Quote:
Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes
But time is relative. For us who have ultra short term nostalgia, Douglas Coupland's Generation X is a classic. I know most people understand it's usually older than that, but I dislike that we elevate old above contemporary in so many things. Good fiction is good fiction. Good science fiction is good science fiction.
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With recent fiction, as with fashion and music, it's a little too easy to conflate new or popular with quality. There was a time when shag haircuts were considered attractive. Moreover, all old things are not equal and most old things have been consigned (rightfully) to oblivion. There seems to be a cycle: Current/dated/classic, but it's the rare book that makes it to the last category. Classic isn't necessarily better than something current, but it's time-tested. Most things of a similar vintage are dross and deservedly forgotten.
In addition, as sunsurfer and Hamlet53 have pointed out, it's hair-splitting to say that mystery and thriller, sci fi and fantasy are different genres, but that classic is undifferentiated. That's semantics, not serious genre classification. And when you consider the broader scope implicit in the category of classic, taking a month away from classics seems illogical on the face of it.
I'd say, let's be fair! If two classic months are one too many, let's also take a month away from mystery/thriller and SFF.