Comments for Cordwainer Smith Blog http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog About his science fiction and his life, run by his daughter Rosana Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on You Can Read Several Cordwainer Smith Science Fiction Stories Online Free by Anonymous http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/you-can-read-several-cordwainer-smith-science-fiction-stories-online-free.html/comment-page-1#comment-5847 Anonymous Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:49:00 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/you-can-read-several-cordwainer-smith-science-fiction-stories-online-free.html#comment-5847  I did not know that a site for Cordwainer Smith existed. Thank God for it. I have read Science Fiction all my life and have boxes of books by the old Masters, and the new ones for that matter but I have never read anything like Cordwainer Smith. His vivid decriptions of events, people, situations and worlds are just amazing. I found him while I was a teenager over 40 years ago and truly wanted to meet the man who could produce such wonderment by his hand put to the printed page. Such outlandish ideas, people and underpeople, persons, Lords and Ladies were responsible for waking up the mind of the recipient to a new level of understanding, just for fun. He was in a class by himself in more ways than I could concieve and I wish he was here today bringing his style to life again, for there was only one Cordwainer Smith  I did not know that a site for Cordwainer Smith existed. Thank God for it. I have read Science Fiction all my life and have boxes of books by the old Masters, and the new ones for that matter but I have never read anything like Cordwainer Smith. His vivid decriptions of events, people, situations and worlds are just amazing. I found him while I was a teenager over 40 years ago and truly wanted to meet the man who could produce such wonderment by his hand put to the printed page. Such outlandish ideas, people and underpeople, persons, Lords and Ladies were responsible for waking up the mind of the recipient to a new level of understanding, just for fun. He was in a class by himself in more ways than I could concieve and I wish he was here today bringing his style to life again, for there was only one Cordwainer Smith

]]> Comment on When Did You First Read Cordwainer Smith? by Rosana http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/first-read.html/comment-page-1#comment-5643 Rosana Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:27:00 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=69#comment-5643 Great story, Erik! Thanks. -- Rosana Great story, Erik! Thanks. — Rosana

]]> Comment on When Did You First Read Cordwainer Smith? by Erik F http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/first-read.html/comment-page-1#comment-5642 Erik F Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:38:00 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=69#comment-5642 In the late 1970's, I was stuck in a layover in Dulles airport.  While waiting in the terminal, a man grunted, slapped a book shut, and said, "well, finished!  You want this, kid?" It was an anthology of some sort, and I was in love with science fiction at the time.  Most of the stories were decent, but the one that got me was "The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal."  It humanized a far-fetched concept, and it had an air of utter tragedy to it that never left me. I've been a fan ever since. In the late 1970′s, I was stuck in a layover in Dulles airport.  While waiting in the terminal, a man grunted, slapped a book shut, and said, “well, finished!  You want this, kid?”

It was an anthology of some sort, and I was in love with science fiction at the time.  Most of the stories were decent, but the one that got me was “The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal.”  It humanized a far-fetched concept, and it had an air of utter tragedy to it that never left me.

I’ve been a fan ever since.

]]> Comment on When Did You First Read Cordwainer Smith? by Dougdarvell http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/first-read.html/comment-page-1#comment-5637 Dougdarvell Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:59:25 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=69#comment-5637 I'm 56 this year and I first read a story by Cordwainer Smith when I was about 9 or 10. I'm not sure which one but my favourite remains the Lady who sailed the Soul. I thought that I was alone in my appreciation of his writings as he is little mentioned in science fiction writings but I am pleased to see that I am totally mistaken. I'm 56 this year and I first read a story by Cordwainer Smith when I was about 9 or 10. I'm not sure which one but my favourite remains the Lady who sailed the Soul. I thought that I was alone in my appreciation of his writings as he is little mentioned in science fiction writings but I am pleased to see that I am totally mistaken.

]]> Comment on Is Rod McBan a Stranger in a Strange Land? by Alan http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/is-rod-mcban-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-5635 Alan Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:33:02 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=134#comment-5635 "he really didn’t need a Penny Black after all." .....<br>just being a bit übergeeky, but wasn't that a Cape Triangle?<br>I shall feel discombobulated until I can get home to check it in my copy. “he really didn’t need a Penny Black after all.” …..
just being a bit übergeeky, but wasn't that a Cape Triangle?
I shall feel discombobulated until I can get home to check it in my copy.

