The Smaller The Stakes, The Bigger The Cowards
The current issue of the New York Review of Science Fiction carries a review by Brian Stableford of The Space Opera Renaissance, edited by David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer. Hartwell is also the editor of NYRSF. Stableford describes the argument set out in the book as "balderdash" and notes that Hartwell invited him to write this review despite knowing that he would probably be of this opinion.
So the question is: would any of those involved - Hartwell, Cramer, Stableford, the readers - been better off if the review had not been published? I really can't see how (and clearly neither can Stableford or Hartwell). As far as I am concerned everyone is better off. And yet people seem to be suggesting that reviews such as this should not be published or, equally bafflingly, should be anonymous. I have yet to see any good reason advanced for this.
More here, here, here, here and here.
So the question is: would any of those involved - Hartwell, Cramer, Stableford, the readers - been better off if the review had not been published? I really can't see how (and clearly neither can Stableford or Hartwell). As far as I am concerned everyone is better off. And yet people seem to be suggesting that reviews such as this should not be published or, equally bafflingly, should be anonymous. I have yet to see any good reason advanced for this.
More here, here, here, here and here.
