tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post2301475739631767593..comments2024-03-26T17:54:54.592+01:00Comments on Speculiction...: Review of Salt by Adam RobertsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-21355031159429457192014-05-02T07:23:01.197+02:002014-05-02T07:23:01.197+02:00Before I give you the most interesting news I disc...Before I give you the most interesting news I discovered today, I will just summarize my point by saying I think the majority of American sci-fi readers are not interested in politicized novels, and do not place importance on quality prose, which is the reason Roberts has been generally ignored in the country. When looking to bring Ken Macelod's <i>Fall Revolution</i> tetralogy to the US, publishers started with book 3 <i>The Cassini Division</i> citing that books 1 and 2 were to heavy politically, and that book 3 was the most accessible. Ian McDonald has suffered a similar fate, but in his case because of prose. After he started writing in 'normal' prose did his work get recognized in the US. But I digress, on to the interesting news!<br /><br />This year Roberts will publish a book, at least according to ISFDB, called <i>Twenty Trillion Leagues under the Sea</i>. If there is not something related to Verne in the novel I will be shocked. His previous novel, <i>Jack Glass</i>, achieving success in the US like none other of his other novels, it will be very interesting to see in what areas he focuses this story...<br /><br />Regarding Roberts' history of sci-fi, I am damn interested in reading it, along with Aldiss'...Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-82476629856927545602014-05-01T14:20:50.259+02:002014-05-01T14:20:50.259+02:00I didn't miss you point -- I only wanted to po...I didn't miss you point -- I only wanted to point out that the divide in styles/content is perhaps not as radical as some make it out. I've read quite a few Verne novels (The Mysterious Island had large portions of the social content removed from the American publication, Journey to the Center of the Earth, etc), and a hand full in the original French as well, and even his lesser known works such as Robur the Conqueror and Face the Flag contain descriptions of the American political system (elections based on the principle of people randomly making a pencil prick in the "exact" middle of a circle) that are obviously witty satire... And despite the most popular being read today almost all his novels hit print in the US.<br /><br />But yes, I understand the argument of the divide I just don't buy it's that simple or neat or that who certain authors in certain regions are influenced by is that easy to parse. <br /><br />I should go back and snag a copy of Robert's non-fiction take on SF and see what he says about the growth of space opera in the US and Britain. Hmm.<br /><br />Food for thought. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-84532862761003050912014-04-30T09:54:32.548+02:002014-04-30T09:54:32.548+02:00Perhaps you missed my point... It's not that ...Perhaps you missed my point... It's not that Verne didn't include relevant themes, rather they generally came second to plotting, i.e. entertaining adventure. (His oeuvre is generally considered <i>voyages extraordinaires</i>.) Granted, I base this on having read only three of Verne's most popular novels - truly <i>voyages extraordinaire</i>, but the fact the majority of his backlog is no longer being re-printed in favor of those three novels indicates to me what is most popular, and by reference, influential. Wells, on the other hand, also wrote adventures (<i>The Time Machine</i> is absolutely an adventure), but this aspect shares the page or takes a backseat to socio-political commentary. The five (?) Wells' novels that are still re-printed all have this in common. Certainly there was a resurgence of space opera in the 80s and 90s in Britain, but when you look at these works, many of them seek to do the same as Wells: have relevant issues share the page with storytelling. <br /><br />Looking at a short list of popular/major American sci-fi writers, you see they hold more in common with the 'big three' Verne novels than Wells': Vernor Vinge, David Brin, Connie Willis, John Scalzi, Lois McMaster Bujold, Neal Stephenson, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein. Certainly there are large exceptions (Silverberg, as you note, is one, of course), but by in large I have the feeling the majority of American sci-fi places entertainment and science first, and thematic development second. Whereas, I see the majority of British sci-fi writers either balancing theme with storytelling, or placing theme at the forefront. Again, there are exceptions, but major British writers like Adam Roberts, Ken Macleod, Ian McDonald, M. John Harrison, Ian Macleod, Christopher Priest, J.G. Ballard, Olaf Stapledon, Brian Aldiss, Arthur C. Clarke, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, have/had an agenda that complemented, or dominated, their plotting.