Fantasy author Mark Charan Newton has caused some stir with a blog entry on the evergreen subject of "the death of science fiction". Mark's thesis is that fantasy is in the process of supplanting SF for a number of reasons. Women are more voracious readers than men and they "don't read science fiction". Culture has caught up with SF, literary fiction is eating SF, and fantasy films have turned imaginations to fantasy rather than SF.
After that initial shot across the bow, he has gathered a number of responses. Philip Palmer thinks its tripe. Mark Chadbourn, who has written a fair amount of fantasy, responded as well. The Wertzone disagreed as well.
I bet there are others, too.
And Mr. Newton has responded to his critics.
Now, what do I think?
Well, my friend Scott and I have seen a distinct rise in "urban fantasy" the last few years, to the point where it dominates the SF bookshelves over its counterparts standard fantasy and science fiction. It seems everyday that I read about a SF author signing a book deal to do a fantasy novel or switching into the fantasy genre.
Outward appearances would suggest that Mr. Newton is correct. Fantasy is the future, and SF is in a dieback. I do think that we are in a cycle where fantasy (especially urban fantasy is ascendant. I am not convinced that this is a permanent state of affairs. In addition, I think there will always be a market for science fiction, a significant market. Granted, the types of SF may change, just as fantasy has shifted significantly toward urban fantasy, but I suspect that authors like Stross, Bear, and many others will have sufficient readers to keep the fire alive.
And I like fantasy. I may not be a fan of much urban fantasy, although I've discovered authors I do like. After reading a bunch of fantasy, sometimes I *have* to get immersed into some that "old time religion" that is science fiction.
Posted by Jvstin at December 8, 2009 6:36 PM