The Kevin J Anderson Conundrum

[tylenol4000]

Why does it seem like everyone hates Kevin J Anderson? Is it because of all the Dune novels he wrote? I've seen his bibliography and it looks like he's written some pretty interesting stuff. I haven't yet actually read anything by him, but I have a couple I'm about to read and I'm curious why he's so hated in the SF/F community.

I have the first book in his Hellhole trilogy. I've had it on my shelf for a long time but I'm finally getting around to reading it next. From the sounds of it, Hellhole sounds like my kind of novel. It's got a really cool premise and I like the idea of the ensemble of characters. Yet I've only heard bad things about it. But it always seems like more then just a simple distaste for the novel. People really hate him deeply.

I also just picked up Hidden Empire, the first in his Space Opera series. This is something I've always seen around and almost bought on numerous occasions, and finally I picked it up. Recently KJA wrote a sequel trilogy to the series which was nominated for a Hugo. I was surprised when I heard about the nomination considering all the hate surrounding him. Perhaps his Seven Suns series is more well-received than his other works?

What is responsible for all the Kevin J Anderson hate?

 

[BAYLOR]

I don't know why that is the case. He's a very good writer . The Dune Prequel books that he co wrote with Brian Herbert are quite good.

I very highly recommend his novel The Martian War

 

[WaylanderToo]

also...

 

[Vince W]

I think it's mostly it's due to the dreadful Dune books he and the other hack kludged together. They are truly disheartening works of .

 

[ratsy]

I read the fist of the Saga of Seven Suns and did like it. Also read some Star wars ones when I was a kid.

He did write a fantasy series that I really enjoyed: Terra Incognita. It was a trilogy that I devoured a few years ago.

 

[BAYLOR]

I think it's mostly it's due to the dreadful Dune books he and the other hack kludged together. They are truly disheartening works of .

I think him and Brian Herbert did a pretty good job.

 

[Vince W]

I think him and Brian Herbert did a pretty good job.

Sorry, I have to disagree.

 

[Dennis E. Taylor]

This thread is both a surprise and not. I personally do not like KJA's writing style. I've tried to read a couple of his books (not the Dune stuff-- I avoid Dune) and just couldn't get into them.

But hate? No. Mild disinterest at most.

 

[BAYLOR]

Sorry, I have to disagree.

Fair enough.

 

[BAYLOR]

This thread is both a surprise and not. I personally do not like KJA's writing style. I've tried to read a couple of his books (not the Dune stuff-- I avoid Dune) and just couldn't get into them.

But hate? No. Mild disinterest at most.

Try his novel The Martian War. It's a fun read . It's in the vein of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .

 

[K. Riehl]

I remember the joke that was going around in the early 90's. How soon before they write, "The Shopping Malls of Dune"?

I would have a better opinion of Anderson if he would distance himself from the Dune books and stop promoting himself as "the writer of Dune". This is still happening as I saw the promotional material by Anderson's publishing house at the Rose City Comic-con two months ago.

 

[tylenol4000]

This thread is both a surprise and not. I personally do not like KJA's writing style. I've tried to read a couple of his books (not the Dune stuff-- I avoid Dune) and just couldn't get into them.

But hate? No. Mild disinterest at most.

I once visited a Dune forum and was overwhelmed by the hateful attitudes towards KJA. I mean they really, REALLY hated the guy. Not just his Dune books, but everything he's written and just the man himself in general. You can probably go find the forum with a quick Google search.

Actually, I did recently learn that, apparently he does most of his writing, or at least a lot, through "dictatic" writing. Meaning he just speaks into a recorder and has it transcribed. For some reason knowing this makes the idea of reading him uncomfortable.

 

[SilentRoamer]

Yeah the KJA hate is crazy. I think it stems from both Dune and hos works in the Star Wars EU.

I read his Hidden Empire series - I liked it to be honest, although the whole 7 book seven suns thing should really have been a trilogy or 4 at most.

I read his Keys to Creation Fantasy series - started great (I had high hopes) and just went downhill.

 

[dask]

Didn't he do a sequel to something A.E. Van Vogt wrote? Never read anything by him but he does seem to have a Philip Jose Farmer streak in him.

 

[BAYLOR]

Didn't he do a sequel to something A.E. Van Vogt wrote? Never read anything by him but he does seem to have a Philip Jose Farmer streak in him.

I think Anderson wrote a sequel to Slan.

 

[dask]

Sounds right. Think I saw a new hardcover of it in one of the many dollar stores around here. Didn't feel like spending a buck at the time.

 

[MemoryTale]

I only know him from some of his Star Wars work, where he pulled new Force abilities out of his rectum, provided us with an incompetent Imperial general and said she was a tactical genius and had an anti-hero get away with trying to kill Luke and actually destroyed an entire solar system. I haven't wanted to read any more.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I tried to read the first of the Saga of Seven Suns and it was so bad I couldn't finish it.

 

[Vince W]

I tried to read the first of the Saga of Seven Suns and it was so bad I couldn't finish it.

Amen.

 

[Dennis E. Taylor]

Huh. I've always just assumed it was a difference of style between KJA and myself. Interesting that there appears to be some objective reality to my disinterest.