I need someone to write a brief review of my new website
www.multiverse-db.com
This doesn't require any research at all.  Just visit the site, check
out the functions, and tell me and others what you think when you
write your answer.  The Website is sort of in the "Beta" version.  I'd
prefer a researcher with some knowledge of science fiction.  I'm going
to post this question twice though, once under
science and once under "Books and Literature"

Hi JR,

First of all, for background, I'm an avid science fiction reader, and
fwiw, a published author. I think we actually have a few science
fiction writers as Google Researchers, which probably goes to show
that the average sf author has too much time on his hands ... or loves
to do anything but what s/he should be doing, which is to write. 
Anyway...

Don't want to forget this, I loved the creatures of planet Altoid! 
Please tell the fifth graders to keep it up.

Quibbles, first. From an aesthetic standpoint, I think the red type
(at least the 10 pt. type) on the star background on the Home Page is
extremely hard to read, at least to these late 40s-ish eyes. The blue
type is marginally better. Personally, I'd go with white type, or lose
the background. Again, aesthetic-wise, I think the scrolling notes
inside the tables don't work.  I much preferred the "w/o Notes"
option.

The database functionality works nicely, although the search engine
drives me nutso, frankly. I almost always forgot to pull down one or
the other of the drop-downs, and got very tired of seeing the "Please
select at least 1 search criteria" box. I'm assuming that you were/are
experimenting with refining the search criteria. Again, personally, I
think the less choices, while still returning results, the better, for
your audience.

More... There's a broken link to the Earthf-small.jpg in the "Friday"
reference. Speaking of Heinlein, there's all sorts of nits I could
pick with the "Future History" references. I think that you took most
of the information from one source, but if you're going to promote
this among science fiction fandom, expect to be getting a lot of "That
ain't right" emails.

What else? Hmm. Overweighted on Star Wars and Star Trek, and the guys
you'd expect, such as Niven and Herbert, but I was happy to see
reference to McCaffrey and Farmer. But you need more Ellison! Where's
"Medusa: Harlan's World"? Where's the reference to the Kyben Wars? 
Where's the Earth reference for "A Boy and His Dog?"

<pant> <pant> No, no, don't get me started. :-) Overall, I thought a
nice work-in-progress. Obviously, a labor of love.  Best of luck with
it.

regards,

rico

Thanks for an excellent review.  As I pointed out in the "About the
Database" page I don't have time to read everything.  So I certainly
hope someone emails me an entry for some of Ellison's work.  And I'd
be delighted if someone corrects my errors regarding the Future
History universe.  I also need someone to email me records with
planets from the works of Greg Bear, Orson Scott Card and other
writers I'm not that familiar with.  The reason Star Wars and Star
Trek have so many entries is that in my opinion SF is becoming more of
a visual medium.  All the possible story lines have been done in
books.   But with a movie, you can take an idea that pure cliche and
make it look great with special effects and a big budget.  That seems
to be what the fans like.