The purpose of this page is to serve as a discussion vehicle for the
reader guidance course. No attempt will be made to provide anything
beyond a few thoughts. The text book and student reports should provide
a
much
more substantial introduction to this genre.
A 2002 report found that SF and fantasy accounted for about ten
percent of all trade books sold. In 2002, 2,241 titles were issued in
this category. The two genres can be very different and lumping them
together creates a variety of problems. Given the slump in book sales,
there are probably two many new titles and publishers are considering
cut backs. There are only three national distributors for mass market
editions and that has reduced availability outside of book stores and
created an emphasis on highly visible authors. While there has been a
substantial increase in hard copy editions, the readership is strongly
oriented toward the mass market paperback and this creates problems
since many librarians are uncomfortable with this format.
Science fiction has a variety of sub-genres and there are several
cross-over possibilities. At the moment, SF and romance are popular.
Mystery and SF has been popular for some time as seen in the Anita
Blake series by Laurell Hamilton.
Publishers are concerned that the traditional SF audience is aging
and that there is a lack of younger readers. There is a notable
contrast with heroic fantasy where younger readers are engaged.
However, the increasing popularity of SF with female readers is
positive and may increase readership.
While still limited in their impact, e-books are issued by new and
traditional publishers. They are particularly important for new authors.
"Science fiction consists of improbable possibilities, fantasy of plausible impossibilities." ~ Mirian Allen deFord
"Science fiction is the literature of change, fantasy is the literature of longing." ~ Trietel
"The best definition of science fiction is that it consists of stories in which one or more definitely scientific notion or theory or actual discovery is extrapolated, played with, embroidered on, in a non-logical, or fictional sense, and thus carried beyond the realm of the immediately possible in an effort to see how much fun the author and reader can have exploring the imaginary outer reaches of a given idea's potentialities." ~ Groff Conklin
"Science fiction is really sociological studies of the future, things that the writer believes are going to happen by putting two and two together." ~ Ray Bradbury
"SF is a controlled way to think and dream about the future. An integration of the mood and attitude of science (the objective universe) with the fears and hopes that spring from the unconscious. Anything that turns you and your social context, the social you, inside out. Nightmares and visions, always outlined by the barely possible." ~ Gregory Benford
"Like utopian fiction, science fiction grew out of the desire to create and predict the possibility of a better world." ~ Kathryn Cramer
"Science fiction and fantasy made more appearances on major bestseller lists around the country in 1999 than at any time since the early 1980s--perhaps more than ever before." ~ Robert Killheffer
"When you look back at the year-that-was, 1999, two series dominated. Harry Potter and Star War--nothing else came close." ~Kuo-Yo Liang
"For decades--perhaps since its coalescence as a publishing category--the world of science fiction and fantasy has chafed at its failure to capture widespread respect in the wider world of literature." ~ Robert Killheffer
"The basic story of this decade is that SF is getting somewhat more
successful in hardcover and trade paperback and a lot less successful
in mass
market." ~ Nielsen Hayden
"But science fiction is more than just pulp fiction; at its core is
the desire to understand humanity's place in the universe." ~
"More than any other genre, sci-fi delicately balances between being
familiar and being new. Too much 'new' is inaccessible. Too much
'familiar' fails to provide the desired reading experience. The
balancing point is unique for each reader and likely to change over
time." ~ Kim G. Kofmel
Award Web attempts to be a comprehensive site for speculative fiction awards. The HUGO and NEBULA awards are of special importance since these, especially the novels, works should be the cornerstone of the collection.
dmoz Open Directory Project provides a current and selective list of links.
Fantastic Fiction Bibliographies is useful for collection development.
Feminist Science Fiction, Fantasy & Utopia provides bibliographies and reviews of feminist SF.
The Linkiping Science Fiction and Fantasy Archive is especially useful to access to USENET postings that review SF and fantasy books.
Locus Magazine is a standard
source
of information on SF, fantasy, and horror book publishing. This is a
good
current awareness site.
The SciFan site includes a
useful book and author database, good bibliographies, and good coverage
of series, themes, and forthcoming books.
Science Fiction Crowsnest provides a European perspective on SF media, including books (but more emphasis on film and TV).
The SF Site has excellent
reviews and
links to a variety of useful sources, including author websites.
