Delany wrote man-boy love stories with a light space opera background. Like the Gor books are bondage with a light swords and sorcery background. I don’t mind either, but neither should be getting awards for science fiction. There’s just not enough science fiction there. Also Delany supports the National Man Boy Love association, but that’s not in his space opera. Scalzi supports Delany.

I doubt that Scalzi is a criminal. He does not appear to be competent or energetic enough to do anything.

Delaney was highly promiscuous during the 1960s “free love” movement, and there is little doubt that many of his sex partners were underage. Aside from his personal sex acts, he propagandized many others to break all restrictions on sexual behavior. Delaney is probably impossible to prosecute in California, although he might hang by the neck in another jurisdiction.

Really is a question- Can’t say I’ve ever read either of them.

Are you writing anything I should know about? I expect to reread Expanded Universe and two of the juveniles and Glory Road and, really, my three feet of shelved Heinlein, including Pattison’s biography, twenty years from now, as I was rereading them twenty years ago.

I have read a few of the very early Darkovers, good space opera. I haven’t read the later Darkover books, which were written for feminists. They liked it. The magazine she edited, was well edited. The psychic detective/romance Heartlight series was about as good as Manly Wade Wellman’s psychic detective stuff.

Most writers are neurotic introverts. Most critics are worse. This is not compatible with them being people of very good character or judgement. Heinlein wrote like a person of very good character and judgement. If he was faking it, he faked it very well. Too bad he was a cockhound through his forties, but it looks to me like his third wife about tamed him. Bradley was a sex criminal, but in the stuff I’ve read she didn’t write like one. She wasn’t Samuel Delany or John Scalzi.

That’s where you’re wrong. Give it 20 years and I’ll link back to this thread.

“Heinlein wrote a short letter of support to Bradley when her husband was in trouble for ped stuff. ”

Yeah, and Bradley herself was appalling. I reread most of the Darkover books after I learned the details of her behavior and the author’s issues snap right into focus from how the books (and certain characters specifically) are written.

Well, there is one. Heinlein wrote a short letter of support to Bradley when her husband was in trouble for ped stuff. He thought everyone should mind their own business. I don’t think Hubbard was into fandom then.

Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and science fantasy novels, and is best known for the Arthurian fiction novel The Mists of Avalon, and the Darkover series. While some critics have noted a feminist perspective in her writing,[1] her popularity has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations against her of child sexual abuse and rape by two of her children, Mark and Moira Greyland, among many others.

Thelema might (or might not) be justifiable, but Crowleyanity never is. Those familiar with Crowley will see some obvious imitation and Crowleyanity in both Heinlein and Hubbard.

“Heinlein [...] evidently encouraged Hubbard to have a sexual relationship with his wife Leslyn”

He may have made that up. He also may have seduced Heinlein’s wife and spun it as he was allowed. Psychopaths seem to have almost supernatural ability to convince people to do things they really shouldn’t. I think this is because they no empathy they can completely mask small stresses that normal empathetic people show when they lie. They use facial expressions to fake sincerity, happiness, etc. Some are good at it and some not. I think Nancy Pelosi is a psychopath. I think it’s harder for Women to fake empathy than it is for Men. Look at Pelosi’s expressions. She looks like a monster. See how when she’s smiling she raises her eyebrows but he face really doesn’t smile it grimaces. Hundreds of small muscles involved in smiling. Tough to fake. Men I think have it easier as we’re not expected to have our facial expressions be as strong. Same for Hillary.

http://www.lifenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/nancypelosipic3.jpg

http://media.graytvinc.com/images/Nancy-Pelosi-DL.jpg

Hillary is better at it but when you see her live you see these slips like this.

http://getsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/hillary-clinton-female-president-united-states-pointing-figher-23.jpg