YA or not? Can upbeat scifi suggest solutions instead of dystopia?

[Cary]

This question came up recently when my publisher noticed an article reviewing many dystopias and suggesting that our current dilemmas make most scenarios of disaster outdated. Here's the article. The author does mention that scifi could envision solutions. http://www.onearth.org/article/future...

My writing tries to portray solutions based on a realistic understanding of our complex selves, with a brighter future possible. I worry whether the sequel to APBM should be marketed to the YA/crossover market. A description is in the Contests and Free Reads folder. What do you think? For ex. does YA have to have a 14 year-old progagonist? Does it have to be all doom and gloom or must the protagonist have big canines?

[A.F.]

Cary wrote: "This question came up recently when my publisher noticed an article reviewing many dystopias and suggesting that our current dilemmas make most scenarios of disaster outdated. Here's the article. T..."

I don't think so, personally I think YA could use a jolt of fresh blood (so to speak).

[Cary]

Thanks, A.F. I hope we're right. Take a look at the first excerpt of THE WEBS OF VAROK. I just posted it on my blog. 4 more coming this month.

[Maggie]

Cary wrote: "does YA have to have a 14 year-old progagonist? Does it have to be all doom and gloom or must the protagonist have big canines? "

As far as I can tell, if the protagonist is under 21, it will get classed as YA whether you think you are writing for young people or not.

[Cary]

I'll keep that in mind, Maggie. In the series The ArchivesofVarok.com one child of the mixed family is 3 in the first, then 3 to 15 in the second, then an older teenager in the books coming out next year. The issues might be of concern to YA--solutions to current dilemmas, rather than a dystopia, and offbeat but significant family relationships. You're sure welcome to comment on the excerpts here in my blog and at http://archivesofvarok.com/articles/w...