tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post6725367877026974565..comments2024-03-26T17:54:54.592+01:00Comments on Speculiction...: Review of The Saliva Tree by Brian AldissUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-40853813611220569862020-12-12T19:05:49.582+01:002020-12-12T19:05:49.582+01:00Thanks for the comment, Pat. I never say never, b...Thanks for the comment, Pat. I never say never, but unless something drastic happens I likely won't be reading anymore Lovecraft. I've tried a handful of times, and those which are reviewed on this blog I completed through force of will. The rest I couldn't complete. The reasons are Lovecraft's style, which I find a verbose slog, and the stories themselves, horror not really my wheelhouse. I know Lovecraft has an avid following, and I respect his fans. It's just not for me. Regardless, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-56594996689954257352020-12-11T07:25:50.315+01:002020-12-11T07:25:50.315+01:00This entertaining story always struck me as an obv...This entertaining story always struck me as an obvious mash-up of Wells and Lovecraft; even though it wouldn't have been possible to work the real Lovecraft into the story the way he did Wells. You really should read "The Colour out of Space" - it's one of Lovecraft's two best.Pat Conollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11150119657569127507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-51146949054475873202020-07-06T22:21:33.702+02:002020-07-06T22:21:33.702+02:00Dear Steve, if we're digging into details, be ...Dear Steve, if we're digging into details, be aware wikipedia at no time states that The Saliva Tree is homage or pastiche. It simply states that Aldiss and Lovecraft's stories have elements in common. Given that Aldiss apparently wrote the sotry to commemmorate Wells' birthday, it would be an odd thing to pastiche another writer. Do you agree?<br /><br />Question: why is it so important that Lovecraft be recognized in this context? I ask because, despite how imaginative science fiction, fantasy, and horror inherently are, there are a million examples of overlap and near overlap in the now +/-150 year history of the genres. Do we really need to assign credit, like the first footprint on the moon, to every original idea out there? Aren't the qualities of a story as it stands individually and the messages it has more important? My two cents...Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-35232927757907699582020-07-06T22:13:59.312+02:002020-07-06T22:13:59.312+02:00Simple explanation: I have not read Lovecraft'...Simple explanation: I have not read Lovecraft's story. Believe now?<br /><br />Question: is it a rip-off if the writer was unaware he was producing a story similar to another writer's? Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-25217122994366045112020-07-06T19:52:25.618+02:002020-07-06T19:52:25.618+02:00I completely agree with you Bill. After reading t...I completely agree with you Bill. After reading this review, I'm left wondering if the reviewer has actually read The War of the Worlds or any other story by HG Wells? Even Wikipedia lists this story as a pastiche/homage to The Colour Out Of Space.Steve Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14765165764276462479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-23715747703871330152019-02-04T09:09:34.355+01:002019-02-04T09:09:34.355+01:00I can't believe you reviewed this without ment...I can't believe you reviewed this without mentioning the fact that this novella is a blatant ripoff/rewrite of HP Lovecraft's infinitely superior "The Colour Out Of Space". In fact it has nothing of Wells in it but everything of Lovecraft.Bill the Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08436195659154078021noreply@blogger.com