Seriously, though, I find the "fast-food" analogy slightly ridiculous. There's foods that only satisfy our hunger cravings, and there's food that actually has nutritional value - I'll grant you that part of the analogy, I suppose. But we all eat because we have to eat to live. That's not why we read.
Only point I'm trying to make is this: different people read for different reasons, there's no "right way" and "wrong way" to read.
I guess the reason I always get annoyed by these sorts of posts can be tied into the thread title. You titled your post "In Support Of Other Fiction," but the post itself reads to me as more of a "In Denigration of Science Fiction and Fantasy." Maybe I'm the only one. ~shrug~
Only point I'm trying to make is this: different people read for different reasons, there's no "right way" and "wrong way" to read.
I guess the reason I always get annoyed by these sorts of posts can be tied into the thread title. You titled your post "In Support Of Other Fiction," but the post itself reads to me as more of a "In Denigration of Science Fiction and Fantasy." Maybe I'm the only one. ~shrug~
I am made of poison.
This message last edited by Craig on 02/12/2009 at 05:01:28 AM
In Support of Other Fiction
- 01/12/2009 09:06:14 PM
2443 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:22:56 PM
1509 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:22:56 PM
1509 Views
Re:
- 01/12/2009 09:28:04 PM
1510 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:28:04 PM
1510 Views
you shouldn't feel the need to defend a non SF/F suggestion, just don't
- 03/12/2009 03:34:28 PM
1495 Views
Well, let me offer a diverging view on the topic of speculative fiction.
- 01/12/2009 09:46:35 PM
1436 Views
I would counter that the stripping away removes a level of reality.
- 01/12/2009 10:05:28 PM
1514 Views
That's a Slippery Slope Because You Could Argue On the Same Basis That All Fiction Does That.
- 01/12/2009 11:34:34 PM
1577 Views
I don't see the slippery slope, but rather, a confirmation of my original point.
- 02/12/2009 01:41:24 AM
1486 Views
perhaps some university will do a study
- 03/12/2009 03:55:54 PM
1479 Views
I'd like to see it
- 03/12/2009 09:15:12 PM
1509 Views
I Think I'll Post a Thread on This.
- 03/12/2009 06:47:05 PM
1456 Views
I'd like to see it.
- 03/12/2009 09:23:07 PM
1537 Views
Regarding depth in Jordan
- 03/12/2009 09:31:19 PM
1476 Views
I was thinking about that too
- 03/12/2009 10:05:40 PM
1469 Views
Re: I was thinking about that too
- 03/12/2009 10:09:26 PM
1543 Views
Destroying the Wheel is meaningless.
- 03/12/2009 10:18:08 PM
1407 Views
Re: Destroying the Wheel is meaningless.
- 03/12/2009 10:30:15 PM
1492 Views
It would. Destroying the Wheel would likely make him a Buddhist.
- 03/12/2009 10:51:17 PM
1428 Views
I Totally Missed That.
- 04/12/2009 10:45:56 PM
1572 Views
- 04/12/2009 10:45:56 PM
1572 Views
Re: I Totally Missed That.
- 04/12/2009 10:47:59 PM
1504 Views
- 04/12/2009 10:47:59 PM
1504 Views
I Don't Believe It Cursory, But Comparative.
- 04/12/2009 11:29:36 PM
1640 Views
Re: Well, let me offer a diverging view on the topic of speculative fiction.
- 02/12/2009 12:28:30 AM
1467 Views
I find Michel Houellebecq to be one of the most intriguing writers of our time
- 01/12/2009 11:14:05 PM
1547 Views
wait! there's somebody "dirtier" than Piers Anthony or Philip Jose Farmer???
- 03/12/2009 04:00:28 PM
1523 Views
Nice post.
- 02/12/2009 12:03:09 AM
1563 Views
I guess I'll break my silence after almost a month and a half...
- 02/12/2009 12:23:07 AM
1553 Views
- 02/12/2009 12:23:07 AM
1553 Views
Popcorn?
- 02/12/2009 12:31:44 AM
1512 Views
I'm glad I could drive you from your Carthusian retreat, Larry
- 02/12/2009 01:58:49 AM
1511 Views
- 02/12/2009 01:58:49 AM
1511 Views
It won't last for long - have too many things still to deal with in my life
- 02/12/2009 02:36:15 AM
1520 Views
- 02/12/2009 02:36:15 AM
1520 Views
That's too bad. I'll have to learn monasterial sign language to continue a dialogue.
