Do you have an opinion on the pervasiveness of political correctness in the upper echelons of science fiction literary circles? Do you think speculative fiction should entertain or forewarn? Or should it be used for ideological propaganda?
I think writers should write what they want to. The essence is good storytelling and their ability to entertain. "Do you think speculative fiction should entertain or forewarn? Or should it be used for ideological propaganda?" People will always argue what they think is good and bad SciFi and they always will, especially writers. The final arbiter though is the market. If this type of SciFi is bought and appreciated by the only important people in the equation (the fans) then it's just as acceptable as any other type of SciFi. If it doesn't sell than those authors will write differently or go away. If it's well written and entertaining and advances some writers social views more power to them. Sometimes though. it's not even their social view. They may just be running on an idea that was interesting to him. No one should be telling a writer what he should and shouldn't write.
I agree, a writer should only write what he or she wants to. But is it fair to the writer when whether he or she gets published depends on the ideological orientation of the publisher? Is there good fiction going unnoticed because it doesn't at least minimally advance a political agenda?
Is it fair? I don't know. Companies have political agendas. Look at Hobby Lobby and Chick Fil-A. It isn't a matter of fairness it's about business. If their business model supports their agendas then yes it's fair. If their business model doesn't it will fail and they will change or fall. Being published isn't a right, you know this. If they have two equally good manuscripts and they like one more because it fits into their way of thinking then they'll choose that one. It isn't a matter of fairness at all. Hell for new writers getting published is a crap shoot no matter if there is an agenda or not.
Story first. I don't mind some message with my SF, but story first. Anyone can write what they want, and in this day of Amazon I no longer care what the Big 5 publishers do, I can always get it on Amazon, and if you intend to compete for my beer money, you better remember that BEER IS GOOD! Your story has to be better BEFORE you can get your message out. Because if your story is bad, only the people who already agree with your message will ever read it. Read some of the post-apoc books on Amazon. Some of them are so bad that no one will read them but those who love post-apoc or those who agree with your political views. Or Hell, read any of the Hugo winners from the past 15 years.....if you can stay awake long enough!
First!
ReplyDeleteI hates you, my preciousssss...
DeleteI think it can and should be used for all of those, of course! And FIRST!
ReplyDeleteOkay, first with a comment that actually addressed the question, then, albeit admittedly briefly.
DeleteI think writers should write what they want to. The essence is good storytelling and their ability to entertain. "Do you think speculative fiction should entertain or forewarn? Or should it be used for ideological propaganda?" People will always argue what they think is good and bad SciFi and they always will, especially writers. The final arbiter though is the market. If this type of SciFi is bought and appreciated by the only important people in the equation (the fans) then it's just as acceptable as any other type of SciFi. If it doesn't sell than those authors will write differently or go away. If it's well written and entertaining and advances some writers social views more power to them. Sometimes though. it's not even their social view. They may just be running on an idea that was interesting to him. No one should be telling a writer what he should and shouldn't write.
ReplyDeleteI agree, a writer should only write what he or she wants to. But is it fair to the writer when whether he or she gets published depends on the ideological orientation of the publisher? Is there good fiction going unnoticed because it doesn't at least minimally advance a political agenda?
ReplyDeleteIs it fair? I don't know. Companies have political agendas. Look at Hobby Lobby and Chick Fil-A. It isn't a matter of fairness it's about business. If their business model supports their agendas then yes it's fair. If their business model doesn't it will fail and they will change or fall. Being published isn't a right, you know this. If they have two equally good manuscripts and they like one more because it fits into their way of thinking then they'll choose that one. It isn't a matter of fairness at all. Hell for new writers getting published is a crap shoot no matter if there is an agenda or not.
ReplyDeleteStory first. I don't mind some message with my SF, but story first. Anyone can write what they want, and in this day of Amazon I no longer care what the Big 5 publishers do, I can always get it on Amazon, and if you intend to compete for my beer money, you better remember that BEER IS GOOD! Your story has to be better BEFORE you can get your message out. Because if your story is bad, only the people who already agree with your message will ever read it. Read some of the post-apoc books on Amazon. Some of them are so bad that no one will read them but those who love post-apoc or those who agree with your political views. Or Hell, read any of the Hugo winners from the past 15 years.....if you can stay awake long enough!
ReplyDeletegood idea
ReplyDelete