Comments on: Badge Of Infamy http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/ News from the Staff of Podiobooks.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:41:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: TJGeezer http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-327331 TJGeezer Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:50:03 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-327331 This tale from the early 1970s takes a satirical view of medicine,, couched in a "SF Golden Age" style that del Rey helped to create. He started publishing SF stories in 1935 and established the del Rey science fiction imprint from Ballantine with his wife Judy Lynn. The social/political satire in this story may not be recognized by people who post-date the period when the AMA still struggled to control the U.S. medical profession in the face of assaults by the insurance industry. At that time, it was far from unbelievable the profession might blackball anyone who broke its often high-handed rules. As for the sexist outlook, or the resemblance to Heinlein, del Rey was a contemporary and, like Heinlein, his attitudes were pretty advanced for the time. Those who criticize this story from a post-2000 cultural or political perspective probably haven't looked into the context. The Wiki has a pretty good article on Lester del Rey, who by the 1970s had a pretty good grasp of the genre, even if his views seem like those of someone born a hundred years ago. Which he will have been in 2015. As a Grand Master Award recipient, he hardly needed a better education on how to write SF. Steve Wilson's narration does this story full justice. It's a 1970s story from a Golden Age writer, and I found the narrator's skill helped me appreciate the tale in the spirit del Rey no doubt intended. If you listen for a proper 2000's sensibility, you won't find it here. Or in Gulliver's Travels, or in early John Varley, either for that matter. But it's a fine example of a pure SF yarn of its time. This tale from the early 1970s takes a satirical view of medicine,, couched in a “SF Golden Age” style that del Rey helped to create. He started publishing SF stories in 1935 and established the del Rey science fiction imprint from Ballantine with his wife Judy Lynn. The social/political satire in this story may not be recognized by people who post-date the period when the AMA still struggled to control the U.S. medical profession in the face of assaults by the insurance industry. At that time, it was far from unbelievable the profession might blackball anyone who broke its often high-handed rules. As for the sexist outlook, or the resemblance to Heinlein, del Rey was a contemporary and, like Heinlein, his attitudes were pretty advanced for the time. Those who criticize this story from a post-2000 cultural or political perspective probably haven’t looked into the context. The Wiki has a pretty good article on Lester del Rey, who by the 1970s had a pretty good grasp of the genre, even if his views seem like those of someone born a hundred years ago. Which he will have been in 2015. As a Grand Master Award recipient, he hardly needed a better education on how to write SF.

Steve Wilson’s narration does this story full justice. It’s a 1970s story from a Golden Age writer, and I found the narrator’s skill helped me appreciate the tale in the spirit del Rey no doubt intended. If you listen for a proper 2000′s sensibility, you won’t find it here. Or in Gulliver’s Travels, or in early John Varley, either for that matter. But it’s a fine example of a pure SF yarn of its time.

]]> By: Allen Fleishman http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-320327 Allen Fleishman Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:29:19 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-320327 I actually enjoyed it. My rating would be an 8 out of 10. The story moved along although there was a lack of character development. The part that annoyed me the most was the very strong union of doctors who do not protect their own kind. Frankly, this was not plausible. Since when would a doctor allow their own kind be made into a pariah because he saved someone who was too far from the hospital to live otherwise. Doctors cover their own, like police form their blue shield, soldiers cover their brothers and the union protects their rank and file. The author should have made some alternative provision for this very flimsy charge against the hero. The underlying premise for such a vitriolic attack against the hero was simply not plausible. I also agree that the characterization of the former wife was a bit strong. Did someone go through a messy divorce?? I actually enjoyed it. My rating would be an 8 out of 10. The story moved along although there was a lack of character development.

The part that annoyed me the most was the very strong union of doctors who do not protect their own kind. Frankly, this was not plausible. Since when would a doctor allow their own kind be made into a pariah because he saved someone who was too far from the hospital to live otherwise. Doctors cover their own, like police form their blue shield, soldiers cover their brothers and the union protects their rank and file. The author should have made some alternative provision for this very flimsy charge against the hero. The underlying premise for such a vitriolic attack against the hero was simply not plausible.

