Editorial – December 2023: Can SF run out of ideas?
Hello everyone,
In my fourth attempt at an editorial this month, I’ve decided to tackle a perennial concern for our genre. My first draft focused on a Middle Eastern conflict, but I realized I might be second-guessing the reality and potentially stirring controversy. The following two drafts were too similar to recent articles I’ve written. This time, I’m revisiting an old but increasingly relevant topic, especially with the noticeable decline in genre books since the COVID epidemic. It’s a reminder to stay concerned about our field.
The question, ‘Can SF run out of ideas?’, pertains to literature rather than the flourishing film and TV industry. A more pressing issue might be why science fiction writers aren’t paid as well as their fantasy counterparts. The trend of agents pushing writers towards fantasy for better pay creates a vicious cycle. We’re waiting for a breakout SF novel that could be adapted into a film or TV series, but as fewer SF books are published and purchased, publishers conclude there’s a diminishing reader base. It’s a paradox that also touches on the challenge of keeping SF ahead of rapidly evolving real-world science and technology without becoming outdated.
Science fiction has the advantage of setting stories in the distant future, though it often grapples with current issues like global warming. Readers don’t necessarily expect practical solutions to these crises from SF writers; they seek escapism and a chance to engage with otherworldly problems. SF offers the farthest escape in literature.
Yet, there’s a troubling paradox with the younger generation growing up with less affection for books, not just in SF but across all genres. They’re living in a world that resembles the science fiction of the past, possibly failing to recognize its origins. Who will create the fantasies that give them visions of the future? While films offer a sensational and reactionary view of futuristic events, they often don’t inspire aspirations for a future we’d want to live in. Movies like ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Star Trek’ may ignite dreams of wielding a lightsaber or crewing a Starfleet vessel, but these remain distant fantasies.
Books, in contrast, offer a space for contemplation about the problems and solutions they present, along with the kind of reality they might entail. Even when predictions miss the mark, like the size of computers or the advent of AI, they stimulate thought and lay the groundwork for future advancements. SF has always provided the initial dream, with scientists and technologists turning it into reality, often surpassing our wildest imaginations.
The unique allure of books, as compared to other media, lies in their ability to engage the reader’s imagination. This engagement requires thought. Do readers visualize characters in their own skin color until told otherwise? Do they imagine futuristic buildings, or simply follow the author’s descriptions? Answers to these questions likely vary among readers.
Speaking personally, despite having a visual memory, my mind doesn’t actively construct scenes while reading. I tend to go along with the text, allowing my brain to interpret as needed. There’s no necessity to be a mental director. Understanding the length of a mile-long spaceship doesn’t require visualizing every inch of it.
While I enjoy film and TV, nothing compares to exercising one’s imagination through reading. It’s too easy to become passive consumers of visual media. Good writing impresses images into the minds of readers, and this skill lives in tandem with a strong reading habit. Reading broadly, across fiction and non-fiction, is crucial for writers. It’s not about imitation, but about allowing various writing styles and skills to influence and enhance one’s creative ability. Understanding science and technology is essential in science fiction to avoid common errors and explore best and worst-case scenarios. Indeed, science fiction often serves as ‘rocket science’, exploring disasters and their potential outcomes. With AI, for instance, science fiction raises important questions about its design, underscoring the genre’s practical relevance.
If written science fiction becomes marginalized, dependent solely on Hollywood’s interpretation of the future, we risk losing a vital form of storytelling. We need more writers with insight in our genre to be published, writers who challenge readers rather than offering a comfortable, unquestioned narrative, unlike fantasy.
Science fiction is a passion, distinct from fantasy in its requirement of scientific understanding and the ability to creatively manipulate it. Often, the science in these stories forms the backdrop rather than the central plot twist and is usually not overly complex. Yet, the simplicity of concepts like faster-than-light travel and time travel belies their profound implications, which are well-understood by many readers. It’s the story’s structure and unique plot twists that set science fiction apart, demanding imagination and thorough research to ensure originality. With the internet, verifying the novelty of an idea has become somewhat easier.
New generations should bring fresh ideas and contemporary scientific knowledge to the genre. Science fiction should be a challenge, not a comfort zone ensuring predictable outcomes. The genre risks fading into obscurity amidst distractions and a plethora of series that fail to satisfy readers yearning for the depth and innovation found in classic works.