<br /><br />Another way to look at this is, compare the Hugo and Locus award winners and nominees with the Arthur C. Clarke and BSFA award award winners and nominees and you will find a different viewpoint. The Hugo and Locus are a mix of politicized novels versus good stories (particularly tending toward the latter over the past decade), where as the AC Clarke and BSFA tend towards books more 'literary' (i.e. theme-minded) in approach.<br /><br />Again, I'm not trying to throw Verne on the bus, or state that entertaining genre sucks, only that there is an observable difference between sci fi that is appreciated in America and Britain, and that the roots of this go back to Verne and Wells, and because Roberts comes from the Wells' tradition, it's more difficult for him to become popular in the US. You point out a weakness, however, that my Verne reading is not as significant compared to Wells. Certainly part of my 'research' will be to read more Verne. It may be that I have to transfer my "roots of entertaining genre" idea from Verne to Gernsback... Just an idea for the moment...<br /><br />Regarding Roberts' thoughts on the Hugo, there may have been a time he wanted to be nominated/win, but I think he's come to have a more realistic view. It's a popularity contest which in no way represents the best of the genre, and therefore has given up on it. If you haven't already, see his post about 2014's Hugo here:<br /><br />http://sibilantfricative.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/2014-hugo-shortlist.htmlJessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-89432817315887039882014-04-29T14:55:47.046+02:002014-04-29T14:55:47.046+02:00Also, I will be the first to argue that Verne is n...Also, I will be the first to argue that Verne is not all adventure. He has some pretty damning social commentary in quite a few of his novels (Mysterious Island critiqued post Civil War race politics in America) and work like Paris in the 21st century, although not published in his day, was a wonderful dystopic vision of a future Paris filled with social commentary. It creeps into most of his work -- substantially more than the pulp that appeared in magazines in the 20s/30s. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-80541028454736839422014-04-29T14:52:20.895+02:002014-04-29T14:52:20.895+02:00Hmm, I thought the British were instrumental in th...Hmm, I thought the British were instrumental in the resurgence of space opera in the 80s.... <br /><br />Roberts seems rather miffed that he's never even been nominated for a Hugo -- I follow him on twitter and his frustration comes through. He's also written a very good introduction to the history of SF. Recommended for a broad intro (I read it years ago).<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/History-Science-Palgrave-Histories-Literature/dp/0230546919Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-73810375496419271572014-04-29T09:27:25.794+02:002014-04-29T09:27:25.794+02:00I am surprised, and I'm not. Let me step back ...I am surprised, and I'm not. Let me step back for a moment.<br /><br />I'm collecting thoughts to write an article on a divide I perceive in science fiction - a divide that goes all the way back to Jules Verne (entertaining adventures rooted in scientific extrapolation) and H.G. Wells (socio-political commentary rooted in science fictional thought experiments). In the years that have passed, American interest has tended toward the former, while British interests have been generally in line with the latter. New Wave science fiction, for example, started in Britain, and is in adventure mode only with ulterior purpose. On the other hand space opera, which is entertaining adventure based on said extrapolation, is something imbued with Americana: good vs. evil, the hero who rights the universe's wrongs, vast galactic battles, etc. Certainly some Brits like Charles Stross, Peter Hamilton, and Alastair Reynolds have embraced this Verne/American style of science fiction, and for that have been able to garner quite a following across the ocean. While Roberts, a writer firmly in the tradition of Wells, has not. Americans less keen on socio-political commentary, he has been unable to be as big a success in the US. His stories are accessible, but they have aims beyond lasers and classic villains - mainstays of the American sci-fi market, and therefore fall further down on the popularity list.<br /><br />I've started pulling together lists of authors and which side of the Verne/Wells divide their body of work falls upon. (Brunner gives me some trouble. :) Eventually I'll pull it into an essay...Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-10935723680630385122014-04-28T15:24:54.083+02:002014-04-28T15:24:54.083+02:00I'm sort of surprised that Adam Roberts isn...I'm sort of surprised that Adam Roberts isn't better known. His books were picked up by the big presses, his premises seem very standard but worthwhile, his prose is solid --- > hmm. <br /><br />Thoughts on why this might be the case?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com