When SciFi and Fantasy Get Old

[Jim]

As someone who started on a typewriter I haven't a problem with that. Type double spaced, which leaves room for pencil notes, it has the advantage that all you can do it type, so you're not sucked off onto the web. You can get far more work done on a typewriter :-)

[Tasha]

Jim wrote: "As someone who started on a typewriter I haven't a problem with that. Type double spaced, which leaves room for pencil notes, it has the advantage that all you can do it type, so you're not sucked ..."

Another advantage I would think is that you aren't constantly rewriting as you go along which is one of my biggest problems. I've rewritten the 1st 6 pages of my short story over 20 times instead of getting on with writing the entire story & it makes me wonder if I'll ever finish.

[Jim]

I think you should lock the first six pages, forget them and get on with the story.
When you get to the end of the story you might have to go back and tweak the pages, but it strikes me that you're spending so long on building the launch pad, you've not got round to building the rocket :-)

[Tasha]

I think your right Jim. For a story hats going to be under 15k words...

[Steve]

I spent most of my year reading history books, so sc-fi and fantasy are a bit of a relief (sometimes it's hard to tell he difference!)

[Miira]

I move around the fantasy subgenres a bit, if I'm still out of ideas, I pull up the NYT bestseller lists. I'll occasionally read a non-fiction book that I've heard discussed in the news/media.

[Jennifer]

I am always reading a mix of things. This may sound silly, but I have a friend who must have the same taste as I do, except she doesn't read scifi/fantasy, so I just ask her for a suggestion. I like to read historical biographies, dystopian literature (most of that fits into scifi, I think), classic literature, local authors (we have a really good local bookstore for this), and popular fiction. I have been known to read an occasional romance novel, if the mood strikes. I read comic books. I don't think I have ever passed up a book because of genre.

[Harrison]

Well, redundancy can make a book feel stale when it reuses old themes and elements found in the predecessors to the point of being predictable.

For me, nonfiction works as long as it is a subject that captures the interest. Otherwise, I'd be trying to look for horror books like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, written by Alvin Schwartz.

[Kastian]

IT books (Perl, Unix, Lisp, etc) or classics like Kafka, Camus, Meyrink, Mann.

[[deleted user]]

I tend to rotate my books of interest pretty regularly. Mind you, getting to read things IN my favorite genres is enough of a dang treat...being an editor means I usually read entirely different stuff. However, I find that rotating between contemporary classics, urban fantasy, great literature, sci fi, and genre-crossing books--with some non-fiction about scientific topics for spice--does a good job of keeping me from getting bored with my genres. If I look at my shelf and Kindle and go 'nope' to both...I pick up my knitting needles!

[Art]

I like quite a variety of genres, but have always come back to science fiction as "comfort food" for my mind. Robert Heinlein, Andre Norton, "Doc" Smith, Poul Anderson and John Brunner were my dad's favourites, so that's where I started.
My mother, an actor, introduced me to Dickens when I was three, my having been hospitalized and unable to walk for a time.
Then we went into her favourites of Shakespeare, especially "Midsummer Night's Dream" & "As You Like It. This, paralleled by her insatiable thirst for learning and reading, formed my own reading habits.
However, as Heinlein says in 'Glory Road' , I crave "words in a line", and will read anything, at least once.
Now, I'm reading a number of different ones, depending where I am. Science fiction on my nook, Lance Erlick on my Kobo, neuroplasticity in my van (traffic jams, customs), woodworking in my shop, and lately, theology in my study. Heinlein would say I've got a magpie mind, I think.

[Jonathan]

I tend to have an eclectic style to my books anyway, and my reading tastes are similar: I go all over the place. my number one "backup genre" is history, particularly military history.

They say history is the study of philosophy through events; I find the fodder of past struggles and conflicts very telling about human nature and the human condition in general.

[Jim]

Jonathan wrote: "They say history is the study of philosophy through events; I find the fodder of past struggles and conflicts very telling about human nature and the human condition in general. ..."

I agree entirely. This can make reading old novels, or old SF particularly fascinating

[Art]

I'm not sure that sci-fi ever gets old. I introduced some young relatives (pre-teen) to Heinlein this last week, and they were enthralled by The Rolling Stones and Star Beast. It will be interesting to see where they go next.

[Kastian]

Art wrote: "I'm not sure that sci-fi ever gets old. I introduced some young relatives (pre-teen) to Heinlein this last week, and they were enthralled by The Rolling Stones and Star Beast. It will be interestin..."
May be because sci-fi isn't most important part of this books? In other words - i mean they aren't sci-fi for the sake of sci-fi.

