[ebusinesstutor]

Truth be told, I usually HATE collaborations. Whenever I pick up a book by my favorite author that is written with another author, I am almost always disappointed. Even when both authors are ones I love.

Here are some of the rare few that worked for me.

The Mote In God's Eye - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

I am a big Larry Niven fan. I have read many Jerry Pournelle books and enjoyed them, but they don't stick with me like Niven's books.

But Mote In God's Eye is one of my favorite all time science fiction books. Unusual but believable alien culture (Niven's touch I think) along with crisp military action (Pournelle's contribution).

Definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Coils - Roger Zelazny and Fred Saberhagen

I am a huge Roger Zelazny fan. I have a love/hate relationship with Fred Saberhagen. He has written books I truly love (Mask of the Sun, Empire of the East and the early Berserker short stories) and some I couldn't even finish. (later full length Berserker novels and Dracula ones)

So I was a little hesitant when I first came across Coils. But I was pleased when I read it. Good actions, interesting abilities and imagery. I would have liked a second book with these characters.

So how about you? Do you usually like or hate collaborations. What ones worked or didn't work for you?

[Sparrow]

The Niven/Lerner matchup on Fleet of Worlds/Juggler of Worlds/Destroyer of Worlds has been quite productive, and enjoyable. The other writing team that springs to mind is Frank Herbert and poet Bill Ransom and their Destination Void novels, which is my all time favorite sf series.

Can't think of any collaborations that I really hated so much... well, yes I can-- any collaboration that had George Lucus as a member has churned out complete crap.

[Jeroen]

I am no fan of collaborations, and I don't plan to read novels like the Baxter/Clarke collaborations. One that did work for me was Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman's Good Omens, but that aint SF but its the only novel I can think of right now.

[Mr.O'Toole]

Brothers Strugatskie who collaborated on their fiction wrote best examples of russian SF, (and world SF I believe) so for me there is no question. Two are better than one. But writers need to be brothers. (Or best friends as in case others famous russian writers Ilf and Petroff)

[Sparrow]

I am no fan of collaborations, and I don't plan to read novels like the Baxter/Clarke collaborations. One that did work for me was Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman's Good Omens, but that aint SF but its the only novel I can think of right now.



You're safe to read the Baxter/Clarke work... the collaboration is really name only. It's Stephen Baxter doing almost all the creating/writing, for which he doesn't receive nearly the credit he ought to.

[Omphalos]

There are plenty that I like, but even more that I don't. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have pretty much ruined Dune. I feel comfortable saying that they have also ruined collaborations. That's how bad that one was.

[Michigan]

One could argue that Frank Herbert did a good job ruining Dune all on his own.

[Omphalos]

You obviously have not read any of the prequels.

[Jeroen]

oh here is another good collaboration:

Frederik Pohl & Cyril M Kornbluth - The Space Merchants.

Maybe collaborations only truly work when one author has a great idea but doesn't know how to finish it, and another author can successfully fill the gap. And when two authors agree to work together from the start, it doesn't always work.

You're safe to read the Baxter/Clarke work... the collaboration is really name only. It's Stephen Baxter doing almost all the creating/writing, for which he doesn't receive nearly the credit he ought to.

Then I guess Baxter is just proud to be working with Clarke. Too bad their names together on a cover does not attract me. It does show on Baxter, after having read Manifold:Time. He is clearly a fan of Clarke up to the point that part of his Manifold novel is close to a ripoff of 2001: A Space Odyssee

[Sparrow]

One could argue that Frank Herbert did a good job ruining Dune all on his own.


I'll second that sentiment!.. Dune is a classic among classics. However, while Dune Messiah is an excellent follow-up, the books that came after are self indulgent neo-religious nonsense.

I actually liked some of the Brian Herbert/Kevin Anderson stuff, it got me interested in the Dune Universe again.