The Science Fiction and
Fantasy Book List site includes a comprehensive bibliography of SF
and heroic fantasy authors. Easily used. Good cross references to
pseudonyms. Can be slow to load.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Search allows the reader to select books based on a variety of interesting and appropriate options. Works quite well.
The Science Fiction
&
Fantasy Research Database is comprehensive in its coverage of
historical and critical literature
about speculative fiction, especially in earlier years. Coverage from
1878 through 1995.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy
World site claims to have more than 10,000 pages of content.
Includes
authors, reviews, interviews.
Science Fiction Weekly has
been recognized as the best online periodical without a print edition.
SF Romance provides a listing of romance novels with science fictional themes. Many of these are from authors and publishers relatively unknown to most in the SF community. The Sapphire Awards will also be found here.
Uchronia, the Alternative History List provides a good, current bibliography of alternative history titles. Clean, attractive site is easily used.
The
Ultimate
Science Fiction Web Guide is another comprehensive site. Some dated
links.
Washington State University has a good bibliography of SF secondary materials.
There are many WWW sites with reviews of SF and fantasy books. My
favorite
for new books is the SF Site.
Another
one that I find helpful is In
Other
Worlds. Not as many reviews as some sites, but quite well done. The
British site SF
Crowsnest.com includes news and reviews of books and films for both
fantasy and SF. Crowsnest sponsors the yearly Wooden Rocket Awards for
the best SF and fantasy websites in a variety of categories. Well worth
a visit and to subscribe to their monthly newsletter.
There are many good author sites. Orson
Scott Card and David Brin
provide good examples. Some artists also have sites. Bob Eggleton's is a favorite. Worlds of Wonder is an example of a
gallery showing work by different artists.
Wonderful and different is the Technovelgy.com site
that lists a variety of ideas and inventions from SF authors including
some current products incorporating these once fictional notions.
Deep Magic
is a SF/Fantasy emagazine with an emphasis on stories, but also
includes articles and a few book reviews. It's a good example of how
the Internet can be used to build a reader community.
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (2nd ed.) by John Clute and Peter Nicholls is a comprehensive treatment with helpful bibliographies. An enlarged CD-ROM version was issued by Grolier in 1995.
Magil's Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature is a four volume set that contains 791 essay reviews by about 360 reviewers on 500 of the major authors in the field. Includes good plot summaries.
Reference Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horrorby Michael Burgess is an annotated bibliography of secondary sources. Also includes core collections by type of library.
Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia by John Clute supplements the Encyclopedia above. Many color illustrations.
Science Fiction Writers: Critical Studies of the Major Authors from the early Nineteenth Century to the Present day [2nd ed.] by Richard Bleiler includes about 100 bio-critical essays. A substantial and well regarded work.
St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers (4th ed.) by Jay Pederson contains brief biographical information with good bibliographies of author's work and some secondary works. There is also a signed article placing the author's work in perspective.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader's Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Cyborgs, Aliens, and Sorcerers by Derek Buker. After an overview, organized by theme. Part of the ALA Readers' Advisory series.
Strictly Science Fiction: A Guide to Reading Interests by Diana Tixier Herald, and Bonnie Kunzel. About 900 titles are grouped by eigth broad themes. Annotations are descriptive and not evaluative. Part of the Genreflecting Advisory series.
What fantastic Fiction Do I Read Next?: A Reader's Guide to
Recent
Fantasy, Horror and Science fiction edited by Neil Barron
covers the
1989 to 1996 period.
Most of the major SF publishers have extensive websites that should
be visited regularly. TOR's is a good
example. It is also helpful to subscribe to their email-delivered
newsletters. Science fiction and fantasy book stores can also be
helpful for current awarenss. Other
Realms is a good example.
Publishers often include SF, fantasy, and horror (dark fantasy) as
part of
a fantastic literature genre. Many WWW sites do the same thing. A
further
complication is that notable authors, C. J. Cherryh is a good example,
write
both SF and fantasy. SCIENCE FICTION deals with events in the future
based
on themes and elements seen in contemporary society, usually based upon
a
WHAT IF thesis (what if the polar ice caps melted). To a notable
degree, SF
is realistic with some focus on science and technology. SF examines the
relationship between science/technology and society. FANTASY may deal
with
events in the future or the past, but includes elements, e.g. magic or
sorcery, which are not realistic based on what is "known" in today's
society. Although sometimes not especially helpful, the absence of
magic may indicate SF and its presence indicates fantasy. However, the
technology in some SF certainly has "magical" qualities given what we
know at present.
