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 552: Nghi Vo and The Chosen and the Beautiful
Episode 551: Sarah Pinsker and We Are Satellites
Episode 550: P. Djèlí Clark and A Master of Djinn
Episode 549: Lockdown, science fiction, and more
Episode 548: Kelly Robson and Alias Space
Episode 547: Nominating for the World Fantasy Awards
Episode 546:Veronica Schanoes and Burning Girls and Other Stories
Episode 545: Aliette de Bodard and Fireheart Tiger
Episode 544: Ten Minutes with Max Gladstone
Episode 543: The Year in Review and Other Digressions
Episode 542: Ten Minutes with Jason Sizemore
Episode 541: John Clute and Science Fiction Repeating the Future
Episode 540: The Last Official One for 2020
Episode 539: A Very Coode Street Gift Guide
Episode 538: Sheree Renée Thomas, Charles Coleman Finlay and F&SF
Episode 537: Ten Minutes with Charlie Jane Anders
Episode 536: Time for another list
Episode 535: Ten Minutes with Rebecca Roanhorse
Episode 534: Ten Minutes with Sheila Williams
Episode 533: Ten Minutes with Paul Park
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