[Guardian] Why we need SF by Margaret Atwood

[Krug]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1507718,00.html

 

[Wayside]

So much to disagree with, so little time.

 

[GSHamster]

So much to disagree with, so little time.

Why? I think she's spot on in what she is saying.

Though it is interesting to hear her admit that she writes science-fiction.

 

[Arnwyn]

Disagree? *shrug* Sounds fine to me.

 

[WayneLigon]

Souinds like she's given an almost perfect definition of the SF genre, to me. Good job.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Though it is interesting to hear her admit that she writes science-fiction.

Yeah, but only 2 of them. :\
It's interesting, after the fuss she made a few years back, steadfastly refusing to admit that anything she wrote would be considered in the gutter of SF.

 

[PaulKemp]

Interesting. Replace each occurence of "science fiction" in that article with "fantasy" and the point remains. The two subgenres do more or less the same thing, serve more or less the same purpose, but do so through a slightly different lens.

I know, I know...that's hardly news.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Not bad, although the idea that, "Now we're close to being in control of everything except earthquakes and the weather." is a bit of a stretch in my mind. I would agree that we have found was to influence many things in nature, but I would disagree with being in control.

 

[GSHamster]

It's interesting, after the fuss she made a few years back, steadfastly refusing to admit that anything she wrote would be considered in the gutter of SF.

Well, to be fair to Ms. Atwood, would she really have all the prizes and cultural authority she has now, if she had been writing "science fiction"? Sadly, I don't think she would. Consider that she felt she has to write an essay defending the genre and pointing out its worth.

Its more of a comment on the literati and cultural elite, rather than on science fiction itself though.

 

[GSHamster]

Interesting. Replace each occurence of "science fiction" in that article with "fantasy" and the point remains. The two subgenres do more or less the same thing, serve more or less the same purpose, but do so through a slightly different lens.

I disagree with this, though. Of the 5 narratives she writes about, I'd say only one really applies to fantasy (the realms of imagination one). I don't see the other four working in the fantasy genre.