Here in the final week of the Summer Reading Challenge, I am reading Master of None, a science fiction novel that my mother loaned me.
You might have noticed, if you see the “currently reading” bit of the page at the place where you read this, that I rarely read science fiction. Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, occasionally Robert Asprin. I have read the classics, of course, Asimov and Heinlein and all. And I read my mothers’ novels. But in general, I don’t read science fiction.
I think, as I read this book, that it is because they are so unpleasant. There is plenty of unpleasant nonfiction around that I feel I have to read for the sake of well-informed citizenship, so I don’t usually read unpleasant fiction. And science fiction tends to be pervasively unpleasant. I read a lot of mystery novels in which someone invariably gets killed, and yet the people and circumstances surrounding that killing are generally pleasant. Gardens, you know, and knitting. Or witty takes on modern corporate life and romance. Architecture, travel, stuff like that.
When was the last time you read a science fiction novel in which there was a charming setting? Happy relationships? People enjoying their work? A little humor?
Well, yes, I’ve read some, too. But it is rare, you must admit. If you’re ordering books based on their advance descriptions, and you look for expressions like “joyous romp” or “hilariously biting satire” then you don’t spend much time in the science fiction section.
Last night, #1 daughter said that she doesn’t read fiction at all. I tried to lend her some Pratchett books, actually, because he came up in the conversation. She reads science and philosophy. Me, too, but I probably read ten to one fiction to nonfiction.
It was wonderful to have her here, and Son-in-law, too. Today we are all going to church. There is going to be a luncheon afterwards, with music. This will include me in a quartet where –exhausted by my work marathon — I was snookered into singing soprano. So I will have family witnessing my screeching. Oh well.
I got to the division on Pipes while we talked. Pictures tomorrow, most likely.
Last science fiction like that? Peter David ‘Apropos of Nothing’ really wild story…
Read “Komar” for a science fiction murder mystery, and follow it with “A Civil Campaign,” described as “a comic disaster.”
They are both by Lois McMaster Bujold, my favorite author.
The tank tops are also available with underwires, but you have to look to find them. Make sure you get adjustable straps! The underwired ones won’t be as easy to sew, though.
They fell in love with me at church. This piece is amazing. I think you’ll like it.
I assume that the unpleasant aspects of SF are the somewhat gloomy forecasts of the social and political situation of the future they portray? I only read those books if they contain characters I find interesting. Most of the SF I read is based in the near future and is written by professional scientists who usually write within their area of scientific expertise. Issues are things like genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and quantum physics come to mind.
“Dead to the traffic around me” was a comic exaggeration, of course. 😀 I too tend to prefer non-fiction. And this is despite being an english major. Keep it copasetic.
Are you really going to read some of Lois McMaster Bujolds books just because I reccommended her? Most people say “yeah, yeah” and ignore me.
The books I mentioned are near the end of a series. If you want to start at the beginning, you want “Shards of Honor.”
Her publisher put out each of her books individually, and then later released volumes with two or three books and/or short stories inside, so examine carefully before buying to prevent duplicates. You can save money by buying multiple story volumes. If you can’t find “Shards of Honor” buy “Cordelia’s Honor.” It has the first two books.
There are some bad situations for her characters to overcome, but they triumph through brilliance, character, integrity and wit.
I gave some of these to a friend in the hospital after multiple operations. They were giving her maximum pain medication, and she was still in a lot of pain. She said that the only thing that helped was these books, because they were so engrossing that she got sucked in and didn’t notice the pain.
But track down “Space Cadet” and read it. It’s just what you need to inspire you to sew scanties.
I’m not much for SciFi either. I preferred non-fiction for a long time, but I am beginning to start reading fiction again. Sadly, I have read very few classics, so that is where I am beginning. Mostly all I’ve read is some Poe (not very pleasant at all!) and a few short stories. I’d like to read something that they haven’t made a movie of since I’ve seen most of the classics adapted into movies….I would love to know two or three of your favorite classics so I’ll have some recommendations on what to start on after I finish my current read.
RYC: re SF: I started reading Andre Norton – both fantasy and SF before I was 10. I was introduced to John Christopher at 11 by one of my teachers and I discovered Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke and John Wyndham a little later. I tried reading Heinlein but never liked him much and I didn’t start reading Asimov until I was in my 20s – his Robot stories were what got me hooked into AI. I used to get so annoyed that the ones having all the space adventures were boys! Felt quite betrayed when I discovered that Norton was a she – I had assumed a male Andre. If she were female I didn’t think she had an excuse to have only male characters in her SF. (I know why now – but at 12 or 13 I stopped reading her for years because of that sense of betrayal). My present favourites are Wyndham, Charles Sheffield, David Brin, Greg Bear, Peter Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds. (The latter 2 specialise in space opera, a little like Asimov’s Foundation series)
‘Imprecision’ is not actually a word that I would have associated with you…
“Hilariously biting satire…”
I must remember to look for that. I need to read more David Sedaris.