David Brin's best-selling novels ("Earth," "Startide Rising") are printed in 20-plus languages. "The Postman" was filmed in 1997. His non-fiction book, "The Transparent Society," won the 2000 Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association.
"The Lord of the Rings" is lovingly crafted, seductive -- and profoundly backward-looking. Why not look at things through the Dark Lord's eye for a change?
