Re: Stephenie Mayer -- the next J. K. Rowling

David Johnston wrote:

> On Sat, 17 May 2008 19:47:55 GMT, "W. Citoan"
> <wcitoan@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 
> > Peter Knutsen wrote:
> >> 
> >>  W. Citoan wrote:
> >> > Andrew Plotkin wrote:
> >> >> "Protocol" is too rigid a term; I say "conventions", but I
> believe >> >> there is a point beyond which if you don't know the
> conventions you >> >> can't even make a dent in the book. And a lot
> of SF published today >> >> is beyond that point.
> >> > 
> >> > Can you provide some examples?  I can see missing details &
> references >> > and not understanding some common terms that aren't
> explained, but >> > "can't even make a dent" seems quite a stretch.
> >> 
> >>  It happens, in those rare cases where a protol-naive person (a 
> >>  "mundane") tries to read an actual work of science fiction (or
> fantasy).  >> 
> >>  The mundane fails to understand the story, not in the high-browed
> sense >>  of not getting what each character symbolizes, themes and
> allegories and >>  all that other crap that the literary genre is
> about. What the mundane >>  fails to understand is the absolutely
> most fundamental level: What the >>  **** it is that actually happens
> in the story.  >> 
> >>  Nevermind why one character does something. The mundane does not 
> >>  comprehend what it is that the character does.
> > 
> > This is not an example.  This is a claim.
> > 
> > If we need special knowledge to understand SF works, how does
> > anyone go from being a "mundane" to an understanding reader?  
> 
> I guess they start by reading Harry Potter.  This acquaints them with
> grandfatherly wizards so later they won't scream and faint when
> acquainted with Heinlein's dirty old men.  

I started by reading comics.  SF comic books including that neglected
classic "Space Western Stories."  Comic strips including "Beyond Mars"
-- written by Jack Williamson.  (He got the job because a newspaper
critic said his writing was at the level of comics, and the buy who was
launching the script saw that....)  And superhero comics.

I suspect most people today start with tv shows -- such hard sf as
"Mork and Mindy" or "Small Wonder."

And I suspect that college students who easily read literary fiction,
but can't manage fantasy and sf, would manage it just fine if it was
called "magical realism."

-- 
Dan Goodman
"I have always depended on the kindness of stranglers." 
Tennessee Williams,  A Streetcar Named Expire
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
Futures http://clerkfuturist.wordpress.com
mirror 1:  http://dsgood.insanejournal.com
mirror 2: http://dsgood.wordpress.com
Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood