Daryl wrote:Rereading many much loved and well remembered classical space operas isn't necessarily advised, as they come across as simplistic with 2D characters. The craft of writing has moved on.
Are you saying that Weber has help ruin the reading of the classics by taking the lid off of the detail and developing the character more? I'm not judging your notion, just want to make sure I understand you.
There are two kinds of detail, as far as I'm concerned. There's the inner detail of the storyline which adds the political/geopolitical icing on the cake. Then there's the detail of the tech.
My personal preference is that the latter is expendable in light of a more personal read. But that's simply a subjective statement in the face of my flavor of read. One thing these forums has done is educate me to the flavor of reader who needs that kind of detail. The reader who needs to know the ins and outs and nuts and bolts of the tech.
As far as the political/geopolitical detail is concerned, I think a reader's craving and desire for that is inevitable in a series the length of the Honorverse, when one naturally begins to identify with entire planets and peoples and wonder what makes them tick and how they ended up in the mess they're in, or simply how they came to be. The longer the series, the more natural detail is needed to assuage the curiosity in the reader's cat and to fully appease his kittens.
If I'm honest, I have to admit that after a series is concluded, all of the detail is ultimately needed to make the series more complete, and allow it to endure the ravenous test of time and rereads. The Honorverse won't ever become boring or two dimensional with the inexorable tick of time. Whoever inherits my Honorverse collection will enjoy the read for a lifetime even if they're part of a prolong society.
Almost forgot. I still enjoy two dimensional characters and the old sci-fi. They allow a more intimate read on my part, concentrating less on the tech and allowing the impetus of the story to quickly carry you along. I find it a refreshing wind to the type of sail that floats my boat. An example, the oftentimes ill-received Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard.