Dearth or no .......... ?

carpetmojo · 07-31-2011, 06:41 AM

Just a thought - is there any danger that the fictional world will run out of spies/detectives/loner ex-CIA,Ex-Mossad,ex-mi5,6,789/avenging lovers,sons,brothers wives,cousins,friends,schoolfriends,.............. ... well, you know...... ?

Or any/all of the above who have 37 minutes to save the world from virus/nuclear/biological etc... holocaust etc......?

'cos it seems to me there'd be a mighty saving on trees and internet power if it did.

xg4bx · 08-01-2011, 04:54 AM

Ooooh I'd love to go places with this but I know every genre has it's fans and I don't want to irritate anyone. However I will say that if one scans the sci-fi/fantasy sections there is a certain genre whose dead horse has been pounded into dust.

Ah, I'll just say it, I'm a horror fan (a genre that's just about dead in print) who has taken PLENTY of guff over the years. Urban Fantasy. I can't think of a single more absolutely generic genre going. It was fun at first but literally every new release I see features a spunky, attractive woman clutching a sword and the description, without fail, will make mention of her lust for an fbi/cia/police detective who is (usually) a vampire of some sort. And take place in a city where magic and reality collide. There will probably be a gruff imp or orc helper to boot.

My wife reads these. I swear I can't tell the difference between them, even the author's names totally blend together. There's alot of names that either have Ks in them or could pass for stripper names...

The Steampunk genre is already following the same rocketship into the ground.

It's particulary irritating when I'd go into Borders looking for some actual science fiction and I'd be assaulted by female ninjas pouring from every inch of the shelf.

I probably went off track OP but I get your gist. Not every book needs a print release, save some trees and stick them up as ebook originals. Pubs should truly decide if their releases are dead tree worthy. Not every Twilight, Kim Harrison or Laurell K Hamilton clone needs to make some birdies homeless.

My motto is:if the romance field has latched onto it, it's time is up. Time to bury the horse.

If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I apologize if I've offended.

melmac · 08-01-2011, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

The Steampunk genre is already following the same rocketship into the ground.

Something I've been meaning to ask what is steampunk ?

TedJ · 08-01-2011, 06:49 AM

Have you consulted the repository of all human knowledge?

I highly recommend The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling as an introduction to the genre.

hidari · 08-01-2011, 07:08 AM

Well. I have stated this once on MR..but a retro quote is in order...this is supposedly attributed to a Uni prof at Stanford University.....You know they say that if you get 50,000 monkeys with 50,000 typewriters and let them at it, eventually they will type the complete works of Shakespeare..... Well the internet proved them wrong.....

People love Pulp Fiction....crap movies, and fast food... So I'd say the future looks bright for fiction... and efiction unless the grid goes down in your area... Enjoy the golden age of Oil while you can....

Phogg · 08-01-2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedJ

Have you consulted the repository of all human knowledge?

I highly recommend The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling as an introduction to the genre.

In other media, the Hellboy movies, Sucker Punch, or the old computer game Arcanum.

TedJ · 08-01-2011, 07:29 AM

I'd say the atmosphere of the Hellboy movies is as much down to the influence of Guillermo del Toro as Mike Mignola, but I do love the look and feel of them so.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (comics and film) would be another good example.

elizilla · 08-01-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melmac

Something I've been meaning to ask what is steampunk ?

Goths discover brown.

OK, that's mean, and I actually find the steampunk thing pretty fun. It's sort of like science fiction viewed through old fashioned eyeballs. Lots of dirigibles and gears. Technology that people can see and understand and get excited about.

DMB · 08-01-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Just a thought - is there any danger that the fictional world will run out of spies/detectives/loner ex-CIA,Ex-Mossad,ex-mi5,6,789/avenging lovers,sons,brothers wives,cousins,friends,schoolfriends,.............. ... well, you know...... ?

Or any/all of the above who have 37 minutes to save the world from virus/nuclear/biological etc... holocaust etc......?

'cos it seems to me there'd be a mighty saving on trees and internet power if it did.

Don't be a spoilsport! We need a fix of heroes.

DiapDealer · 08-01-2011, 11:46 AM

There's always been a dearth of works written in styles/genres that aren't your personal favorites. That has—and never will—change. Readers should struggle through mounds of crap to find their "diamonds in the rough" IMO.

Me? I'm not affected in the least by books or sub-genres I don't read.

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

Ooooh I'd love to go places with this but I know every genre has it's fans and I don't want to irritate anyone. However I will say that if one scans the sci-fi/fantasy sections there is a certain genre whose dead horse has been pounded into dust.

Ah, I'll just say it, I'm a horror fan (a genre that's just about dead in print) who has taken PLENTY of guff over the years. Urban Fantasy. I can't think of a single more absolutely generic genre going. It was fun at first but literally every new release I see features a spunky, attractive woman clutching a sword and the description, without fail, will make mention of her lust for an fbi/cia/police detective who is (usually) a vampire of some sort. And take place in a city where magic and reality collide. There will probably be a gruff imp or orc helper to boot.

My wife reads these. I swear I can't tell the difference between them, even the author's names totally blend together. There's alot of names that either have Ks in them or could pass for stripper names...

The Steampunk genre is already following the same rocketship into the ground.

It's particulary irritating when I'd go into Borders looking for some actual science fiction and I'd be assaulted by female ninjas pouring from every inch of the shelf.

I probably went off track OP but I get your gist. Not every book needs a print release, save some trees and stick them up as ebook originals. Pubs should truly decide if their releases are dead tree worthy. Not every Twilight, Kim Harrison or Laurell K Hamilton clone needs to make some birdies homeless.

My motto is:if the romance field has latched onto it, it's time is up. Time to bury the horse.

If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I apologize if I've offended.

I can understand your dismay...but I have to tell you that a lot of that crap is either a) cover porn trolling for sales or b) bad Urban Fantasy.

Some of my favorite Urban Fantasy are:
Monster Hunter series by Larry Corriea

The Secrect Histories by Simon R. Green

*The Mercey Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

The Iron Druid Series by Kevin Hearne

The Peter Grant Series by Ben Aaronovitch

*The asterisk is there because while the series is good the cover is pure cover porn. Great series though!

carpetmojo · 08-01-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

Don't be a spoilsport! We need a fix of heroes.

Yeah, right on !!!

Let's have lots of novels about spunky accountants or pastors, who just do it !

[Add up and pray, that is..............

]

07-31-2011, 06:41 AM	#1
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Dearth or no .......... ? Just a thought - is there any danger that the fictional world will run out of spies/detectives/loner ex-CIA,Ex-Mossad,ex-mi5,6,789/avenging lovers,sons,brothers wives,cousins,friends,schoolfriends,.............. ... well, you know...... ? Or any/all of the above who have 37 minutes to save the world from virus/nuclear/biological etc... holocaust etc......? 'cos it seems to me there'd be a mighty saving on trees and internet power if it did.

08-01-2011, 04:54 AM	#2
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	Ooooh I'd love to go places with this but I know every genre has it's fans and I don't want to irritate anyone. However I will say that if one scans the sci-fi/fantasy sections there is a certain genre whose dead horse has been pounded into dust. Ah, I'll just say it, I'm a horror fan (a genre that's just about dead in print) who has taken PLENTY of guff over the years. Urban Fantasy. I can't think of a single more absolutely generic genre going. It was fun at first but literally every new release I see features a spunky, attractive woman clutching a sword and the description, without fail, will make mention of her lust for an fbi/cia/police detective who is (usually) a vampire of some sort. And take place in a city where magic and reality collide. There will probably be a gruff imp or orc helper to boot. My wife reads these. I swear I can't tell the difference between them, even the author's names totally blend together. There's alot of names that either have Ks in them or could pass for stripper names... The Steampunk genre is already following the same rocketship into the ground. It's particulary irritating when I'd go into Borders looking for some actual science fiction and I'd be assaulted by female ninjas pouring from every inch of the shelf. I probably went off track OP but I get your gist. Not every book needs a print release, save some trees and stick them up as ebook originals. Pubs should truly decide if their releases are dead tree worthy. Not every Twilight, Kim Harrison or Laurell K Hamilton clone needs to make some birdies homeless. My motto is:if the romance field has latched onto it, it's time is up. Time to bury the horse. If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I apologize if I've offended. Last edited by xg4bx; 08-01-2011 at 05:01 AM.

08-01-2011, 06:49 AM	#4
TedJ Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 86778 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: Kobo Touch	Have you consulted the repository of all human knowledge? I highly recommend The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling as an introduction to the genre.

08-01-2011, 07:08 AM	#5
hidari MR Drone Posts: 1,613 Karma: 15612282 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DRONEZONE Device: PB360+, Huawei MP5, Libra H20	Well. I have stated this once on MR..but a retro quote is in order...this is supposedly attributed to a Uni prof at Stanford University.....You know they say that if you get 50,000 monkeys with 50,000 typewriters and let them at it, eventually they will type the complete works of Shakespeare..... Well the internet proved them wrong..... People love Pulp Fiction....crap movies, and fast food... So I'd say the future looks bright for fiction... and efiction unless the grid goes down in your area... Enjoy the golden age of Oil while you can....

08-01-2011, 07:29 AM	#7
TedJ Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 86778 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: Kobo Touch	I'd say the atmosphere of the Hellboy movies is as much down to the influence of Guillermo del Toro as Mike Mignola, but I do love the look and feel of them so. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (comics and film) would be another good example.

08-01-2011, 11:46 AM	#10
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,880 Karma: 207000000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	There's always been a dearth of works written in styles/genres that aren't your personal favorites. That has—and never will—change. Readers should struggle through mounds of crap to find their "diamonds in the rough" IMO. Me? I'm not affected in the least by books or sub-genres I don't read.