Quote:
Originally Posted by DiapDealer
That all looks like Fantasy to me (and there's a lot there I like, too  )—not that I worry overly about the distinction between sci-fi and fantasy—but surely you're not saying you've had to stop reading SFF because you can't find anything that satisfies your needs? That small list can't be causing you that much grief compared to what you can enjoy, can it?
I just think we need to be careful about what we're actually saying. Are we saying; "I wish there was more upbeat and positive scifi"? Or are we saying; "I wish gritty, seedy, morally-ambiguous scifi wasn't as popular as it seems to be right now"? I'm OK with the first (although I still believe there's more than enough variety in the genre to satisfy everyone's needs), but the second seems a little petty to me. I mean, the only time you should need to worry about stuff you don't like is if you've run out of stuff that you do like... right? Plus it's never a good idea to ponder too heavily on why something you don't particularly care for seems to be so popular. I try my very best not to give a damn what other people like to read and focus on what I like to read.  |
i think the problem is that everything is too grey. with all the reading i do very little stands out. it seems like far too many books i come across are murky and ambiguous, there really aren't heroes anymore, there's simply characters that are less scummy than other characters. there are far more anti-heroes than heroes. too many punishers, not enough supermen.
maybe i'm just noticing it more because its been brought up. but thinking back there really aren't many books i've read that have true heroes. very few are hopeful or have a positive outlook.
sf/fantasy i've read that does have a positive outlook/characters (imo)-
the Star Force series by BV Larson (indie). it concerns a computer professor who uses nanomachines to build weapons and ships to combat alien invaders. he lost his children to the invaders but he isn't driven by revenge. he learns from his mistakes. he doesn't dwell on failures. he thinks his way around problems instead of immediately resorting to violence. he's just a relatively upbeat character who shows the power of hope, logic and critical thinking over brute force.
Jerico the paladin (from various fantasy novels by David Dalglish. indie)- his faith drives him, not revenge. he uses violence as a last resort and feels bad when he is forced to use it. even in the face of horror he remains a pillar of strength. he's diplomatic, believes in justice and salvation for everyone and willing to accept punishment for his mistakes. hes a true hero yet nowhere near a 'pollyanna'.
those are the two that really stand out for me. as much as i do enjoy the Song of Ice and Fire series, even the kids in those books have a body count under their belt for god's sake. and imo there's far too many people trying to ape the GRRM style. when even kids become anti-heroes i've just gotta shake my head.
i really don't care that gritty is popular. i just wish there was more of the opposing view in genres i enjoy to balance it out a bit. i don't want flowers and puppy dogs, just a little less moral turmoil and more than a handful of characters i can cheer for would be nice.