"Show, don't tell" has become somewhat of a catchphrase i...

"Show, don't tell" has become somewhat of a catchphrase in writing and reviewing circles. This idea, that readers shouldn't be presented with text that describes things directly or explains something, strikes me as a rather unreasonable rule.
If any of my critiquers are reading this, by the way, please please please continue to point out my 'tells'. The majority can indeed be replaced by a 'show' that improves the passage.

Just think of your favourite science fiction writer. Did they stick ruthlessly to this rule? Probably not. I expect they told you about their world, told you about its history or technology (info dump they would have been accused of now).
The thing is, I am not alone in enjoying reading pages of explanation about how a future society came to be, or how an alien spacecraft works.

Of course, the rule came about because there is some truth in it.  Telling us that something was amazing isn't as impressive as showing how someone reacted on seeing it. Telling us that the moon was out isn't as involving as showing it reflecting in a pool of water.

Anyway, enough from me. Here's what Ursula Le Guin had to say about it...
http://www.ursulakleguin.com/AboutWriting13-OnRulesofWriting.html