Bad writing is its own peculiar genre. Authors never miss a chance to doggerel it up with stuff like that and also: strikingly attractive, piping hot coffee, barren wastelands, etc.
I'm not lying when I say I'd love to read a story written by AI via the prompt "Write me a laughably bad 10,000 word sci-fi story with romance that includes as many bad tropes as possible." And if I howled and chuckled at the text - I'd give the AI nearly the same prompt but make it a 100,000 word novel.
I realize now my prompt needs some tweaking. I definitely want it old school. And the final comment is paramount.
“Write me a laughably bad 10,000 word sci-fi story. Add in some romance. Include as many bad tropes as possible. Don't use any sources newer than 1990. The key idea is to make it so-bad-it's-good."
It was indeed unironic. Became a staple of fantasy conventions over the years. Back in the day I played a drinking game where we tried to read it aloud without laughing. The fun is lessened a bit when we learn that it was a 17-year-old's first attempt at a novel that somehow made it out into the world . . . but it did make it out into the world, and it does contain the line "You make love well wench" so I think it's fair game.
I first discovered it when I was around that age, and thought it was the funniest thing ever, but that was more than half a lifetime ago so now I cringe somewhat on Theis's behalf rather than in mockery of him. But he died in 2002 so now it's the property of humankind, right? It's a conundrum.
But he died in 2002 so now it’s the property of humankind, right? It’s a conundrum.
I'll read it in a different way. I'll laugh at the text but not the author. I hate to think that in some alternate universe I wrote an equally awful sci-fi novel as a 17 year-old and everybody laughs at it.
How to tell you're in a soft science fiction novel: Something has gone terribly wrong with the earth’s orbit, but modern gender roles are still pretty much intact.
I legitimately love it when the ship's doctor has a drinking problem and/or is a crotchety asshole who hates his own life but is excessively worried about the health of the crew/captain
Also yes the robot crew member should jerk it, and everybody should feel weird about it
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Bad writing is its own peculiar genre. Authors never miss a chance to doggerel it up with stuff like that and also: strikingly attractive, piping hot coffee, barren wastelands, etc.
I'm not lying when I say I'd love to read a story written by AI via the prompt "Write me a laughably bad 10,000 word sci-fi story with romance that includes as many bad tropes as possible." And if I howled and chuckled at the text - I'd give the AI nearly the same prompt but make it a 100,000 word novel.
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Oh, man. That too!
"She had to break eye contact with his piercing blue eyes. Meanwhile he took another sip of his piping hot coffee. He then smirked and chuckled."
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My god, man. That's what AI is for. You'll go insane!
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I realize now my prompt needs some tweaking. I definitely want it old school. And the final comment is paramount.
“Write me a laughably bad 10,000 word sci-fi story. Add in some romance. Include as many bad tropes as possible. Don't use any sources newer than 1990. The key idea is to make it so-bad-it's-good."
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Sword and Planet Fuckery would be an excellent title
Have you read The Eye of Argon ?
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No. Holy crap. Is it a parody? Or is it unironic? In any case - it looks truly great...
Note to self: How is it that I entirely forgot about the word "quaff"? Shame on me! It's funny even by itself: quaff.
It was indeed unironic. Became a staple of fantasy conventions over the years. Back in the day I played a drinking game where we tried to read it aloud without laughing. The fun is lessened a bit when we learn that it was a 17-year-old's first attempt at a novel that somehow made it out into the world . . . but it did make it out into the world, and it does contain the line "You make love well wench" so I think it's fair game.
Oh, that does take away most of the humor. I'm happy that nothing I did as a teenager exists in the digital world. I'd die of cringe.
I first discovered it when I was around that age, and thought it was the funniest thing ever, but that was more than half a lifetime ago so now I cringe somewhat on Theis's behalf rather than in mockery of him. But he died in 2002 so now it's the property of humankind, right? It's a conundrum.
I'll read it in a different way. I'll laugh at the text but not the author. I hate to think that in some alternate universe I wrote an equally awful sci-fi novel as a 17 year-old and everybody laughs at it.
https://the-toast.net/2015/01/28/tell-soft-science-fiction-novel/
I wonder how old that trope is. Could it go back all the way to the beginning of the the Age of Sail (~1500)?
We've all been there.
I legitimately love it when the ship's doctor has a drinking problem and/or is a crotchety asshole who hates his own life but is excessively worried about the health of the crew/captain
Also yes the robot crew member should jerk it, and everybody should feel weird about it