tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8055904850854885222.post533023779109179324..comments2023-12-28T23:54:20.915-08:00Comments on IMMOBILE EXPLORATIONS: different kinds of booksMegan Kurashigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634436831771950903noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8055904850854885222.post-75458188243014376572009-08-13T14:05:40.406-07:002009-08-13T14:05:40.406-07:00I think if there is a distinction, it's betwee...I think if there is a distinction, it's between good books and bad -- which, after all, is the only distinction worth making.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776980012224503745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8055904850854885222.post-82217723975798994602009-08-13T09:31:53.151-07:002009-08-13T09:31:53.151-07:00Hullo, David.
I'm actually not sure what the ...Hullo, David.<br /><br />I'm actually not sure what the distinction is. I just met someone who was probably in his 30s who used to adore huge, doorstop fantasy novels when he was younger, but now says he "has better things to do with his time than read that sort of stuff" (anything in the spec fic section). Then again, I've also met a very old woman who quite gleefully described to me how THE ROAD is essentially science fiction, and how she didn't care what a story was, as long as it was good.Megan Kurashigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634436831771950903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8055904850854885222.post-39390099961623254632009-08-13T09:04:45.110-07:002009-08-13T09:04:45.110-07:00I came here from a discussion elsewhere about Dami...I came here from a discussion elsewhere about Damien's post. I would agree with both you and him, to an extent: there is and isn't bias against speculative fiction in the Booker.<br /><br />Yes, works are nominated for the Booker that could be identifed as fantastic fiction -- but they're not written by authors generally associated with the field. And there are more 'liteary' works nominated for the Clarke Award than there are books from the SF shelves on the Booker shortlists.<br /><br />However... I read all sorts of fiction, and I don't the best of one kind is inherently better or worse than the best of any other. So I think you're far from unusual in having a similar attitude.<br /><br />Is it a generational thing, I wonder? Or is that too crude a distinction?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776980012224503745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8055904850854885222.post-59345490192098520832009-07-29T10:41:13.077-07:002009-07-29T10:41:13.077-07:00For some reason, I admire The Specialist's Hat...For some reason, I admire The Specialist's Hat, but just can't get into it. Maybe it freaks me out too much.Megan Kurashigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634436831771950903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8055904850854885222.post-14348461012176616042009-07-28T22:23:44.706-07:002009-07-28T22:23:44.706-07:00I really can't imagine what Hilary Mantel'...I really can't imagine what Hilary Mantel's reaction would be if she discovered she was "an upper-middle class writer." <br /><br />And, yes, Sarah Waters is all (1) lesbian historical romances (2) ghost stories and (3) lesbian historical romances involving ghosts. And she listed The Specialist's Hat as one of her favorite ghost stories in a Guardian interview.<br /><br />And, yes, willful ignorance REALLY gets under my skin. You hadn't noticed. I hide it very well.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799506742445687230noreply@blogger.com