tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post2420697795305595025..comments2024-03-28T01:11:53.559-07:00Comments on Electric Spec Editor Blog: Sci-Fi's Screwed-up Prioritieslesleylsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-63263723751057336572010-08-25T07:56:26.648-07:002010-08-25T07:56:26.648-07:00I've heard that fantasy is very popular in war...I've heard that fantasy is very popular in wartime and economic strife, too.Betsy Dornbuschnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-87049591654435819512010-08-25T06:44:22.150-07:002010-08-25T06:44:22.150-07:00If the public doesn't understand it--and, let&...If the public doesn't understand it--and, let's face it, sf requires an acquired reader skill set--the reading feels too dry or too much like *work* for most readers out there. <br /><br />As for Asimov's I rarely like the stories in it, and I love the genre. I think their sense of genre purity is damning the magazine. <br /><br />I think, too, that fantasy is doing much better than sf because we are constantly barraged with tech and it feels like we're living a scifi life these days. So people go for where they can find mystery and magic.writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-33009673478541626422010-08-24T06:48:40.631-07:002010-08-24T06:48:40.631-07:00Charity, just call it "accessible SF" an...Charity, just call it "accessible SF" and "appeals to a wider audience". Turn it into a marketing ploy!! :)ssashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527483283426518167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-13568024827677511152010-08-23T19:58:27.500-07:002010-08-23T19:58:27.500-07:00Hmmm, I wonder if this is why none of the contempo...Hmmm, I wonder if this is why none of the contemporary sci-fi writers ring a bell with me. I read sci-fi, but it's all the classics, Asimov, Ben Bova, Bradbury, Heinlen, and so forth. <br /><br />I am actually worried about labeling my novel sci-fi because it IS character driven and the science is light. Part of me was happy when one of my alpha readers said, "I never liked science fiction, but I like this!" That lasted a few months until I realized marketing to sci-fi might be a problem. LOL, who knew?Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-21344012026473818722010-08-23T19:37:59.965-07:002010-08-23T19:37:59.965-07:00Glad I could spark a healthy discussion. I like th...Glad I could spark a healthy discussion. I like the analogy above to literary short stories. Oftentimes they are far more inaccessible than the worst of SF. As to fantasy . . . that will be the subject of another post.David E. Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15562347731539228314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-83783872984918519192010-08-23T09:22:08.360-07:002010-08-23T09:22:08.360-07:00With all due respect to Editor Dave, I totally dis...With all due respect to Editor Dave, I totally disagree with his premise that "sci-fi" has screwed up priorities. What I believe is going on is a common phenomenon: critics look for different things than audiences do. When was the last time you agreed with a movie critic, for example? A large variety of SF books continue to be published and are enjoyed by a large variety of readers. I hope this continues for a long, long time!lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-83815907643981433242010-08-23T08:02:35.820-07:002010-08-23T08:02:35.820-07:00I think that there can be both interesting and ent...I think that there can be both interesting and entertaining science fiction. I think that science fiction and fantasy are very prevalent in various media and some really outstanding science fiction has come out in movies and in video games. The last time that I bought a copy of Analog it was very disappointing. The stories were boring although some were by "big" name authors, the format hasn't changed in decades, and the science commentary was out of date and not inspiring. Analog, Asimov's, and F&SF need a serious rehaul and upgrade and the editors need to be aiming for a younger audience and pick more engaging stories.Annette Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10550559452745322804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-89696328193556124422010-08-23T05:52:33.638-07:002010-08-23T05:52:33.638-07:00I don't resent the awards, etc, going to the m...I don't resent the awards, etc, going to the most pure examples of a genre, though I often don't enjoy them, either.<br /><br />I think a writer has to make a conscious decision about each story as to its accessibility. I was asked the other night what my latest project was (a future thriller) and she immediately said, "I don't like SF. I'm not that interested in science."<br /><br />I blurted without thinking that the book is very accessible, that it's my intent to write a more mainstream story. I realized I wanted people like her to read and enjoy the book. Obviously, it might cut out some hardcore SF audience. Up to that point, I've been worrying the book wasn't high-brow SF enough. But you really probably can't have it both ways.Betsy Dornbuschnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-9284251152370892572010-08-23T04:09:56.484-07:002010-08-23T04:09:56.484-07:00I think you are spot on. There's too much ...I think you are spot on. There's too much 'cleverness' and long scientific passages in some of these books.<br /><br />Also, I find that the more they are hamstrung by our current knowledge, the less interesting the people and the stories.<br /><br />Verne and Wells dared to dream and are still read today. What will become of today's SF authors in 100 years time?Martin Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05605554706836638988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-3992004725754142010-08-23T03:27:27.609-07:002010-08-23T03:27:27.609-07:00Hard, idea-driven SF that's undistinguished wh...Hard, idea-driven SF that's undistinguished when it comes to characters or style or story is clearly something with no appeal to people who aren't fans of hard, idea-driven SF.<br /><br />Then again, I follow a lot of markets who publish a lot of literary/SF fiction, which (wrongly, sure, but not <i>that</i> wrongly) doesn't reach any wider than standard literary short fiction.<br /><br />I have nothing against editors expressing their personal editorial vision in their publication, but if you put me against the wall and asked me to choose between purity of art, idea, or entertainment, I'd go with entertainment.Ed Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02676758462715456024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-60760726561310695212010-08-23T01:01:58.278-07:002010-08-23T01:01:58.278-07:00Interesting post. I agree with a lot of what you s...Interesting post. I agree with a lot of what you say, although I'm sure there's room for all different sorts of SF, hardcore and popular, enlightening and "merely" entertaining.<br /><br />I do agree, absolutely, that the story should come first : characters and plot are what make any book compelling. I think the problem is that, with SF, the big idea often comes first (I know it does with me) and then characters and plot etc. need to be bolted on afterwards. And that can be done with greater or lesser success.<br /> <br />But I think it's fine if people like to read books that are mainly about the ideas. So long as they don't complain if others think differently.<br /><br />PS. slight typo : "fist" should be "first".Simon Kewinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11537163555998763769noreply@blogger.com