This week, with Jonathan hard at work compiling his year’s best anthology, we revisit one of the oldest questions about science fiction—namely, what is it and how do you decide what to include or exclude from an anthology clearly labelled as science fiction?
Rather than trying to offer our own definitions, we discuss the problem of definition in general. Gary argues that the many definitions of SF could be classed as the functional (or purely practical, like Damon Knight’s famous “what I point to”), the rhetorical (definitions designed to promote the importance of the genre), and the theoretical (lit-crit stuff). We agreed that such definitions tend to change over time.
That leads us into a discussion of the current state of space opera, and the question of whether the space setting is a defining feature, even when, as with Aliette de Bodard’s The Tea Master and the Detective, the plot is borrowed from mysteries.
Finally, we talk about some of our current reading. Gary mentions Rivers Solomon’s The Deep, which he sees as representing a fascinating collaboration between music and fiction since the central idea began with the techno-electronic duo Drexciya, became a Hugo-nominated rap by Clipping and is now Solomon’s novel. Jonathan mentioned Leah Bardugo's bestselling new fantasy, Ninth House, which is out now and which he recommends.
As always, we hope you enjoy the podcast. We'll be back soon!
Episode 649: Nghi Vo and The Brides of High Hill
Episode 648: Genre, marketing, and more
Episode 647: Oh no, not us again...
Episode 646: Peter S. Beagle and a Life Filled With Story
Episode 645: Jack Dann and Fifty Years of Wandering Stars
Episode 644: Cozy books and a prickly writer
Episode 643: All Time Top 5s
Episode 642: Premee Mohamed and The Butcher of the Forest
Episode 641: Kelly Link and the love of books
Eating the Fantastic: Episode 217: Gary K. Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan
Episode 640: A new year begins. Shenanigans ensue?
Episode 639: A Very Coode Street Gift Guide Roundtable 2023
Episode 638: Books that were off our radar
Episode 637: A Quick One, While We Wait
Episode 636: Jeffrey Ford, Kij Johnson and the Art of Narrative
Episode 635: On the nature of purpose in science fiction
Episode 634: Jack Dann and the Fiction Writer’s Guide to Alternate History
Episode 633: A classic ramble
Episode 632: Wole Talabi and Shagidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon
Episode 631: Awards, debut novels, and science fiction at the moment
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