- 02/12/2009 03:49:01 AM
1441 Views
I concur
- 02/12/2009 12:27:13 AM
1443 Views
I like your framing of the issue (and Shannara is the Taco Bell of writing).
- 02/12/2009 02:03:51 AM
1519 Views
Am i the only one who reads books for fun?
- 02/12/2009 12:33:52 AM
1533 Views
I certainly didn't read The Lost Symbol for ANY cultural, intellectual or edifying reason.
- 02/12/2009 02:05:45 AM
1464 Views
Of course not. Personally, I don't touch anything other than mind candy when I'm in school,
- 02/12/2009 03:29:23 AM
1468 Views
one of the things that is important to me in books/shows
- 03/12/2009 05:20:29 PM
1376 Views
WoT has decent characterization, though a little overwrought. Harrington... not so much.
- 04/12/2009 04:26:43 AM
1642 Views
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a science fiction/fantasy movie.
- 02/12/2009 12:54:08 AM
1527 Views
Reading only speculative literature is limiting and monotonous.
- 02/12/2009 02:09:42 AM
1543 Views
I was going to say exactly that about "real" literature: monotonous and limiting.
- 02/12/2009 01:57:49 PM
1490 Views
I would not disagree with you if you said that.
- 02/12/2009 02:27:08 PM
1402 Views
Most non-speculative fiction is fluff as well though.
- 03/12/2009 05:38:32 PM
1382 Views
Which brings us back to my point.
- 03/12/2009 08:04:24 PM
1490 Views
I would like to see the study and statistics that produced this answer.
- 04/12/2009 05:24:02 PM
1388 Views
Re: I would like to see the study and statistics that produced this answer.
- 04/12/2009 10:42:33 PM
1417 Views
Actually, it is a film that does not fit neatly into one category
- 02/12/2009 11:16:20 AM
1501 Views
Science Fiction is the most PERTINANT form of fiction in the world today
- 02/12/2009 12:57:19 AM
1516 Views
"Pertinent", not "Pertinant". If it weren't in all caps I'd have ignored it this time.
- 02/12/2009 02:13:36 AM
1494 Views
SF&F and 'real literature' are not mutually exclusive
- 02/12/2009 01:19:05 AM
1469 Views
So why don't we occasionally focus on "real" books that are technically spec fiction?
- 02/12/2009 01:25:04 AM
1413 Views
Why must we limit our focus in that way?
- 02/12/2009 02:20:11 AM
1428 Views
I don't see it as limiting or forcing.
- 02/12/2009 03:16:07 AM
1429 Views
"Elite club" or "elitist clique"?
- 02/12/2009 03:52:11 AM
1401 Views
- 02/12/2009 03:52:11 AM
1401 Views
Elite club is how we midwestern rednecks refer to Elitist Clique. *chews on a piece of hay*
- 02/12/2009 02:52:01 PM
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I was born in the Midwest.
- 02/12/2009 03:01:36 PM
1438 Views
I know.
- 02/12/2009 03:12:05 PM
1434 Views
...!
- 02/12/2009 03:17:57 PM
1391 Views
Admit it. You know what I'm talking about.
- 02/12/2009 03:29:31 PM
1468 Views
Re: Admit it. You know what I'm talking about.
- 02/12/2009 03:31:26 PM
1393 Views
Huh! I really didn't think of you as being a masochist.
- 02/12/2009 01:51:55 AM
1430 Views
Read what you like to read.
- 02/12/2009 04:18:53 AM
1561 Views
I'll super size you. Fine. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 04:32:58 AM
709 Views
Oh noes! I'm getting word-fat!
- 02/12/2009 04:59:05 AM
1443 Views
I seem to have struck a nerve.
- 02/12/2009 05:20:27 AM
1465 Views
Apparently not the nerve you think, though.
- 02/12/2009 06:42:02 AM
1529 Views
Intellectual achievement isn't a static measure.
- 02/12/2009 02:13:10 PM
1482 Views
Re: Intellectual achievement isn't a static measure.
