It's like trying to explain to someone why blondes are more attractive than brunettes.
Just personal taste, innit.

Personally, I love the limitless possibilities of scifi. And, as with all fiction/literature, part of the appeal is imagining yourself in the hero's role. That's why kids are taught to identify with brave knights and princesses when they read fairy stories.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:22, 2 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

Mine has always identified with the baddies in every book he has ever read.
I suspect he will one day attempt to take over the world.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:24, Reply)

What makes me lol
is that despite the so-called limitless possibilities of the genre what you inevitably end up with is, to quote R Lyon, 'EastEnders in space'.

This is because, despite the surface waqqqiness of having spaceships etc most stories of any kind fit into a very small variety of choices, from 'quest' yarns to 'self-discovery' ones etc. Thus I say to you that this so called limitlessness is PURELY ILLUSORY.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:25, Reply)

Don't they say there are only five archetypes of story, or something?
Have you honestly never been a fan of any kind of fiction?

You're dead inside, Monty. DEAD.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:26, Reply)

I have indeed, including some sci fi and fantasy stuff.
The dross/quality ratio in all forms of entertainment is depressingly skewed in favour of SHIT, and it makes me very sad.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:29, Reply)

Your favourites being Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:30, Reply)

*gnashes teeth in loathing*
Bruce Dickinson books.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:32, Reply)

What does kiddo like to read?
or have read to her, I suppose. Four's maybe a bit young for reading books, isn't it? I can't remember that far back.

If you like historic fact, do you ever read historic fiction? Sharpe, and that? Or Ken Follett? He's supposed to be good.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:32, Reply)

She's been reading and writing for a while.
Just words rather than sentences but still v good progress. She likes Paddington Bear a lot, AA Milne and some utter shit her povvo Kent family have got her. My bro bought her a heritage edition of Hans Andersen illustrated by Edmund du Lac. They bought her 'The Rescuers Down Under'.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:34, Reply)

Have you seen Katie Morag?
They're children's books about a little red headed Scots girl from the islands - I get the feeling she's like those.

According to Amazon, there's even a story about trying to get her two grannies to get along...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_9_6?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=katie+morag+collection&sprefix=katie+%2Cstripbooks%2C452
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:38, Reply)

Oh nice. Thanks b3th.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:40, Reply)

Teach her to embrace her porridge roots.

( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:42, Reply)

That's why I took her to see 'Brave'. It was jolly good actually.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:44, Reply)

She likes that Donaldson woman wot done the Gruffalo etc. As do I .

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:41, Reply)

I read loads of historical fiction btw

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:35, Reply)

James Michener's historical fiction is good
if rather long.
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:36, Reply)

Long is good.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:44, Reply)

Try "Covenant"
about South Africa, right back to before Cecil Rhodes and all that.
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:47, Reply)

Ta, Loakers.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 20 Sep 2012, 16:48, Reply)