Comments on: Is science fiction still a distinct genre? http://futurismic.com/2007/09/10/is-science-fiction-still-a-distinct-genre/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Paul Raven http://futurismic.com/2007/09/10/is-science-fiction-still-a-distinct-genre/comment-page-1/#comment-3184 Paul Raven Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:34:48 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2007/09/10/is-science-fiction-still-a-distinct-genre/#comment-3184 That's an interesting distinction, Matt - and I have to say not one I'd entirely agree with. I'm inclined to believe that sf *at its best* is much more than a setting; it's a different way of looking at ideas and the way that people interact and react with them, as opposed to fantasy or historical or westerns, which are classic story threads set against a certain temporal or metaphysical backdrop. Sf as setting = 'skiffy'; sf literature = [?]. It's a tricky distinction, but a lot of fun to debate over a beer or two! That’s an interesting distinction, Matt – and I have to say not one I’d entirely agree with. I’m inclined to believe that sf *at its best* is much more than a setting; it’s a different way of looking at ideas and the way that people interact and react with them, as opposed to fantasy or historical or westerns, which are classic story threads set against a certain temporal or metaphysical backdrop. Sf as setting = ‘skiffy’; sf literature = [?]. It’s a tricky distinction, but a lot of fun to debate over a beer or two!

]]> By: Matt Arnold http://futurismic.com/2007/09/10/is-science-fiction-still-a-distinct-genre/comment-page-1/#comment-3161 Matt Arnold Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:51:05 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2007/09/10/is-science-fiction-still-a-distinct-genre/#comment-3161 The reason for this is that SF-- like fantasy or historical fiction-- is a setting, not a genre. As such, any genre can be set in those settings, such as mystery, romance, comedy, horror, or action. Those are not settings, they're experiences produced in the reader's brain. I have heard many people complain that a work set in an SF setting was still not SF. I think they mean the experience they're expecting it to produce is intellectual stimulation about philosophy, business, politics, science, engineering, or other ideas. Too many paying markets are looking for writing that is generically good, instead of choosing one of these mental experiences to focus on. http://matt-arnold.livejournal.com/189854.html The reason for this is that SF– like fantasy or historical fiction– is a setting, not a genre. As such, any genre can be set in those settings, such as mystery, romance, comedy, horror, or action. Those are not settings, they’re experiences produced in the reader’s brain. I have heard many people complain that a work set in an SF setting was still not SF. I think they mean the experience they’re expecting it to produce is intellectual stimulation about philosophy, business, politics, science, engineering, or other ideas. Too many paying markets are looking for writing that is generically good, instead of choosing one of these mental experiences to focus on.

http://matt-arnold.livejournal.com/189854.html

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