I just discovered these interesting articles over at The Fix Online: Are We at the End of Science Fiction, Part I and Are We at the End of Science Fiction, Part II.
I think people are confusing the death of the short fiction magazine with the end of science fiction in general. I know it’s hard to come up with new tropes like Time Travel and Alternate Universes, but I don’t think we’ve stopped entirely. Had anyone imagined downloading yourself into a machine earlier than the 1950? Greg Bear pretty much started off a slew of stories on Nano technology in the 80s.
And since when does “Science Fiction” only encompass the narrow field of “Hard Science Fiction”. Surely Space Operas like Star Wars and Star Trek are alive and well. This is especially true in the video game sectore.
I think the real question being asked, is, “Are we at the end of Clarke style idea-driven science fiction?”. And to that, I think the answer is probably yes. Idea driven stories don’t sell these days (at least in short fiction. The DaVinci Code had very little BUT an idea going for it), and I think that’s a good thing. Character driven fiction is really the only way the field will survive. With video games and TV becoming so prominent, books have to go where they CAN’T–into the characters heads to compete. It’s simple economics.
Anyways, the articles are a little long, but certainly recommended reading. After you’ve had a look, please come back to the blog and share your thoughts in the comments section.
13 Comments(+Add)
You’re right — those essays are a tad long. From what I skimmed it does seem the writer is placing much of the doom and gloom on the fact that there aren’t many SF magazines anymore … the publishing industry in itself seems to still be doing well (I read somewhere that Tor was one of the few houses recently who did not do any cut-backs, which means that they must be doing SOMETHING right). And from what I’ve read too, genre fiction hasn’t really been hurt much by the economy … fact is, genre readers are still buying books. Which is a good thing. But is still true that publishers won’t take a chance on a new author … no matter how much “promise” that writer might show, if the publisher isn’t convinced the book will sell, they won’t publish it. Also, got a kick out of the bit about publishers and agents rejecting those two Booker-prize books … funny stuff but sad stuff.
“Also, got a kick out of the bit about publishers and agents rejecting those two Booker-prize books”
The fact that something is well-written does not mean it is publishable. Lots of crap gets published and sells better than thoughtful novels. It also depends what’s hot at that time. If I think the next bit thing is pirate werewolves I don’t care how many magic realist tranny-vampires you’ve got, I’m not buying it.
Happy 2009 btw Jordan.
“The fact that something is well-written does not mean it is publishable.”
… yes, I agree, but those books in particular WERE published at once point; hence, that’s how they once the Booker Prize. What that goes to show you is how tastes change over the years. After all, do you really think MOBY DICK would be published by Random House today?
Yep. Things change. Somebody sent a Jane Austen novel to publishers and it was also rejected. I’m sure a ton of books would be rejected nowadays. I’m also sure books that did very well years ago will sell very poorly today.
Even Moby Dick didn’t sell well during Melville’s lifetime. It was only a few decades after his death that it became the classic it is today, and then mostly due to far-too-late interests by critics and literary writers.
I think idea-driven SF will be around for a long time, but I think it’s definitely harder to write now than even 20 or 30 years ago. I believe science and technology in ideas and fact have come so far that’s it’s extremely difficult to come up with new ideas for these type of stories.
Anymore I just “pshaw” when I hear about the death of speculative fiction or of short story markets. Yes, yes, they’re dying, dying, dying. They’re always dying. I’ve been hearing this for 20 years or more. I’m sure it was heard by Poe and Howard and Welles and probably even Homer.
Idea driven SF will be with us for a long time, but not in the short fiction market. It’s gotta be character driven to succeed these days. Asimov’s submission guidelines specifically asks for that, despite the fact that Asimov himself wrote idea-driven fiction. He even admitted that in a choice between character and idea, character has to go.
The fact that those publishers rejected Booker Prize winners just goes to show you that you need to research your publishers. I mean, don’t send your epic heroic fantasy novel to Baen’s, even if it’s Hugo quality–they just won’t publish it.
I’d like to see an epic heroic fantasy that’s Hugo quality.
That being said, the last few Hugo and/or Nebula (and even Pulitzer) winners I’ve read didn’t do much for me.
Really? I quite enjoyed “Rainbow’s End by Verner Vinge”. As usual, with his stuff you have to get past the “hump” of character building, then you can’t put the book down.
Jordan! I just discovered your very cool site. Have to admit I haven’t read everything yet, but wanted to let you know how very cool it is!
Thanks, Gay!
This blog is mainly focused on the sci-fi and fantasy markets, since that’s what I focus on, but it’s also home to more than my share of rants. Turns out I’m an ornery curmudgeon. At 33! I’m aging before my time…
Speaking of rejections (argh!), you may enjoy our collection of “Classic Rejection Notices.” Go to Bewildering Stories and click on “Readers’ Guide.” A random selection appears toward the bottom of the page, between our Unofficial and Official Mottoes. There are 23 of them; to see them all, you’ll have to refresh the page a bunch of times. And we’re always on the lookout for more.
The one from the Chinese economics journal is by far the funniest, even more than the one for Marcel Proust, but the one for Anne Frank is so sad I may… reject it.
Don Webb
Managing Editor
Bewildering Stories
Hi Don, thanks for dropping by the blog. I’ve gotta say, I admire your segue
My favourite is God rejecting Nietzche, but they were all very good!