson learned.

But, hey, if Obama can win the Nobel Peace Prize, Hyperion can be a classic. ;)
*MySmiley*
I'm drinkin' some George Jones,
and a little bit of Coe
Haggard's easin' my misery
and Waylon's keepin' me from home
Hank's givin' me those high times-
Cash is gonna sing it low
I'm here gettin' wasted-
just like my country heroes -Hank III
Reply to message
November Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club: submissions ended! ... New new edit on 18/10/2009 Rebekah - 08/10/2009 06:56:01 PM 1711 Views
Nabokov's The Original of Laura Tom - 08/10/2009 08:19:01 PM 1192 Views
I'd love that. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:25:39 PM 1215 Views
The real problem... Jacob - 08/10/2009 08:40:50 PM 1132 Views
That's a good point too. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:45:30 PM 1077 Views
Well, we could always discuss Nabokov in December. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:18:57 PM 1046 Views
Done! Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:30 PM 1076 Views
Hmm...I'm still thinking about the name Tom - 09/10/2009 03:57:48 PM 1175 Views
I'd be up for reading Doctor Zhivago. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:08:09 PM 1071 Views
yeah, me too. only need to find it in a library near me. *NM* jh - 08/10/2009 10:09:32 PM 450 Views
Don't be cheap. Buy it. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:16:18 PM 1081 Views
Well, I would, but I don't like online bookstores. jh - 09/10/2009 01:19:19 AM 1130 Views
Well, but you just said you didn't know if you could find it in the library. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:07:54 AM 1079 Views
Oh, but... jh - 09/10/2009 11:01:01 AM 1047 Views
Also: I did not say any such thing. *NM* jh - 10/10/2009 12:49:06 PM 460 Views
The Gone-Away World, obviously Camilla - 08/10/2009 09:23:12 PM 1015 Views
Obviously. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:47 PM 1055 Views
I second these statements *NM* Stephen - 13/10/2009 09:37:28 PM 481 Views
This one *NM* ironclad - 19/10/2009 10:44:37 PM 462 Views
AS Byatt - Possession. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:21:39 PM 1079 Views
It is a book of wonder. Possibly not good for the masses. *NM* Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:01:13 PM 555 Views
Perfect timing! Or, perhaps in December. Comet Sedai - 09/10/2009 09:35:00 PM 1219 Views
i loved that book!!! she is amazing. just wonderful writing... *NM* temeraire - 13/10/2009 08:44:59 PM 437 Views
How about a classic novel? Haggard - 08/10/2009 11:30:31 PM 1305 Views
You have a very strange definition of classics... *NM* jh - 09/10/2009 01:20:37 AM 481 Views
Replace "strange" with "erroneous" and I'll agree with you. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:09:27 AM 1050 Views
Really? Haggard - 09/10/2009 03:08:53 AM 1536 Views
for classic science fiction, your list contained one I could support... jh - 09/10/2009 11:06:34 AM 1066 Views
I'd be up for those. *NM* Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:34:19 PM 652 Views
You said "classic novel". Science fiction doesn't generally meet that standard. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:52:01 PM 1138 Views
I understand your point. However... Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM 1496 Views
This isn't really a SF/F Board Tom - 09/10/2009 09:35:06 PM 1054 Views
I like your list. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:02:09 PM 1032 Views
I think if you're gonna do Eco, picking another book to start with would be wiser... *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:28:50 PM 461 Views
Why? Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:32:05 PM 991 Views
And what book would that be??? Tom - 09/10/2009 03:47:49 PM 1078 Views
Foucault's Pendulum seems like the obvious one. Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:58:37 PM 1141 Views
Having both FP and NotR recently... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 04:31:00 PM 1014 Views
No way. Tom - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM 1197 Views
Oh well. I'll have to blame my faulty memory then. Legolas - 09/10/2009 10:11:55 PM 978 Views
Based on past experiences here and elsewhere, it'll be hard to choose the "right" book Larry - 09/10/2009 02:46:22 AM 1371 Views
That Hitchhiker book is as genuine as the "new" Winnie-the-Pooh book Tom - 09/10/2009 02:54:23 PM 1104 Views
Perhaps, but it's worth remembering that... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 03:45:53 PM 1002 Views
Adams killed Arthur Dent for a reason Tom - 09/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 1116 Views
The movie was not faithful to the books in any meaningful way. *NM* RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 08:58:01 PM 455 Views
The movie sucked, yes. Adams had also been dead for four years when it came out. *NM* Tom - 10/10/2009 02:19:38 AM 458 Views
Right. RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:37:08 AM 1023 Views
One little thing Larry - 10/10/2009 02:39:01 AM 1100 Views
Are you sure? RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:43:01 AM 1027 Views
Yes Larry - 10/10/2009 04:02:40 AM 1304 Views
I stand corrected. Looking forward to your review! RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 01:00:38 PM 985 Views
Perhaps Larry - 09/10/2009 06:08:17 PM 1131 Views
So on Monday we'll find out if the widow's cash need resulted in a good book. Tom - 10/10/2009 04:21:22 AM 1030 Views
Pretty much (plus I have to finish reading the second half) Larry - 10/10/2009 05:34:38 AM 1016 Views
A contrasting take on the first half of the book RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 04:10:18 PM 1005 Views
Pretty sure Eugammon beat you to that sequel. Ghavrel - 19/10/2009 09:31:05 PM 1209 Views
Yes! Camilla - 19/10/2009 09:20:09 AM 908 Views
Rothfuss is a good idea, actually. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 02:59:53 PM 983 Views
There are a few, if I recall Larry - 09/10/2009 06:09:54 PM 965 Views
A question for you all. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:04:17 PM 1046 Views
Sounds good to me. *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:29:54 PM 424 Views
I agree , or ... Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:36:03 PM 1012 Views
That could work if people were interested enough. Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:40:16 PM 1002 Views
That would be cool with me. *NM* Bryce - 10/10/2009 10:32:15 AM 438 Views
Sounds interesting. *NM* BlackAdder - 13/10/2009 08:51:31 PM 399 Views
I suggest Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:58:27 PM 1029 Views
Acacia: The War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham Sir Tybalt - 10/10/2009 02:32:59 PM 1005 Views
You didn't mention the rapture! If that happens, will the club still be on? *NM* Bryce - 11/10/2009 07:51:59 AM 622 Views
I'd say yes. Pretty sure the people here will be Left Behind. *NM* Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:39:05 PM 540 Views
Some will probably even be actively serving the Antichrist. Tom - 11/10/2009 04:16:45 PM 1213 Views
Prefer not to. Ouranid - 12/10/2009 03:14:30 AM 882 Views
Diary of a Drug Fiend was rather good. *NM* Tom - 12/10/2009 03:57:42 PM 443 Views
A compromise candidate RandAllThor - 14/10/2009 06:40:56 PM 896 Views
Fantastic book! I am always for putting that on any list. *NM* Tom - 14/10/2009 07:03:35 PM 441 Views
Is it bad that I read this as 'submissives wanted' PhotoJim - 14/10/2009 08:04:31 PM 1183 Views
Hyperion *NM* Chas - 15/10/2009 01:56:31 AM 403 Views
Back to Messageboard Post New Thread Search Help Stats Rules

Reply to Message

Block Quote Paragraph Quote
Formatting
Smiley Codes