On lit-fic versus SF

[catvincent]

Scalzi, in the midst of reaming out another PC idiot who tut-tuts about the horrible influence of Heinlein on modern SF, perfectly sums up the difference between creators of 'literary' fiction and writers of SF, thus

Comments

[sunfell]

I'll take a good SF book over lit-fic any time.

I might write one, too. That Brin quote got my gears a-turnin'. It's been a long time since I've written fiction. Maybe I need to get back into it.

[velvetdahlia]

Well, to be fair-- having come from a competitive MFA program and having gone to countless conferences where these people mix-- that's exactly what's behind most writers who are in academic programs as well-- they are writing because they are passionate readers.

The genre differences are more more about marketing. What's happening in academic programs is for the most part removed from what's really being bought and sold in the mainstream-- SF or "lit-fic."

Anyway you slice it, it's a racket, and there's mediocrity on both sides.

[catvincent]

"Anyway you slice it, it's a racket, and there's mediocrity on both sides."

Granted. It's just that I think I prefer the pretentions on the SF side far more than the mundane!