Kingsley Amis has said: "Science fiction is that class of prose narrative treating a situation that could not arise in the world we know, but which is hypothesized on the basis of some innovation in science or technology, or pseudo-science or pseudo-technology, whether human or extraterrestrial in origin." Isaac Asimov has said: "Science fiction is that branch of literature that deals with human responses to changes in the level of science and technology." In short, SF is the literature of change. Fifty-two definitions of SF can be found at this WWW site.
The setting is particularly important because the author must build a convincing world or universe and then that setting will lead to plot and character development. The WHAT IF must be at least somewhat convincing and then lead to a variety of scientific, technical, and social situations.
Stories vary notably in the degree to which science and technology is obtrusive and explained in some detail. Over the years, certain conventions have developed so that most readers will accept a "faster-than-light speed drive" without further explanation.
The two best know awards are the Nebula -- awarded by the writers -- and the Hugo --awarded by the fans. Since fantasy and science fiction are not always clearly separated, there is some overlap here. There are several award categories, but those for the novel are most important for the librarian. As much as possible, the library should hold a complete run of these award winners.
The Arthur C. Clark award is given to the best SF novel published in Britain. The Lambda awards recognize and promote gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual writing. There is one for science fiction and fantasy. The Sidewise Awards for Alternate History recognize excellence in alternative history.
While many find science fact and technology difficult to understand or even boring, science fiction is often interesting and reasonably understandable for the experienced reader. Many readers will simply ignore scientific or technical details/descriptions that they don't fully understand. You don't have to understand "faster-than-light drive" or know how an ion cannon works to understand how they impact the story. SF should evoke the "power and wonder of science and technology" in an thoughtful way. Good SF is often full of ideas that challenge and enrich, encouraging the reader to consider how science and technology can change the nature of human kind.
Science can solve problems and make the impossible (humans flying)
possible. Terrible contemporary problems can be solved. In this sense,
science offers hope. Too, their is the evil scientist whose work
threatens
all of human kind.
Science fiction has the potential to "extend the audience of
science" by making it interesting and perhaps easier to understand.
Since SF is extrapolative, it provides an opportunity to consider how
events and trends scene today may create quite a different environment
in the future.
Many SF stories are set in truly unusual, exotic places. Both the
descriptions and the impact of the environment on the characters, and
the
plot, can be stimulating and thought-provoking. Ecological issues often
play an important role. Much of the "sense of
wonder"
in SF is related to this strange new environment, the world building.
For the story to make
sense, the reader must be able to recreate and make sense of the
setting in her own mind.
Some times, this requires thought and effort, especially for the reader
unfamiliar with genre conventions.
The use of aliens allows for many interesting and sometimes scary
"what ifs" in considering evolution and what it means to be "human."
Many people are intrigued by the future and are curious about what life might be like in a few or many years. SF has done a reasonably good job of predicting some of the elements of a likely future. Science fiction is the literature of change. It offers insights into the world of the future.
Hard science fiction, with its emphasis on invention and technology, has led to the space program.
Many of the major characters are independent and inner directed.
Often,
they struggle against large, bureaucratic societies. We identify with
people
who can beat the system and win free. Regardless of the sub-genre,
coming of age stories and/or stories of self-discovery often appear in
SF and appeal as we see how characters react to unusual situations and
circumstances and grow as a result. Honor Harrington is a good example
of this.
The SF story provides writers with the opportunity to reflect upon,
critique or attack aspects of society that troubles them by showing how
certain trends might develop in the future. "It allows us to understand
and
experience our past, present, and future, in terms of an imagined
future.
(Kathryn Cramer)" Many SF stories contain strong statements about the
proper
nature of freedom, government, and personal responsibility. This is
particularly true of SOFT SF. the INDEPENDENT characters battle the
system,
authority, and often win. Science fiction is no friend of the status
quo. The better SF stories are provocative and "forethoughtful [Robert
May]."
