I grew up onsftuff like Heinlien
ANd while I've gone off sci-fi abit lately I still think the genre has a lot to offer it's one of the few that routinely explores new ideas and 'what if' questions and is more rsiatnt to becomeiong formulaic than most genres.

I don't think I'd read any or Bradbury's stuff other than Farenheight 451, which was good but, to my mind had dated rather. I imagine it was quite groundbreaking in it's day.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:28, 3 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

It was written in the McCarthy era.

(PsychoChomp, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:29, Reply)

makes sense.
Like I ay, at the time, probably epic, these days, not so much, but then I fell similarly about Shakespeare so I'm obviously wrong.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:31, Reply)

lol at sci fi not being formulaic.
A genre characterised by sticking to a well established, heroically bent formula is not formulaic.

Well done CQ.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:30, Reply)

What's the Sci Fi formula then?

(PsychoChomp, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:31, Reply)

futurism, sciency stuff etc.
The fact that it is a very prescriptive and didactic genre.

Y'know?
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:32, Reply)

That's not a formula, that's a genre.
that's like saying all romance novels involve "romance" and as for them being didactic, that heavily depends on the authour and your own reflections on the book.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:35, Reply)

it's a formula. there has to be certain elememts to qualify it as sci fi, hence the formula.
And didacticism runs deep in the genre, it's one of the many reasons why it is so laughable as reflective culture.

See also it not being anywhere near as clever a genre as its fans think it is.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:39, Reply)

It's a formula alright. A lazy, tedious formula for lonely turds from IT with BO.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:41, Reply)

"lonely turds from IT with BO"
haha
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:44, Reply)

What your'e saying here is that all novels are formulaic
and have to be in order to fit into a genre, but you're focussing it entirely on sci-fi/fantasy. You're being intellectually dishonest.
( Kroney, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:41, Reply)

no.
That is explicitly not what I am saying.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:43, Reply)

"it's a formula. there has to be certain elememts to qualify it as sci fi, hence the formula"
Applicable to all genres.
( Kroney, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:44, Reply)

I think it was the great Rory Lyon who once put it best:
'EastEnders in space'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:45, Reply)

Well it's not explicit is it, if that's exactly how it comes across.

(PsychoChomp, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:51, Reply)

It's ok though, because it's sci fi that thinks it's cleverer than it is.
Sci fi.
( Kroney, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:58, Reply)

You're talking such bollocks, and being so proud of yourself.
There is nothing at all to be proud of about dismissing an entire swathe of culture which has been popular and celebrated since HG Wells.
That's willful ignorace and bloody mindedness you should just kill yourself.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:45, Reply)

I think you should go to the transporter bay and calm down.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:46, Reply)

That's what you've got to defend your stance?
Talk about your intellectual grandstanding. Some sci-fi/fantasy books are formulaic, yes. Fantasy in particular. To dismiss both genres as such is ignorance.
( Kroney, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:40, Reply)

space+aliens/finding oneself

( mark morrisons prison shoes I love Willie, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:32, Reply)

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( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:41, Reply)

classic monty!

( mark morrisons prison shoes I love Willie, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:50, Reply)

Oh bugger off PD and take Boyce with you.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:32, Reply)

Sci fi is tedious and shit.

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Thu 7 Jun 2012, 10:43, Reply)