# What kind of science fiction writer are you? (Personality test.) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 26, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962 "2003-01-26T02:40:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/21 "2003-01-26T06:18:07Z")
I got Gregory Benford too! I do like Hard Science Fiction indeed. [http://www.sfsite.com/03b/ben29.htm](http://www.sfsite.com/03b/ben29.htm) ---
**Author:** ![guitarmax\_99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@guitarmax\_99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guitarmax_99)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/22 "2003-01-26T06:47:00Z")
I got Olaf Stapledon. How odd, I always thought I’d be more like Orson Scott Card. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/23 "2003-01-26T07:50:58Z")
I got Arthur C. Clarke! I couldn’t be happier. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/24 "2003-01-26T08:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Arthur C. Clarke > Well known for nonfiction science writing and for early promotion of the effort toward space travel, his fiction was often grand and visionary. I knew it would be him or Heinlein. I’m not as arrogant as Heinlein, though. I do like Clarke. Him and Asimov introduced me to the world of hard science fiction after I weaned on Bradbury’s pleasant (and unpleasant) science-fantasies. But I’ve read Asimov and, ladies and gentlemen, I’m no Asimov. As much as I wish I was. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/25 "2003-01-26T10:29:13Z")
I’m Hal Clement, apparently. This is kind of fun because I’ve actually met the him and his wife at a couple of local SF cons. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/26 "2003-01-26T10:37:46Z")
I scored Benford as well. Which is a worry - I really can’t stand Benford’s work. “Beyond the fall of night”, which Benford co-authored with Clarke, was a travesty. I can’t tell you exactly why I thought that, but I read it in 1990 and disliked so much that I never re-read it, which is very rare for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/27 "2003-01-26T11:12:37Z")
Another for William Gibson. Such weirdness … ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/28 "2003-01-26T12:30:03Z")
Heinlein. And I’m not shocked at all. I’d have been amazed if it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Doll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Broken\_Doll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Doll)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/29 "2003-01-26T13:27:07Z")
**Isaac Asimov** One of the most prolific writers in history, on any imaginable subject. Cared little for art but created lasting and memorable tales. Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/30 "2003-01-26T14:02:55Z")
> [@](#): > > **Gregory Benford** > A master literary stylist who is also a working scientist. Guess I’m going to have to do some searching. Never heard of the fella that I can remember… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/31 "2003-01-26T14:11:33Z")
I got Arthur C. Clarke, which is cool, but I was really hoping for Philip K. Dick. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/32 "2003-01-26T14:48:52Z")
Ursula Le Guin. The only one that would make me happier would be Sherri Tepper. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/33 "2003-01-26T15:07:32Z")
I got Ayn Rand “This charismatic cult leader used science fiction as one of her recruiting tools for new converts” Now I’m depressed because I HATE Ayn Rand and all that she stood for. ---
**Author:** ![Woeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Woeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woeg)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/34 "2003-01-26T15:08:27Z")
**Robert A. Heinlein** Beginning with technological action stories and progressing to epics with religious overtones, this take-no-prisoners writer racked up some huge sales numbers. Excellent… ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/35 "2003-01-26T15:18:47Z")
I got **Heinlein** too. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/36 "2003-01-26T15:47:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Torgo \* > \*\***James Tiptree, Jr. (Alice B. Sheldon)** > > Great. I’m a chick. \*\* She also commited suicide, if I remember correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/37 "2003-01-26T16:44:52Z")
I’m **Issac Asimov**. I was hoping for Heinlein, but I think this result is correct. As much as I love old RAH, there is a lot he and I would disagree on. My GF is **Alfred Bester** , which is a bit disturbing. I don’t even know who that is, and it’s a guy… An interesting exercise in your knowledge of science fiction is to answer the questions to produce a particular author. I was able to punch out Heinlein on the first try by answering as I imagined he might. Now I’m going to try for Frank Herbert. ---
**Author:** ![Stinkum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Stinkum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinkum)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/38 "2003-01-26T16:51:19Z")
I’m William Gibson. How the hell did THAT happen??? No, no, no – I have to be John Varley. Nothing else will do. Tho’ I don’t think it was an option with this quiz. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/39 "2003-01-26T16:54:57Z")
Wilfred Brimley You really REALLY shouldn’t write Sci-fi. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962/40 "2003-01-26T16:57:04Z")
Another Gregory Benford here … Interesting. Thanks for the interview link too, **GIGObuster** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-science-fiction-writer-are-you-personality-test/150962.md?page=3)