The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

Last summer I read Gateway. It was my first experience with Pohl and it made a great first impression. A few days ago I finished The Space Merchant. While the premise was interesting, and still topical today, I found the book mediocre. There just seemed to be so much untapped potential for each plot development. I was whisked from one event to the next without any build up, or true insight into the main character's evolution. Gateway was so memorable because it had believable characters, and an intriguing setting. All I got from The Space Merchants was disappointment in thinking of how cool the book could have been with a little more thought and detail. It is true that The Space Merchants was a joint effort between Pohl and another author that has currently slipped my mind, but it still left me wondering what I'll be getting the next time I give him a chance. Do any of you have some suggestions? Thanks!

Contrast the attitudes of Pohl's characters towards venturing out on dangerous missions in Gateway with those in Scalzi'a Old Man's War.

My suggestion would be to focus on the Gateway sequels and Pohl's later works. Space Merchants is old enough the focus on characterization in SF was pretty scanty for the most part.