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 473: Ten Minutes with Nancy Kress and Jack Skillingstead
Episode 472: Ten Minutes with Kij Johnson
Episode 471: Ten Minutes with Alaya Dawn Johnson
Episode 470: Ten Minutes with Premee Mohamed
Episode 469: SF, 2020, and the Anxiety of Influence
Episode 468: Ten Minutes with Tad Williams
Episode 467: Ten Minutes with Stefen Brazulaitis and Tim Thomas
Episode 466: Ten Minutes with Ursula Vernon
Episode 465: Ten Minutes with Walter Jon Williams
Episode 464: Ten Minutes with Derek Künsken
Episode 463: Ten Minutes with Sam J. Miller
Episode 462: Ten Minutes with Catherynne M. Valente
Episode 461: Ten Minutes with G. Willow Wilson
Episode 460: Ten Minutes with F. Brett Cox
Episode 459 Ten Minutes with P. Djèlí Clark
Episode 458: Ten Minutes with Raymond E. Feist
Episode 457: Ten Minutes with Sean Williams
Episode 456: Ten Minutes with Isobelle Carmody
Episode 455: Almost Outta Gas, But We Can See The Golden Age...
Episode 454: Ten Minutes with Adam Roberts
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