Rush the fav group of Sci-Fi addicts?

I could see a Sci-Fi connection to Rush, the lyrics certainly get into that area.

Personally, I think SciFi/Fantasy novels hit me at around the same time as prog; all this new information hitting my young brain at the same time - it's a wonder I remained sane.... just ask my imaginary camel, Colin.

"ping, wibble, bananas in the undergrowth etc etc"

Edited by Jim Garten

 I Like Rush, but I think that the assumption that science-fiction fans (like myself) are more likely to prefer them over other bands, is a rather broad one. I'm sure that many prog fans read sci-fi (and fantasy! I love Moorcock, Leiber, De Camp, Vance, Wolfe, LeGuin, and others), but no doubt there's a wide variety of bands represented in our collections. Lots of Rush lyrics are science fictional/fantastic in theme, but so are the lyrics of countless other prog (and even pop) artists and songs. That vein of inspiration has been tapped by many more lyricists than Neil Peart!

By the way, anyone else out there enjoy Silverberg's Lord Valentine's Castle? A modern classic!

HARLAN ELLISON (especially the collections of the 70s & early 80s) ROCKS too,  and let's not forget Kurt Vonnegut! Cat's Cradle, Slaughter-House Five, The Sirens of Titan and others are classics!  Long live Kilgore Trout!

wow Science Fiction!!I have read lots of sf,Icannot name my favourite author(i dont have one)but lots of stories spring to mind.How about "Frost and Fire" by Ray Bradbury or"Inconstant Moon" by Larry Niven,"By his Bootstraps,By Robert Heinlein,"Mission Of Gravity "by Hal Clements, or "The Forever War" by Joe Halderman(there is talk of a movie!!),or what about.....I could go on forever,what a great subject!!!!BY the way Rush is popular with SCi Fi fans who listen to their music with a knowing nod and wink,but i also know people who hate sci fi but love Rush...I think the moral of the story is..... Rush is cool!!!(simple as that) stay safe!!!. by the way Peter Rideout you like Fritz Leiber,what do you think of Fhard and the Grey Mouser,or Moorcocks Elric Stories or even Moorcocks Hawkwind stories!!! sorry i just love this!!!! As for Silverberg..try"Dying Inside"

 Yes Dude, the fantasy series you mention are some of my all-time favourites. I absolutely love Leiber's "Fafhrd & Grey Mouser" books, Moorcock's powerful and darkly-atmospheric "Elric" saga (the best of his "Eternal Champion" cycle  -- I take it you're familiar with Blue Oyster Cult's solid Elric-inspired track "Black Blade," and Purple's "Stormbringer," named for the albino prince's demonic sword?) I plan to read these books again, one day soon, and I can't wait until my two kids are old enough to share them with. I also enjoyed Silverberg's "Dying Inside," but you MUST read his "Lord Valentine's Castle" -- a highly memorable epic!

If you like the way Leiber brings humour and fallible heroes to fantasy in the aforementioned series, you should also check out sci-fi master L. Sprague de Camp's "The Reluctant King" trilogy, and Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" series: "The Dying Earth," "The Eyes of the Overworld" and "Cugel's Saga." Brilliant, magical  stuff -- Vance is one of my favourite witers in ANY genre. If you want something darker, but totally absorbing, try Gene Wolfe's "Shadow of the Torturer" (first of a great series), or "Soldier of the Mist." Wolfe is an amazing writer!

I'm currently reading the latest in Ursula K. LeGuin's superb "Earthsea" series. (It's excellent, so far!) If you've never read her masterpiece of High Fantasy, "A Wizard of Earthsea," I highly urge you to do so -- you're in for a treat! Her sci-fi classics "The Left Hand of Darkness" and "The Dispossessed" are also highly recommended. Each is still taught in (enlightened) university courses for the strength of the writing, and the profound themes and issues explored!

