You may not know the name L.E. Modesitt if you do not read sci-fi or fantasy. He is a prolific and successful author. I have not read all of his work but enough to know that I usually enjoy his characters and story line. I have been reading his latest, Solar Express, and feel like something must have happened in his career to make him feel like he can go public with his religion.
He seems to be a worshiper at the Church of Global Warming. I have never noticed this in any of his other works but this story keeps being interrupted with nonsense about how Sacramento has been abandoned under fifteen feet of water and the entire country of Bangladesh is gone. New York is repeatedly called the Venice of the West. I am 80% through the book and the rising water has nothing to do with the story line. It just keeps getting thrown in. Because it has nothing to do with the story I have kept reading. My fear is that he will tie it in at the end and I will feel really cheated.
Other authors have done this. They build a successful career on good writing and then their dark secrets come out. For example, Robert Heinlein wrote great stories but I quit reading him when he became an advocate of incest. What really irritates me is when I am reading a series that I enjoy and about four or five volumes into the story the author introduces a strange preoccupation with homosexuality or temporary, contract marriages.
I wish Modesitt continued success. I will continue to try to read his books but if this is going to become a pattern I will stop wasting my time. I have the same reaction when I try to read some books written by Christian authors who are ham-handed about being evangelistic.
I am an equal opportunity, non-reader.
homo unius libri
Excellent point. A lot of science fiction (and modern fiction) is written with an implicit agenda that has nothing really to do with the plot.
ReplyDeleteHave you found authors or books that you particularly like? I'm always interested in recommendations for non-non-fiction reads.
Alec
For Space opera, David Weber comes to mind. John Ringo also tells some good stories if you avoid the ones fixated on sexual fantasy.
DeleteHistorical fiction has a guy named Bernard Cornwall. His Sharpe series is a land based Hornblower type saga.
I always watch for new stuff by W.E.B. Griffin. His son is co-writing with him now and it seems to be working.
The libraries have many of these.
Grace and peace
Thank you. The Sharpe series is excellent. I'll take a look at the others.
DeleteAlec
I agree. I've been know to throw a book across the room halfway through it.
ReplyDeleteWhy only halfway? I have to be careful, most of my reads are from the library.
DeleteGrace and peace.