- 02/12/2009 09:40:28 PM
1526 Views
I really did get under your skin
- 02/12/2009 09:58:18 PM
1358 Views
Tom as much as you raise some great points, you are being a condescending ass.
- 03/12/2009 04:26:27 AM
1436 Views
You're entitled to your opinion. I don't care.
- 03/12/2009 04:51:18 AM
1401 Views
I keep replying. It's like a sickness.
- 03/12/2009 05:15:28 AM
1426 Views
Hm.
- 02/12/2009 06:58:56 AM
2035 Views
Re-read my exact point.
- 02/12/2009 02:18:20 PM
1379 Views
No. Some kind of reading is indeed essential.
- 02/12/2009 02:28:22 PM
1510 Views
There may have been an assumption about literature due to the reason for the post.
- 02/12/2009 02:37:47 PM
1450 Views
Somehow I get the feeling that this post hasn't caused quite as much controversy
- 02/12/2009 06:53:18 AM
1558 Views
As I see it...
- 02/12/2009 11:38:07 AM
1434 Views
Yep.
- 02/12/2009 02:18:22 PM
1571 Views
Re: Yep.
- 02/12/2009 03:35:38 PM
1441 Views
Euripides was poorly received, initially.
- 02/12/2009 03:57:58 PM
1354 Views
I wasn't looking to generate controversy
- 02/12/2009 02:19:13 PM
1557 Views
Well... then I'm going to have to agree with Craig a bit.
- 02/12/2009 02:32:59 PM
1547 Views
Well, I was being somewhat denigrating. "Unnecessarily" or not is a matter of debate.
- 02/12/2009 02:40:29 PM
1378 Views
Well, it's only "unnecessary" if you don't want people to be turned off of your message immediately. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 09:42:46 PM
687 Views
Judging from the responses, most people weren't turned off immediately.
- 02/12/2009 09:59:35 PM
1386 Views
All reading of fiction is a diversion by the very nature of the activity.
- 02/12/2009 03:43:05 PM
1422 Views
Diversion from direct action, yes. Diversion from reality, no.
- 02/12/2009 04:15:48 PM
1389 Views
I maintain that all acts of reading fiction are a diversion from reality/ the realistic
- 02/12/2009 05:43:16 PM
1408 Views
It seems a regressive argument to me.
- 03/12/2009 01:18:02 AM
1361 Views
You're playing a game.
- 03/12/2009 03:40:14 PM
1466 Views
I fundamentally agree with much of what you're saying, but there is a distinction.
- 03/12/2009 06:44:02 PM
1502 Views
Spec fic is perhaps at it's best in autocracies?
- 02/12/2009 04:10:56 PM
1331 Views
Bulgakov
- 02/12/2009 04:25:17 PM
1464 Views
I've only read the first chapter of M&M.
- 02/12/2009 04:36:09 PM
1417 Views
Re: I've only read the first chapter of M&M.
- 02/12/2009 04:40:16 PM
1325 Views
Not the greatest Tolkien scholar, me.
- 02/12/2009 05:17:31 PM
1385 Views
Re: Not the greatest Tolkien scholar, me.
- 02/12/2009 05:40:16 PM
1423 Views
I suppose.
- 02/12/2009 06:26:30 PM
1402 Views
Re: I suppose.
- 02/12/2009 07:25:26 PM
1425 Views
This was something I was exploring earlier.
- 02/12/2009 04:34:41 PM
1505 Views
Funny thing about the hivemind antagonist.
- 02/12/2009 05:13:30 PM
1424 Views
I didn't see the zombies reading speculative fiction
- 02/12/2009 05:30:26 PM
1511 Views
- 02/12/2009 05:30:26 PM
1511 Views
Oh, they prefer Clive Cussler.
- 02/12/2009 06:23:42 PM
1465 Views
There's an interesting book in Russian that might be translated somewhere.
- 02/12/2009 10:02:48 PM
1474 Views
i think it comes more down to quality than genre.
- 02/12/2009 04:55:20 PM
1447 Views
I disagree with the ultimate conclusion but agree with many of your points.
- 02/12/2009 05:43:04 PM
1413 Views
the illiad is a classic
- 02/12/2009 06:35:24 PM
1430 Views
There's only one "L" in Iliad
- 02/12/2009 08:18:38 PM
1390 Views
It took me a few minutes to agree
- 02/12/2009 07:04:59 PM
1415 Views
Well, I'm glad if you got something out of the post!
