16-05-2005 15:29									#1
	Isaac Asimov -vs- Arthur C. Clarke Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

I was inspired by the preceding Sci-Fi sugjestions thread and figured I would pose the question to Poly (oh great oricle of wisdom that thou art).

Who is THE definitive Literary Sci-Fi Master?

Now I know that many of us have someone else who is your "favorite" author but I think we can all agree that these two and by far and away the most famous and widly read in the genra. I have been reading both mens work for a long time now (indeed just one would keep a man entertained for years at even at the fastest pace). Yet I cant say witch I prefer. To help the great oracle-o-Poly I will briefly list some of the high points of each mans works.

Issac Asimov

Created the word Robotics
Created the 3 Laws of Robotics
Foundation Series
Caves of Steel Series
Numerous robot short stories and lone novels

Wikipedia


Arthur C. Clarke

Concived the Geosyncronus Satalite and Space Elevator
2001 Series
Rama Series
Childhoods End
Numerous short stories and lone novels

Wikipedia

	16-05-2005 15:41									#2
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Itīs a close call. Both are more scientists than storytellers. Both are quite crappy at character development and plot lines. Both are also very good at writing popular science. But in the end I think Clarke wins. I enjoyed the Rama and 2001 books more than Asimovs Foundation and Robot books.

Clarke

Asimov

	16-05-2005 15:53									#3
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Clarke.
Because energy matters!!

	16-05-2005 17:43									#4
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neither are my favorite..

Clark might have an edge on short stories

Asimov on novels

Jon Miller

	16-05-2005 17:44									#5
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Clarke, for his satellite and elevator ideas have practical application, as opposed to Asimov and his utopian 3 laws crapola.

	16-05-2005 18:32									#6
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I prefer Asimov.

Yes his three laws of Robtics might have been utopian, but they were designed to make the usual robot stories of them attempting to supplant us impossible.

You have to respect an author who goes out of his way to make storywriting difficult for himself.

	16-05-2005 19:05									#7
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Asimov 5 Clarke 2, but only one post that explains why? Come on Asimov fans

	16-05-2005 19:11									#8
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Asimov wrote Nightfall, and for that alone he is the master of them all.

	16-05-2005 19:14									#9
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Meh... It wasnīt all that IMO

	16-05-2005 19:17									#10
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I am surprised that "Some other Shmo" only has 1 vote (which was mine)

I hope that means that people feel that they are saying which is better, now how is the definitive master..

Jon Miller

	16-05-2005 19:18									#11
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Asimov wrote the Foundation series, one or two of the books were patchy, but on the whole its the best popular SciFi series ever written,

	16-05-2005 19:22									#12
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Asimov also introduced me to 30's and 40's pulp SF

	16-05-2005 19:29									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Jon Miller Clark might have an edge on short stories Asimov on novels

I'd put them the other way round, but I wouldn't like to pick either as better than the other.

	16-05-2005 19:41									#14
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most of clarks novels I have read were the rama ones

and I only liked one of those..

Jon Miller

	16-05-2005 20:29									#15
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Clarke Did Richter 10 as well.

	16-05-2005 20:31									#16
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they both kicked butt, but barring a celebrity deathmatch the answer will never be known.

	16-05-2005 20:32									#17
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Asimov

	17-05-2005 01:12									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Jon Miller most of clarks novels I have read were the rama ones and I only liked one of those.. Jon Miller

He only really wrote one of those. The others were written by that hack, Gentry Lee.

I don't think there are any hard SF writers better than Asimov and Clarke. Hard SF is about ideas, not writing, and both authors are top-notch ideas people. I haven't read Clarke in a while, but if I remember correctly, his narratives were more immersing than Asimov's. I enjoy space opera more though--Dan Simmons, Vernor Vinge, etc.

SP

	17-05-2005 01:21									#19
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Benford writes decent hard SF

like Timescape

of course.. I must say that hard SF is not very interesting to me.. generally

Jon miller
(not the biggest fan of Niven (another Hard Sci fi person) either)

	17-05-2005 01:28									#20
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I started out liking Benford, but got cold on his writing after Artifact. Neither the ideas nor the narrative were up to the high standards set by other authors.

SP

	17-05-2005 01:28									#21
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Asimov, for the Foundation series. It has an epic quality, that I find rare.

But i truly enjoy Clarke, too.

Asmodean

	17-05-2005 01:29									#22
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Clarke's quality is more consistant, but Asimov's best was better than Clarke's best.

	17-05-2005 01:39									#23
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Well I voted for Clarke only because I havent read Isaac and Clarke is good.

Before anyone starts telling me I should read Isaac.
I know but I've got 'bout 200-300 books in my bookcases I should read first

Well on Clarke shortstories v. novels I'll say that his shortstories are brilliant but his novels without collaberators pretty much go down the same lane.
The book you're talking about is "Rendevouz with Rama"
It is brilliant but then also is "2001", "Childhoods End" and "The Fountains of Paradise".

If you don't want to read his "Collected Shortstories"
or only want to read one, read "The nine billion names of God" The rest is good, very good, but there is a reason it has been named the best sci-fi shortstory ever.

	17-05-2005 01:40									#24
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I enjoy Asimov for his demure style and clean prose.

Asimov

	17-05-2005 02:26									#25
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Neither. Ursula le Guin wins hands down for storytelling, creativity, and character development.

The Dispossessed is a masterpiece of literature, period, let alone of the science fiction genre.

	17-05-2005 03:02									#26
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read the question, one has to win. BECAUSE THAT IS THE MATCHUP!!!!

	17-05-2005 03:09									#27
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quote: Originally posted by reds4ever read the question, one has to win. BECAUSE THAT IS THE MATCHUP!!!!

Actually... a "Some other Shmo" option is provided as well

	17-05-2005 03:21									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Ming Actually... a "Some other Shmo" option is provided as well

Then the question was worded wrong! (Or the answers depending on how you look at it).

The third option should read something like "A more obsure author who makes me seem really smart and knowledgable"

	17-05-2005 06:00									#29
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Ursula le Guin is hardly obscure, especially if you claim to like the science fiction genre.

	17-05-2005 06:10									#30
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I don't really consider Le Guin to be a hard SF writer, although she is better than either Asimov or Clark.

Jon Miller