Solar Flare: Science Fiction News

Ken MacLeod has an interesting post on his blog about the state of Science Fiction, past. This is an interesting departure from the usual discussions of what is wrong with Science Fiction, present. Actually MacLeod isn’t lamenting the sorry state of past SF, but pointing out that contrary to what he has previously said, there was actually some good stuff back in seventies.

Its an interesting read as is usually the case with Ken MacLeod, but I want to pick up on a minor point that MacLeod mentions, which is that his view of what he was reading was heavily colored by the negativity and disinterest of the people he attempted to discuss that reading with.

I think this point is particularly interesting in the online world. I’ve often noticed that many of the most popular web sites and discussion groups are filled to the brim with negativity. That there’s almost an assumption that things will be bad before they have even been watched or read.

Worse than that, there seems to be an almost gleeful picking over of the carcase afterwards. A desperate effort to find every minor flaw (real or imagined) so that people can parade their cleverness in front of their peers.

When you combine that with the backslapping, we know better than the professionals, attitude which pervades all forms of fandom, it strikes me that you’re creating an almost toxic attitude. It’s actually amazing that anyone simply enjoys anything any more. It all must be analyzed, critiqued and at least 5 pages written on how “I” would have done it better.

Seriously people, chill out a little. There are times and places for the heavy discussion, but sometimes its okay to just kick back and watch a silly monster movie. Honestly its not morally reprehensible. They won’t revoke your Mensa membership even if you tell people about it.

Which is why Solar Flare is what it is. I’m interested in science fiction and fantasy because its fun . It’s fun to read, its fun to watch. It’s just plain fun. I’m not interested in categorizing (high fantasy, low fantasy, hard sf, cyberpunk, space opera) because none of that really matters. Fundamentally all that matters is did you enjoy it?

And you can’t enjoy it if you don’t let yourself.