]]> Comment on Cordwainer Smith and A. Bertram Chandler by Gbmeyer01 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/cordwainer-smith-and-a-bertram-chandler.html/comment-page-1#comment-5632 Gbmeyer01 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:09:13 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=118#comment-5632 I recall that Matilda's Grandchildren were derived from Kangaroos. We lost a great writer when Chandler went. I am re-reading "The Way Back." What was the book previous to that involving Kinsolving's Planet and that lost ship? I am off to stare at the Galactic Lens and wonder. I recall that Matilda's Grandchildren were derived from Kangaroos. We lost a great writer when Chandler went. I am re-reading “The Way Back.” What was the book previous to that involving Kinsolving's Planet and that lost ship? I am off to stare at the Galactic Lens and wonder.

]]> Comment on Is Rod McBan a Stranger in a Strange Land? by Rosana http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/is-rod-mcban-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-5631 Rosana Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:50:19 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=134#comment-5631 I wouldn't say ripoff, but people have strong opinions about sf! I wouldn't say ripoff, but people have strong opinions about sf!

]]> Comment on Is Rod McBan a Stranger in a Strange Land? by Steve Wilson http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/is-rod-mcban-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-5630 Steve Wilson Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:41:27 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=134#comment-5630 Hmm, dunno if Rod McBan is Valentine Smith, but I'm pretty sure that Dune is partly The Sand Planet. Dune owed so much to Cordwainer Smith it is practically a rip-off - a substance found on one planet that the galaxy relies on, a specialist caste required to make insterstellar travel possible.... Hmm, dunno if Rod McBan is Valentine Smith, but I'm pretty sure that Dune is partly The Sand Planet. Dune owed so much to Cordwainer Smith it is practically a rip-off – a substance found on one planet that the galaxy relies on, a specialist caste required to make insterstellar travel possible….

]]> Comment on Cordwainer Smith at the Movies by Rosana http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/cordwainer-smith-at-the-movies.html/comment-page-1#comment-5629 Rosana Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:16:16 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=111#comment-5629 We have long had an agent in LA, David, so it could still happen! We have long had an agent in LA, David, so it could still happen!

]]> Comment on Cordwainer Smith at the Movies by David_Merkel http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/cordwainer-smith-at-the-movies.html/comment-page-1#comment-5628 David_Merkel Sun, 10 Oct 2010 09:13:37 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=111#comment-5628 I have long thought that there is an untapped gold mine in trying to bring Cordwainer Smith to the big screen... but someone would have to have the dual skills of understanding the stories the way a fan does, but also the foreshortening ability to figure out how to squeeze big ideas into less written space, while bringing the visual up to a high level, capturing the vivid imagery of the story. I have long thought that there is an untapped gold mine in trying to bring Cordwainer Smith to the big screen… but someone would have to have the dual skills of understanding the stories the way a fan does, but also the foreshortening ability to figure out how to squeeze big ideas into less written space, while bringing the visual up to a high level, capturing the vivid imagery of the story.

]]> Comment on You Can Read Several Cordwainer Smith Science Fiction Stories Online Free by Scribblical http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/you-can-read-several-cordwainer-smith-science-fiction-stories-online-free.html/comment-page-1#comment-5627 Scribblical Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:01:30 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/you-can-read-several-cordwainer-smith-science-fiction-stories-online-free.html#comment-5627 So glad to find this site, and thanks for linking the stories. Yesterday, I picked up a Ballantine paperback edited by Robert Silverberg in 1971, "Alpha 2," in a little used bookstore in Big Bear Lake, CA. I was pleased to discover that "The Burning of the Brain" was included in the anthology. A beautiful story! I haven't read Cordwainer Smith in years, but he's always been one of my all time favorite SF authors. His world is unique and gorgeous. I'm going to dig out my copy of "Norstrlia" from my boxed library and revisit the wonder of the Instrumentality! Onward to the Up-and-Out!! So glad to find this site, and thanks for linking the stories. Yesterday, I picked up a Ballantine paperback edited by Robert Silverberg in 1971, “Alpha 2,” in a little used bookstore in Big Bear Lake, CA. I was pleased to discover that “The Burning of the Brain” was included in the anthology. A beautiful story! I haven't read Cordwainer Smith in years, but he's always been one of my all time favorite SF authors. His world is unique and gorgeous. I'm going to dig out my copy of “Norstrlia” from my boxed library and revisit the wonder of the Instrumentality! Onward to the Up-and-Out!!

]]> Comment on Laminated Rat Brains by Rosana http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/laminated-rat-brains.html/comment-page-1#comment-5608 Rosana Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:58:31 +0000 http://cordwainer-smith.com/blog/?p=165#comment-5608 Betty, how lovely to hear from you... it's been years! Marcia, Helen, and I are all well. Thanks for sharing your memories. -- Rosana Betty, how lovely to hear from you… it's been years! Marcia, Helen, and I are all well. Thanks for sharing your memories. — Rosana

]]>