Has G.R.R.M. ever expressed an opinion on L. Ron Hubbard?

[Bastard of Balmora]

I've suddenly found myself increasingly curious on this subject..and I can't say I have a very good reason other than Hubbard wrote science fiction and George has always been so involved with it. So, has he? I'd love to know just what he thought of that guy.

[Cubarey]

Well GRRM might have offered an opinion as his writings but I would think that he would not have commented on L. Ron Hubbard himself. With very few exceptions GRRM has stayed clear of attacking people. Moreover, he generally takes the tact that if does not like someone's writing he simply does not mention it, instead of starting a flaming war. GRRM is by no means perfect but there is very little that would be gained by him attacking either the person or writings of a person he does not care for.

[Wilbur]

The Dean of Science Fiction, Robert Heinlein, made a bet with L. Ron Hubbard in a bar. Hubbard backed himself to start a religion, so Heinlein lost the bet. Source: Several Heinlein pieces, including Grumbles from the Grave, and also his wife's biography of the Dean.

[peterbound]

I've suddenly found myself increasingly curious on this subject..and I can't say I have a very good reason other than Hubbard wrote science fiction and George has always been so involved with it. So, has he? I'd love to know just what he thought of that guy.

I'm sure the inter webs has something on the subject. Or not.

At the end of the day, who gives a damn? Is George your guiding light on what to feel about people? Have your own opinion and leave it at that.

[Bastard of Balmora]

Well GRRM might have offered an opinion as his writings but I would think that he would not have commented on L. Ron Hubbard himself. With very few exceptions GRRM has stayed clear of attacking people. Moreover, he generally takes the tact that if does not like someone's writing he simply does not mention it, instead of starting a flaming war. GRRM is by no means perfect but there is very little that would be gained by him attacking either the person or writings of a person he does not care for.

You mistake me. I'm not looking for anyone to attack anyone. I was genuinely interested in what George might have thought of the man, being that he was such a prolific sci-fi writer. I was curious whether or not George thought his work stood up.

I'm sure the inter webs has something on the subject. Or not.

At the end of the day, who gives a damn? Is George your guiding light on what to feel about people? Have your own opinion and leave it at that.

Interesting reply. I think you're working yourself up over nothing. Also, I've googled extensively and can't find anything other than some non-sense about whether George is a Scientologist or not, which I don't care about.

Is George my guiding light on what to feel? Of course not, what a bizarre thing to say Mr. Junior Psychologist. God forbid I wonder what one Sci-fi author thought of another when he's expressed his thoughts on SEVERAL other authors of the same genre in the past. Real crazy, I know.

[Darth Richard II]

Hubbard sucked and couldn't write for shit.

[David Selig]

"I wish I had written a character who is anywhere near as well written as Jettero Heller, this shining example of depth, originality and subtlety."

Just in case - this is sarcasm.

[Bastard of Balmora]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

[Bastard of Balmora]

Hubbard sucked and couldn't write for shit.

That's the general consensus I see around, but I have no idea whether to dismiss it as people who hate scientology or not, or if the guy really was a hack.

[Larry of the Lawn]

Pretty sure he said Hubbard was the inspiration for Ned Stark.

edit: Nope, I'm and idiot. It was Stannis, not Ned. I always get them mixed up.

[Darth Richard II]

That's the general consensus I see around, but I have no idea whether to dismiss it as people who hate scientology or not, or if the guy really was a hack.[/quoting]

I had no Idea what Scientology was when I read a few of his books back in high school. They sucked ass. Stanek is objectively better.

[peterbound]

You mistake me. I'm not looking for anyone to attack anyone. I was genuinely interested in what George might have thought of the man, being that he was such a prolific sci-fi writer. I was curious whether or not George thought his work stood up.

Interesting reply. I think you're working yourself up over nothing. Also, I've googled extensively and can't find anything other than some non-sense about whether George is a Scientologist or not, which I don't care about.

Is George my guiding light on what to feel? Of course not, what a bizarre thing to say Mr. Junior Psychologist. God forbid I wonder what one Sci-fi author thought of another when he's expressed his thoughts on SEVERAL other authors of the same genre in the past. Real crazy, I know.

Don't flatter yourself, that's hardly worked up.

I just don't understand why you care? Curiosity? Settling an argument? Seems like a silly thing to ponder.

I'd be willing to say that George would take the higher ground, and not say much. He's a pretty good guy that way.

[Bastard of Balmora]

Don't flatter yourself, that's hardly worked up.

I just don't understand why you care? Curiosity? Settling an argument? Seems like a silly thing to ponder.

I'd be willing to say that George would take the higher ground, and not say much. He's a pretty good guy that way.

Maybe, but it still doesn't stop me wondering whether or not George was a fan of his work. I've found myself increasingly fascinated in the subject since watching the HBO documentary and, ASOIAF being such an escape and masterpiece of work for me, I wondered what the author I respect so much might think.

I tend to lean toward the idea that he isn't much of a fan, with no basis mind you, but I have nothing else to go on. I'd love to be surprised.

Still, I don't know why you care so much about what I care about. I'm just a curious nobody.

Nice Eric the Midget avatar, btw.

Also:

"I'd be willing to say that George would take the higher ground, and not say much. He's a pretty good guy that way. "

So, by default it'd have to be a negative answer? :crying:

George's opinion would hardly change my own, I tend to think the guy was a whackjob, albeit one who influenced a lot of people. I think it's pretty natural to wonder what one of the most influential current science fiction writers might think of someone like that.

[Myshkin]

The answer is no. /thread.

[Darth Richard II]

Party pooper.

[Bastard of Balmora]

I'm loving all the hostility for asking a simple question.

[Errant Bard]

The real question here would be: Has Stanek ever expressed an opinion about John C Wright? I've suddenly found myself increasingly curious on this subject since eating breakfast this morning, TKatEotR being sold twice as much as the bible worldwide, I wondered what the author I respect so much might think...

[Darth Richard II]

I'm loving all the hostility for asking a simple question.

Naw this is normal. It's how we express love.

[Bastard of Balmora]

The real question here would be: Has Stanek ever expressed an opinion about John C Wright? I've suddenly found myself increasingly curious on this subject since eating breakfast this morning, TKatEotR being sold twice as much as the bible worldwide, I wondered what the author I respect so much might think...

Isn't that people just getting riled up over what a blatant homophobe/misogynist unquestionably thinks? It's like they're giving him exactly what he wants. I guarantee he doesn't even believe the bullshit he spouts.

[SerHaHa]

GRRM did mention LRH in one of his recent blog posts at his own website, in one of the many posts about this whole PuppyGate/Hugo awards thing. It was in relation to LRH being nominated one year, and the way George wrote it, it seemed he didn't hold his writing in all that high of a regard. I'll have to dig through my history to find the exact post, as GRRM has made about 5 chapters worth of a book's worth of posts on the subject, the Hugo's being close to his heart, and what with the controversy and all.

The comment I'm talking about wasn't in the "first post" of one of the many blog entries, it was in a response way down the list in the comments GRRM made answering a commenter asking the same question as the OP here, hence the work trying to find it again being a giant PITA, but I will find it, as IRRC there was about 400 comments replied to the post in question, of which there are about 20 I have to dig through now.