Are science fiction/fantasy writers insane?

http://www.keepingthedoor.com/2009/08/10/are-science-fictionfantasy-writers-insane/

by renai42 • 17 years ago

20 9 17 years ago

wizardofoz• 17 years ago

Excellent article. I like how the author's head turned to Star Wars at the face of death lol. I wonder if there's any similar kind of deviant thinking among hackers.

GavinB• 17 years ago

When it comes to sci-fi/fantasy writers, I feel their ability to envision speculative worlds heightens their ability to impartially observe their own reality.

This is crucial. In order to get distance from the assumptions that govern our modern lives, and why they do or don't work.

Expanding the possibility space gives you the perspective to see how you fit into the universe.

roundsquare2• 17 years ago

While I agree that this is the ideal, I don't know that this is always what happens. I think its dangerous to make conclusions about sci-fi/fantasy writers based on some of the best in the genre. I'm not very widely read outside the best, but I wonder if most sci-fi/fantasy writers do use their expanded world as a way to look at ours (as opposed to just creating a "cool" world full of magic and fun technology).

wlievens• 17 years ago

I think I'd prefer well written fantasy/sci-fi that is not an allegory of sorts, than a story that is dead obviously a reflection on today's society. My favourite Star Trek episodes are the least moralizing ones.

redcap• 17 years ago

No, but it helps.

Spec fiction authors are thinking ahead and pondering how things might be - based on to some extent how things are now. You don't have to be barmy, but as the author suggests, you have to think differently - which of course can be mistaken.

nazgulnarsil• 17 years ago

the quoted author is simply describing meta cognition. I think some intelligent people would be shocked to know just how infrequently most people engage in it.

jacquesm• 17 years ago

If there is anything that helps for inspiration when looking for new stuff to do it is near future science fiction.

Neal Stephenson, Charles Stross and lots of others give you these nice little ideas that are just a little bit into the future, some of it is within reach if you try hard enough.

Maybe not quite the way they see it but still, plenty of hooks to hang a new project off.

michael_dorfman• 17 years ago

I think the author of this article is insane.

In Stranger in a Strange Land, perhaps Heinlein’s most famous work, he pre-empted or perhaps even caused much of the sexual enfranchisement of the 1960’s and 1970’s [...]

Are science fiction/fantasy writers insane?

Related Stories