- 02/12/2009 09:13:26 PM
1408 Views
- 02/12/2009 09:13:26 PM
1408 Views
Many people have mentioned that there's quite a bit of good sff lit out there and you seem to agree.
- 02/12/2009 07:33:42 PM
1506 Views
The website is called "Read and Find Out". It doesn't specify what we're supposed to read.
- 02/12/2009 08:42:19 PM
1478 Views
- 02/12/2009 08:42:19 PM
1478 Views
Anti the idea ? I see no evidence for this.
- 02/12/2009 09:50:37 PM
1436 Views
Heh
- 02/12/2009 09:56:30 PM
1432 Views
I have a few objections.
- 03/12/2009 12:24:43 AM
1451 Views
where else should we talk about it?
- 03/12/2009 12:37:26 AM
1434 Views
There's a difference between having threads about it and focusing the official book club on it.
- 03/12/2009 12:40:53 AM
1503 Views
This is the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Board for site optimization purposes.
- 03/12/2009 01:07:39 AM
14415 Views
random thoughts stole my subject line
- 03/12/2009 01:56:07 AM
1488 Views
I think I could agree with a "comfort food" analogy
- 03/12/2009 02:12:01 AM
1451 Views
That's it
- 03/12/2009 04:02:28 AM
1558 Views
- 03/12/2009 04:02:28 AM
1558 Views
Question: is it really science fiction without one of the following:
- 03/12/2009 05:13:21 AM
1439 Views
technically speaking, fantasy is classed as a sub heading under science fiction. *NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:51:12 PM
616 Views
Yes, it is but actually...
- 03/12/2009 09:31:44 PM
1422 Views
But Dan Brown rocks da house!!!
*NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:16:47 AM
719 Views
*NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:16:47 AM
719 Views
another thing wrong with your argument
- 03/12/2009 03:30:19 PM
1457 Views
Absolutely not. And, as I said before, there's only one "L" in Iliad.
- 03/12/2009 06:53:35 PM
1257 Views
sorry about my atrocious spelling
(including the one on pertinent)
- 03/12/2009 07:14:59 PM
1544 Views
(including the one on pertinent)
- 03/12/2009 07:14:59 PM
1544 Views
is it just me, or is this now the largest post/thread yet on RAFO.com??? 168 replies so far! *NM*
- 03/12/2009 05:03:25 PM
658 Views
Congratulations on the replies count
- 03/12/2009 09:30:41 PM
1539 Views
That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 03/12/2009 10:50:29 PM
1468 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 04/12/2009 07:44:56 PM
1500 Views
But the objective truth of a setting can be measured.
- 04/12/2009 10:37:10 PM
1413 Views
But does it make any difference in the objective value of the book?
- 06/12/2009 09:35:59 AM
1562 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 04/12/2009 10:25:08 PM
1444 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 06/12/2009 09:36:11 AM
1428 Views
I've obviously missed the show here...
- 04/12/2009 12:14:30 AM
1376 Views
I'm not sure that's right. This thing just keeps growing.
- 04/12/2009 12:46:24 AM
1497 Views
What, your penis?
- 06/12/2009 02:40:09 AM
1442 Views
Don't you know it!
- 06/12/2009 03:28:16 PM
1296 Views
- 06/12/2009 03:28:16 PM
1296 Views
You talk the talk, that's for sure.
- 07/12/2009 08:14:41 PM
1455 Views
- 07/12/2009 08:14:41 PM
1455 Views
Metaphor versus literalism
- 04/12/2009 05:42:03 PM
1474 Views
Metaphor divorced from the reality runs risks, however.
- 04/12/2009 10:25:47 PM
1367 Views
Honestly, the moral can always be dismissed as inapplicable if you want to dismiss it.
- 05/12/2009 12:16:39 AM
1384 Views
While that's true, it's much harder to just dismiss Mockingbird.
- 05/12/2009 03:57:42 AM
1375 Views
Then why read fiction at all? It's all a diversion.
- 05/12/2009 04:16:06 PM
1388 Views
I think people should read non-fiction, and The Nine Hundred Days is an excellent book.
- 05/12/2009 04:41:50 PM
1440 Views
aha. but.
- 07/12/2009 03:56:48 PM
1599 Views