While SPACE ADVENTURE or SPACE OPERA is often targeted by critics, it continues to be popular. Most SF stories contain a substantial and involving adventure usually within strange new worlds or universes.
There has long been controversy about the difference between science
fiction and fantasy. While some readers enjoy one and can't stand the
other,
most will enjoy both "worlds of wonder." It is also important to recall
that
segregation by genre will leave some SF and much fantasy in the general
fiction category. In general, SF is based on science and technology
with stories set in the future. Fantasy focuses on myth, magic, legend,
and the supernatural and stories are usually set in the past.
The Pern stories by Anne McCaffrey are a good example of works on the border. She has constructed a world where dragons make sense in a science fictional setting.
The rapid pace of change in science and technology provides SF authors with new opportunities. It may also require some effort to keep up. As Bill White says, "Science with its inexorable progress, they say, has destroyed all those ancient Martian civilizations with their delicate towers overlooking the canals, and dried up the monster-filled swamps of Venus." "What ifs" from older SF stories may seem curious and dated today.
Some librarians still believe that SF readers are young males
[geeks]. In fact, the current audience is both male and female, young
and old. It may be useful to distinguish between those who read SF and
those who are SF enthusiasts. The latter are deeply involved in the SF
community. They are knowledgeable and can be demanding. If recruited to
help with reader's advisory work by nominating titles, they could
strengthen collection development.
The mergers in trade book publishing have reduced the number of imprints issuing SF books. Some editorial staff members have lost their jobs. So far, major imprints have continued much as before. Still, Penguin-Putnam now has three separate SF imprints: Ace, Roc, and the independent DAW. Bertelsmann has Del Rey and Bantam Spectra as well as Doubleday (SF Book Club). As large publishers become fewer and more rationale, there may be fewer SF books published.
There was a time when SF was thought to be the genre for 14 year old boys. SF was a literature for males just as science was a field for males. Female authors published under male or neutral names, i.e. Andre Norton, C.J. Cherryh, or James Triptree. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of successful female SF authors. This has led to more SF stories that reflect female values and concerns as well as bright, strong female main characters. Male authors too feature female characters that are more fully developed and more likely to be independent. Honor Harrington, created by David Weber, is a good example.
Although few in number,SF includes some notable African-American
authors.
Octavia Butler is probably the best known today. SF is a literature
where
people of various colors and races are seen as equal and aliens may be
more
attractive than some humans.
While there are not as many epic trilogies as in heroic fantasy,
there has been a trend to more series. Publishers seem to like them
because they are presold [that is if the first volume was well
received]. They create problems for libraries that were not able to
acquire all the volumes in the series or may not realize that several
individual volumes featuring many of the same characters are a de facto series.
The Star Wars and Star Trek series can also be
problematic because of their variable quality. They remain popular with
readers and both series continue
to issue new volumes at a rapid rate. Pocket Books reports that
"two Star Trek books are sold in North America every minute." One could
argue that these books are not "real" SF since they are based on
intellectual property created by others and authored by "authors for
hire." Still, they are important for any reasonably sized SF collection
because they are so popular. Familiar characters and situations enhance
readability.
The growing popularity of graphic novels must be considered in SF
collection development, especially since many novels clearly use SF
themes and appeal elements. Since these novels appeal to younger
readers, especially male ones, they provide an opportunity to expand
readership for the genre.
1. How important is the science in science fiction? Would SPECULATIVE FICTION be a better term?
2. Science fiction, ignoring alternative history, is the literature of the future? What does that mean?
3. An early critic, speaking of SPACE OPERA, called science fiction simply cowboys and Indians in space. What does that mean? Is it a fair characterization?
4. What do you see as the primary difference between science fiction and fantasy?
5. Because science fiction often deals with unusual technology and invented science (FTL = faster than light drive), it may be more challenging to read than other genres. Is this a problem or an appeal element?
6. Science fiction until recently has been characterized as a genre for men (just as science has been overwhelmingly male). Is that still true? Why might SF appeal to women?
7. Both science fiction and fantasy writers must deal with WORLD BUILDING. How difficult would it be to create a new world or universe? How important is the setting of the science fiction story?
8. If science fiction is about the future, how far in the future
must a
story be set for it to be science fiction?
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