Is SF dying?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Well, I liked Harry Potter until it turned too dark for my tastes. I'd say Hunger Games is too dark for my tastes. I don't even like the blurb much. I have NOT read Hunger Games, but my take on it as comparing it to Harry Potter is that it is probably closer to the books after book 4 than the first 3. But I didn't read after book 4. Or maybe it was book 5 of Harry Potter that I stopped.

Hunger Games is as dark as you think. Darker than Potter by a lot.
Potter never got as dark as Hunger Games starts, and HG gets progressively darker all the way through.

That is its merit. It is unrelentingly true to its vision.
(Pollyanna would suicide rather than finish the third volume.)

It is a very good book and the movies, so far, do it justice. Maybe a bit more blatant in the culture war aspects than the books but they stay on the right side of 2x4 messaging.

You really need to be in the right mood to enjoy them, especially if you find first person present narratives jarring.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Hunger Games is as dark as you think. Darker than Potter by a lot.
Potter never got as dark as Hunger Games starts, and HG gets progressively darker all the way through.

That is its merit. It is unrelentingly true to its vision.
(Pollyanna would suicide rather than finish the third volume.)

It is a very good book and the movies, so far, do it justice. Maybe a bit more blatant in the culture war aspects than the books but they stay on the right side of 2x4 messaging.

You really need to be in the right mood to enjoy them, especially if you find first person present narratives jarring.

The overall dark theme was totally my impression and I double-checked with a reading buddy (even though I wasn't interested from the start). There is NOTHING about what I've seen/read about it that appeals to me.

I don't mind first person at all. I read it quite frequently. But I'm never going to intentionally wallow in darkness.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

The overall dark theme was totally my impression and I double-checked with a reading buddy (even though I wasn't interested from the start). There is NOTHING about what I've seen/read about it that appeals to me.

I don't mind first person at all. I read it quite frequently. But I'm never going to intentionally wallow in darkness.

Different tastes.

Me, it's a mood thing.
Sometimes I'll be in the mood for an escapist romp, sometimes a serious drama.
I appreciate romps a wee bit more because the really good ones are rare but I do appreciate cautionary tales, too.

Takes skill to carry through and not lose the reader in the doom-n-gloom.

[Rev. Bob]

Since BMB and FJT both like the lighter stuff, let me recommend Space Captain Smith. First in a series, and although it really needs some editing (mostly punctuation and weird paragraph breaks), there's a good, funny story under those flaws. I've got the rest of the series waiting for me.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Apparently, you find it very hard to accept other peoples' opinions when they disagree with you, and feel the need to (try to) belittle other peoples' rights to have an opinion.

I don't think you realize you just described yourself.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

Since BMB and FJT both like the lighter stuff, let me recommend Space Captain Smith. First in a series, and although it really needs some editing (mostly punctuation and weird paragraph breaks), there's a good, funny story under those flaws. I've got the rest of the series waiting for me.

Thanks. I was checking your GR list. I'll add that one to be investigated!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I do have trouble finding enough funny/humor to read--in EVERY genre I read...so perhaps it isn't scifi that is dying but humor!!!

I agree. A fun book seems to be few and far between.

I love books that slide in a zinger or 2 (but not 3 on every screen Piers Anthony ).

Kitty is a funny name for a Werewolf

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by theducks

I agree. A fun book seems to be few and far between.

I love books that slide in a zinger or 2 (but not 3 on every screen Piers Anthony ).

100 percent agree. There's funny and then wit, snark, and just plain silliness. I read a lot of cozies and unfortunately they often slide into the silliness. I love sharp wit or just witty so long as it isn't overdone. But, alas, it is difficult to find because the results are so inconsistent!

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

Since BMB and FJT both like the lighter stuff, let me recommend Space Captain Smith. First in a series, and although it really needs some editing (mostly punctuation and weird paragraph breaks), there's a good, funny story under those flaws. I've got the rest of the series waiting for me.

Thanks.
That one sounds promising...

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

100 percent agree. There's funny and then wit, snark, and just plain silliness. I read a lot of cozies and unfortunately they often slide into the silliness. I love sharp wit or just witty so long as it isn't overdone. But, alas, it is difficult to find because the results are so inconsistent!

If you're not watching THE FLASH you ought to check it out.

It's a breezy light drama with wit and regular, ahem, flashes of humor just short of silly. Angst-light superhero fare.
And it got renewed early so it'll be around for a while.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

If you're not watching THE FLASH you ought to check it out.

It's a breezy light drama with wit and regular, ahem, flashes of humor just short of silly. Angst-light superhero fare.
And it got renewed early so it'll be around for a while.

TV show, I guess? I'm afraid I don't watch tv. Between the internet and my hobbies, and work and reading...I'm pretty much booked solid (pun intended). I watch football during the season and that's about it. Never have been much of a tv fan. But if I ever get bored, I'll check it out.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

TV show, I guess? I'm afraid I don't watch tv. Between the internet and my hobbies, and work and reading...I'm pretty much booked solid (pun intended). I watch football during the season and that's about it. Never have been much of a tv fan. But if I ever get bored, I'll check it out.

TV. Tuesday evenings.
Available for free streaming on the CW.com website (last week's had a couple good quips and this week a couple more).
They found an actor who is a live action anime emo boy.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

TV. Tuesday evenings.
Available for free streaming on the CW.com website (last week's had a couple good quips and this week a couple more).
They found an actor who is a live action anime emo boy.

Who can carry a tune!

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I don't think you realize you just described yourself.

Whatever you say. A bit slow in your response there (coming back to my statement after letting it slide to attack me from a different direction, but sure, try as many times as you like), but I guess you are trying to find something else to focus on rather than:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Can you restrain yourself from editing your post and retroactively asking a different question?

You know, this isn't really helping your track record, it appears you aren't only like this in the P&R forum....

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by theducks

I agree. A fun book seems to be few and far between.

I love books that slide in a zinger or 2 (but not 3 on every screen Piers Anthony ).

"Gimme a break; the name came first."