[Micah]

I pretty much read SF (no fantasy other than Tolkien) all the time. Very rarely, though, I'll either find my SF to-be-read pile empty, or full of books I'm not in the mood for. That's when I reach for comfort reads like John Mortimer's Rumpole series, or some classic mystery by the likes of Chandler or Georges Simenon. Very rarely, if I find the right book, I'll read some physics or cosmology for the lay person, or even some starry eyed futurist like Ray Kurzweil...but those times are rare indeed.

Or I might go back to old favorites of pseudo-SF like Kurt Vonnegut.

[Jonathan]

Kastian wrote: "May be because sci-fi isn't most important part of this books? In other words - i mean they aren't sci-fi for the sake of sci-fi."

Indeed. Heinlein was all about character-based fiction. A hard-science, Ben Bova-esque man, he was not.

[Melinda]

Go to a youth hostel where they have a book exchange and pick something from the limited collection that's there. I guarantee you'll read something you probably wouldn't have normally picked up. That's how I've come to know a lot of my books. Enjoyed most of them, too.

[Scott]

I almost always read genre fiction but never the same twice in a row. I read...
fantasy
sci-fi
mystery
cozy
horror
so sometimes if I'm in the middle of a good fantasy series I'll only read one book between fantasy books BUT sometimes if I'm not in the middle of a series I might read a mystery then a horror and then a sci-fi before I come back to fantasy.

Fantasy is my first love but there are just so many great books out there that I can't read just fantasy.

[Art]

To add to Melinda's comment, I find many of mine at a couple of seniors' centres, where they have 'share one - take one' collections. Some great reads there, too!

[Steve]

Scfi and fantasy are my go-to when I'm not reading History books (which is a lot), the choice is almost endless I don't think one reader could ever find the genre(s) getting 'old'

[Mary]

I opt for history, mostly.

[Kyra]

I don't usually get tired of reading fantasy, but every once in a while I'll throw something else into the mix. I especially like historical romance, and I'll also throw in some chick lit, suspense, and mystery too. I'm working my way through the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, and while I love those books they're pretty weighty, so I like to read something different in between, just to clear my brain out.

[Micah]

Jim wrote: "it has the advantage that all you can do it type, so you're not sucked off onto the web. You can get far more work done on a typewriter..."

I solve the getting "sucked off into the web" problem by taking my netbook to places w/out WiFi. No option but to type. ];D

Working on a typewriter you also have the potential of getting sucked off into cable TV **shudder**

[Judy]

When I take a break from sci-fi I read authors like Barbara Kingsolver, Geraldine Brooks, and other authors who maybe write about life but not in the chick-lit sort of way. This year I also read some novels in the genre I shelve as "Jewish theme" and also quite a few math books, mostly about data, probability, and statistics.

[Genia]

I saw you have As A Driven leaf on your shelves. I hope you enjoyed it, it's one of my favourite books of all time.

[Jordan]

Greg wrote: "I spend most of the year reading science fiction and fantasy books. Sometimes, however, I just need a break. When that happens I'll read something completely different, for the most part.

After ..."

When I have time to read, I often go for old favorites, usually classics but still with an adventure theme, like Dumas. Right now I'm in the middle of reading an Irish epic, the Battle of Magh Rath.

[Carolyn]

I pick up whatever looks interesting - historical fiction (just finished Benjamin Franklin's Bastard: A Novel, recommended), historical mysteries, cozys, thrillers, general fiction (ie what my neighborhood book club is reading), YA, middle grades books (before giving to my 5th grader), and occasionally a romance or chick lit book.

[Chip]

Lea wrote: "I have a hard time finding enough sci-fi/fantasy books to read to get burned out on them! Mostly I just reread the ones I know I can trust. I have a handful of books on my own shelf that I can tu..."

I agree with the writing angle. SF and Fantasy have always been outlets for my imagination. When I write, I just let it run free.

[Chip]

I'm a teacher who has recently picked up teaching AP Environmental science. Now, when I'm not reading SF/F, I have to force myself to read Miller's Environmental Science textbook. If you suffer from insomnia, Miller is definitely the cure.

[L.G.]

I like to read a lot of things apart from fantasy and science fiction. When I am feeling a bit tired of those, however, I turn to non-fiction (I prefer history and economics) and things like Westerns.

[Gordon]

Historical fiction is fantastic IMO, an author like Bernard Cornwell can write a book almost like a form of fantasy but with the use of science from chemical reactions to inventions that are introduced during a specific time period, when the uneducated see the 'unexplainable' it's easy to just say its 'magic'. Love the progression of battles, weapons, & tactics, esp. Roman & medieval era's.