I also agree that the characterization of the former wife was a bit strong. Did someone go through a messy divorce??

]]> By: evren http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-318905 evren Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:54:17 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-318905 it was excellent Steven Wilson is a perfect narrator i am looking forward to his new releases it was excellent

Steven Wilson is a perfect narrator

i am looking forward to his new releases

]]> By: Ron http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-200016 Ron Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:55:52 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-200016 I have to say, I wasn’t in love with this story. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t dreadful to listen to and it also wasn’t horribly written, it just didn’t captivate me. With some work, I’m sure it could be better. With everything that was occurring in the story, there should have been more emotion to it. I felt that there should have been a sense of fear or urgency. Furthermore, I didn’t find the characters memorable. For me, it’s always a good sign that a story is good when you have characters that you either love or hate. This story didn’t have any such character in my opinion; it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. The characters just weren’t that interesting to me. The chapters were extremely short, perhaps if the author took the time to develop the characters it may have helped. Since it’s an audio book, I also have to take into account the way things sounded. It didn’t sound bad, but it may have helped to use some subtle sound effects, music, unique voice for each character to add depth to the story. I have to say, I wasn’t in love with this story. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t dreadful to listen to and it also wasn’t horribly written, it just didn’t captivate me. With some work, I’m sure it could be better. With everything that was occurring in the story, there should have been more emotion to it. I felt that there should have been a sense of fear or urgency.

Furthermore, I didn’t find the characters memorable. For me, it’s always a good sign that a story is good when you have characters that you either love or hate. This story didn’t have any such character in my opinion; it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. The characters just weren’t that interesting to me. The chapters were extremely short, perhaps if the author took the time to develop the characters it may have helped.

Since it’s an audio book, I also have to take into account the way things sounded. It didn’t sound bad, but it may have helped to use some subtle sound effects, music, unique voice for each character to add depth to the story.

]]> By: Mike http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-150953 Mike Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:51:11 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-150953 A little juvinile. But well written, reminds me of Heinlin. A little juvinile. But well written, reminds me of Heinlin.

]]> By: Soren http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-17138 Soren Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:54:58 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-17138 This story dates itself. It has the "golden age" kinda hero, who somehow outsmarts everyone else. The depiction of women was sexist, and the political musings that were the thin excuse for the dystopian society were just annoying. Other than that, it was good entertainment. This story dates itself. It has the “golden age” kinda hero, who somehow outsmarts everyone else.

The depiction of women was sexist, and the political musings that were the thin excuse for the dystopian society were just annoying.

Other than that, it was good entertainment.

]]> By: Tim http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-16893 Tim Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:09:54 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-16893 One of the few stories I've given 5 stars too all around. Great story telling. Like Chris said, reminds me of old Asimov or Philip K Dick type of story. Well written and well read. I'm hooked and can't wait to find out what happens next. One of the few stories I’ve given 5 stars too all around. Great story telling. Like Chris said, reminds me of old Asimov or Philip K Dick type of story. Well written and well read. I’m hooked and can’t wait to find out what happens next.

]]> By: Chris http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-15465 Chris Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:46:59 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-15465 Really excellent Sci Fi book. It's obvious that Lester Del Rey is a classic Sci Fi writer in the same vein as Isaac Asimov. Really excellent Sci Fi book. It’s obvious that Lester Del Rey is a classic Sci Fi writer in the same vein as Isaac Asimov.

]]> By: Samantha http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/comment-page-1/#comment-14950 Samantha Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:30:34 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/12/24/badge-of-infamy/#comment-14950 A very well written, accessable book with a pretty disturbing but all too believable vision of the future. A very well written, accessable book with a pretty disturbing but all too believable vision of the future.

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