It’s conceivable to think that science fiction won’t die out due to its presence in other mediums. Take, for example, how comic book superheroes have successfully transitioned from print to film and TV, with their cinematic renditions often grossing significantly more than their source material. However, it’s doubtful that film or TV viewers are motivated to purchase the original comic books, even though they might buy related merchandise like t-shirts, badges, or expensive props. Despite this, the potential decline in comic book sales due to poor performance could go unnoticed by industry executives, as physical superpowers remain unattainable. While advancements in cybernetics and bionics have led to the development of mechanical hands and limbs, these don’t equate to super-powered cyborgs.
The process from conceiving a film script to its production typically spans 7 to 10 years, for those fortunate enough to reach that stage. Becoming a science fiction author, though challenging, can be a quicker path into major publishing for the lucky few, potentially within a couple of years. If we start relying solely on scriptwriters for new science fiction ideas, our genre may face a dire situation, especially since many scriptwriters draw inspiration from printed works. Without fresh input from the literary world, this cycle could eventually stagnate.
As a new year’s resolution, consider reading more science fiction across various sub-genres, with an emphasis on new material. Supporting the genre by reading and showing interest can remind publishers of the continued demand for science fiction. This genre not only entertains but also stimulates thinking and inspires creative minds in the scientific community, which is invaluable. With pressing issues like AI and global warming, we’ll need more scientists who may offer practical solutions or discover overlooked possibilities.
Finally, for publishers, there’s a crucial need to revisit traditional methods like sifting through the slush pile to uncover new writing talents. While laborious and time-consuming – I’ve experienced this firsthand – it’s essential for nurturing new voices. It’s a reminder that science fiction can still be profitable and innovative.
Thank you, take care, good night, and here’s hoping for a better new year than the last.
Geoff Willmetts
editor: www.SFCrowsnest.info
A Zen thought: Who stole the year again?
What Qualities Does A Geek Have: Noticing that time is being wasted on a continual basis.
The Reveal: Back a couple decades, there was actually a Dalek Advent Calendar. Heaven knows what they were thinking. Daleks don’t even eat chocolate.
Observation: Don’t you think it would be sensible for major websites like MSN to note the source of ‘rumours’ so at least you can gauge who is telling you what to believe?
Observation: A note to be added to the Loch Ness Chimera article is eels can live in fresh and seawater.
Observation: Here’s another quandary from the ‘Aliens’ (1986) film. The people of Hadley’s Hope must have killed some of the xenomorphs judging by the damage Hicks and Hudson found, so what happened to the bodies or the remains of them? Not in the lab because that’s where the facehuggers were bottled.
Observation: Now here’s an interesting quandary for ‘Doctor Who’. We all know the Time Lords aren’t the only time travellers. Principally amongst these are the Daleks and the Cybermen, so why don’t they travel back to the first regeneration they know about and kill him? However, you then have a variation of the grandfather paradox. If the future is changed, how can any of them go into the past to change things.
So, why not go into the future and kill a future regeneration of the Doctor. That would preserve the past and less damage to the future. However, how do you locate the TARDIS, let alone recognise what a future regeneration would look like and how much difference will the future be? I wonder if the Daleks and Cybermen have philosophical moments to consider such things?
Observation: There has never been a super-heroine called Material Girl. No doubt because of the Madonna song but it would also have been a pure fabrication.
Observation: Now here’s a problem from the 1973 film ‘The Exorcist’. Why wasn’t Reagan charged for possession?
Observation: Have a look at this picture of Thunderbird 2. Yes, I know its from the opening credits to the original ‘Thunderbirds’, but can you spot what is wrong?
Just so I’m nice. When has the entire vehicle been raised on its hydraulic legs with its pod in place? They might support TB2 without the pod at about 640 tons, but with it, that’s over 100 tons?
A Quandary: In the UK adverts, Argus are currently using a doll called Connie in their winter adverts so wondered if they were selling it, not that I was buying, but I read the sales hype on their website: www.argos.co.uk/product/4497169 but it does raise a question as what is ‘only for domestic use’? Is she a skivvy?
For the record, the dragon is called Trevor and he has the same problem. Can dragons be skivvies, too?
Pain In The Whatsit: I know the standard resolution for Norton not unlocking is just to reboot your computer but you would think after so many years they might have come up with an alternative solution like rebooting Norton itself.
Computer Observation: I don’t know if this has happened to you, but have you ever tried to copy or move a directory and a drop of finger pressure and you’ve lost the directory? Another pain in the whatsit. The problem with using the File Manager search is you can’t be vague. Remember how you spelt the opening directory word and where you capped the word. It will then show you where in the right hand column and then you can move it back to where it belonged.
Feeling Stressed: Hope some of the above has alleviated that.