Also a guilty pleasure of current or recent military fiction & espionage: Le Carre, Follet, Ludlum, Clancy, Silva, & Flynn (RIP) - Mitch Rapp books fall into a type of 'spy fantasy', army of one, a NOC of mythical proportions, & a fun read. The 'cloak & dagger', Cold War, act of creating an 'asset' & training them for a purpose is entertaining as well, books get so unreal it Midas well be labeled fantasy, cuz it isn't happening in the 'real world.'

[Rollie]

When I tire of Science Fiction, I turn to Wodehouse. Or, I might read an 18th or 19th Century travelogue.

[Becca]

When I tire of sci-fi, I first try Dan Brown or the like. If that doesn't work, there is always my go-to guilty pleasure, celebrity memoirs...so embarrassing. (Although "Guts" by Kristen Johnston did not disappoint...)

[David]

I tend to opt for horror or speculative fiction whenever I get tired of the genre. If I'm not in the mood for horror or spec then I head for something like Chuck Palahniuk or Hunter S. Thompson to get my weird on.

[Becca]

David wrote: "I tend to opt for horror or speculative fiction whenever I get tired of the genre. If I'm not in the mood for horror or spec then I head for something like Chuck Palahniuk or ..."</i>


[author:Chuck Palahniuk a clear favorite when looking for a change of genre but not too far away.

Another good choice for weird out of the genre...Wally Lamb

and occasionally for an easy read and a good laugh with a weird vibe...David Sedaris

[Lee]

When I need a break I read horror, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. I took about a year off from fantasy actually. But now I'm coming back into it.

[Cat]

When I'm not reading sci fi and fantasy, I prefer to read non fiction books like science books, psychology, and theosophy :) And when I'm not reading, I'm playing video games and yep you've guessed it I prefer RPG and adventure games heavy on sci fi and fantasy lore :)

[Becca]

Cat wrote: "When I'm not reading sci fi and fantasy, I prefer to read non fiction books like science books, psychology, and theosophy :) And when I'm not reading, I'm playing video games and yep you've guessed..."

I usually read a non-fiction simultaneously with a fiction/sci-fi/fantasy selection.

At the moment, I'm reading The Long War along with my my non-fiction selection Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein - Colossal Mistakes by Great Scientists That Changed Our Understanding of Life and the Universe. It's worth the read.

Up next, either Warbreakers or Next which I hope to couple with David and Goliath.

[Jim]

Longer ago than I care to remember, I decided to read a fiction book followed by a non-fiction book, then a fiction book, and so on. The genre of each varies depending upon my mood at the time.

I like science fiction, but prefer to mix it up by reading any genre; with the exception of romance novels or books written merely for shock value.

[Genia]

As a friend of mine said, once: "man cannot live on genre alone."

[Scott]

David Baldacci, who wrote Absolute power, writes a good thriller and I tend to read those if taking a scifi and fantasy break

[Christopher]

After a bout with dragons or spaceships, I'll usually turn to history (American, military, classical).

I may or may not make the "pew pew pew" sounds when reading battle narratives.

[Ken]

Outside SF/F, I like classics, books about (but not within) religion and politics. More detail on the last one there- I strictly mean philosophical and mythological compendium and analyses. I like history, but not as much historical fiction. Mystery, horror and the 'weird' I can also appreciate.

I almost never ever read what's termed "Realistic fiction" or YA. Can't stand those.

[Scott]

I usually stick with mystery/crime/detective stories with some classic literature thrown in there. Some faves in mystery/crime/detective:
Carl Hiaasen truly funny books, crazy characters and always a nice message about taking care of the environment
Elmore Leonard awesome dialogue, awesome characters, great scenes. any fan of the genre should make their way through his catalog
Robert Crais quirky, funny, p.i. elvis cole with his quiet, reserved, butt whoopin partner joe pike

throw in some John Irving and that's usually what I'm reading outside of fantasy

[Jim]

The works of John Steinbeck are timeless and usually appeal to most readers, regardless of their favorite genre.

[MK]

Jim wrote: "The works of John Steinbeck are timeless and usually appeal to most readers, regardless of their favorite genre."

I am currently 85% done with East of Eden, and I have to say, I'm really! enjoying it. I'm pretty sure I read an abridged version, in hs, which was awful. What a shame, b/c the book is great. Huge ... but great :)

[Scott]

East of Eden was excellent, read it for the first time earlier this year. Was engrossed the entire time and Of Mice and Men is one of my faves of all times!

[MK]

I read of Mice and Men in hs, too. I'm going to have to give that one a reread, I think.

[Jim]

MK wrote: "I read of Mice and Men in hs, too. I'm going to have to give that one a reread, I think."

Definitely ahead of its time. In the 1930's, very few novels directly addressed the social stigma attached to mentally challenged individuals.
I just happened to post a review for "Of Mice and Men" earlier this evening.