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 512: Ten Minutes with Micaiah Johnson
Episode 511: Ten Minutes with Cecelia Holland
Episode 510: Ten Minutes with Chaz Brenchley
Episode 509: Ten Minutes with Lev Grossman (redux)
Episode 509: Ten Minutes with Lev Grossman
Episode 508: Ten Minutes with Terri Windling
Episode 507: Ten Minutes with Sheree Renée Thomas
Episode 506: Ten Minutes with CSE Cooney
Episode 505: Ten Minutes with Mimi Mondal
Episode 504: Ten Minutes with Veronica Schanoes
Episode 503: Ten Minutes with Suzy McKee Charnas
Episode 502: Ten Minutes with Tim Pratt
Episode 501: Ten Minutes with Chen Qiufan
Episode 500: Second verse...
Episode 499: Ten Minutes with Vandana Singh
Episode 498: Ten Minutes with Elizabeth Knox
Episode 497: Ten Minutes with Karin Tidbeck
Episode 496: Ten Minutes with John Crowley
Episode 495: Ten Minutes with Charles de Lint
Episode 494: Ten Minutes with Christopher Priest
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