PS: Any and all of the above would be great reading with some instrumental prog, like classic Tangerine Dream (FORCE MAJEURE, PHAEDRA, RUBICON, STRATOSFEAR, EXIT, WHITE EAGLE, etc., on in the background! Also good would be Anglagard's excellent 90s instrumental "Epilog" (see my recent review).

Happy reading and listening, fellow prog-fiends!

Edited by Peter Rideout

 Thanks for the literary tip, Glass-Prison! I've never read Ayn Rand, but I know that I should -- perhaps one day soon.....

it is interesting that some of you have mentioned Ayn Rand(Atlas Shrugged, the Fountainhead(a very good movie)) ,she is regarded as a right wing philosipher in the vein of Frederich Nietszche("that which does not kill you makes you stronger"......) and her writings are often despised by socialists and those on the far left.i have not read any of her works but would like to, just to see what the fuss is about!!!!

 Dude, I didn't know that Rand had a right-wing reputation, that's how little I really knew about her. Maybe I'll find out more (easily done, on Net) before I tackle any of her stuff. I generally have at least 2 new books around at any given time, so I can always wait. I've usually got a big Victorian novel either on the go (much Dickens, of late) or in the wings, as well. I find old classics somewhat slower to read, but highly interesting and rewarding. They're sort of like portals to the past, that tell me how we got here.  Recommended read: Don Quixote

 Jim, I've heard of "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant," but have never read (only scanned) any Donaldson. (Isn't his first name "Stephen R?") A friend of mine who was also a big sci-fi fan said the book(s) were great, but I was reading other (usually more established) authors (many named in my earlier post) when the books came out, any never got around to trying the "newcomer." I guess I might, some day, but I tend to read the bigger, older names when I read "fantastic" literature (which is not nearly as often as I did in my teens & twenties). 

I'm sure they're good, though! I know they sold well! Anyway, almost any reading is good reading.  All too few people read! Here's an alarming statistic (from '78, almost certainly worse now!): Only 8% of Americans buy books, and only 2% buy more than one a year.  (Harlan Ellison) I also know that in my country (Canada), colleges and universities are increasingly upset with the schools for sending them highschool grads with rudimentary communication skills, and an inability to comprehend a novel, or string a coherent sentence together!

For those of you out there with young, preschool children: If you're not reading to your kids, and trying to impart an interest in books (let them see you reading for pleasure, as well!), then you're almost certainly dooming them to academic failure. I teach adults, and let me tell you, good reading skills (and a love of reading) are much easier to acquire in childhood! If your kids are not readers, they'll be second-rate (or worse) writers, with limited vocabularies. The world economy is increasingly knowledge-based, and good communication skills are more and more important in the workplace. Many are being left behind! Merely reading (or "chatting) on the computer is not enough, either, nor is reading technical material all day. People (yes, "real" men too) need fiction!

Well, that's today's sermon. I'll step down from my soapbox now, and try to think more about prog. (Progressive rock, by the way, tends to have very articulate, if not poetic, lyrics. Much of the subject-matter comes from books -- science fiction, fantasy, mythology, the Bible, etc. -- so the words are often geared toward a well-read listener. Read a lyric sheet tonight!)

Edited by Peter Rideout

Peter:I must confess that i do not really know that much about Ayn Rand myself(just a few snippets here and there ) so a trip to the net sounds like the way to go!!!!!.I also must confess that i am something of a philestine when it comes to literiture!! i have an aptitude for maths which has helped me in my life but i f someone were to mention Balzac to me i would be more inclined to think up half a dozen dirty jokes than give any serious consideration as to his contribution to the literary enrichment of man!!! amongst my favourite books of all time are the "confessions"books by Timothy Lea(real name Christopher Wood,those of you from Britain may know these books) they were a series of soft core porn novels laced with humour and written in the 70's and early 80's.As the books became popular the porn content was toned down in favor of the(very funny!!) humour and a number of mainstream movies were made from them for general release(starring Robin Askwith as Timothy lea) Trust me,they were not "hi brow" until next time stay safe my freinds!!!!!!