C.L. Moore Deserves Recognition

by Dylan
(Illinois, Wisconsin)

I enjoyed the article on C.L. Moore and agreed on every point, include the critical ones. As much as I enjoyed the supernatural elements of the tale, I found myself wanting to know more about the world outside the ancient temples and dark caverns, and we don't get to see much of Smith's time there.


Nonetheless, Moore created in Smith what is, as far as I have been able to tell, the grandaddy of all space cowboys. What's more, the whaterms we do get to see of the Mooreian solar system might very well be the world's first peek at a space western. Both the space cowboy and his backdrop are alive and well today, while Moore goes largely unrecognized.

The whole achievement is all the more impressive when one considers that Moore was writing in what was by and large a Man's arena. The fact that she invented so much that has long outlived her is more than can be said of many of her competitors who faced no such discrimination.

Comments for C.L. Moore Deserves Recognition

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

May 10, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The compliment in the criticism
by: Zendexor

Following on from Dylan's remarks, it's natural to want more of Northwest Smith's background and milieu, in order words we want what we aren't given, but this complaint is simultaneously a compliment to the author: it's a mark of genius to be able to whet our appetites for the extra helpings which have been denied us. Moore's successor Leigh Brackett (the other great Mistress of the OSS) arouses the same emotion: "if only..." this and that and the other...

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to join the conversation.

Solar System Heritage