The Jonbar Point by Brian Aldiss
Reviews and Comments
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Graham Head in Foundation 140 (Vol 50 No 3), 2021: “Aldiss’s criticism in both essays is entertaining, subtle and balanced. He deploys a somewhat avuncular style, and is much tempted by the use of the witty, paradoxical aphorism, especially in the first piece, although these often serve more to provoke than to suggest a sense of measured analysis. That said, he is at pains to appear a serious critic; he distances himself from fan criticisms, which tend rare to dicuss ‘anyone but Heinlein’, and defends the right to discuss sf using the same tools that would be used for any other form of writing. [...] And when, finally, Aldiss urges traditional sf writers to follow at least part of Ballard’s advice, to ‘jettison’ current narrative forms and plots as ‘most of these are far too explicit to express any subtle interplay of character and theme’, the latter notion feels like a common thread running through Aldiss’s criticism collected here.”
From the Introduction by Christopher Priest: “These two essays reveal Brian Aldiss in his prime. They were first published more than half a century ago in SF Horizons, a short-lived critical magazine edited and published by Aldiss and Harry Harrison. [...] Both essays should certainly be read more widely – they reverberate with ideas, insights and fine critical analysis. Quite apart from anything else, they are energetically written from a position of caring knowledge, and are hugely enjoyable to read.”
Michael Moorcock on SF Horizons #2 in New Worlds #157, December 1965: “The stringent, yet sympathetic, article by Aldiss [‘British Science Fiction Now: Studies of Three Writers’] is perhaps the best piece of criticism [... He] takes three writers, Lan Wright, Donald Malcolm and J.G. Ballard, and uses their work to show what is right and what is wrong with the British scene. His criticism is positive and thoughtful and his tendency to make fun of the afflicted quite often has you laughing in spite of yourself. We might point out that we only approve of making fun of the afflicted when the afflicted appear to wish their own afflictions on everyone else.”