tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16939453.post5139518756033513077..comments2023-06-22T08:09:31.657-06:00Comments on J Alan Erwine's Blog: More on SawyerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16939453.post-31571565296944583922007-05-21T15:39:00.000-06:002007-05-21T15:39:00.000-06:00I think there was definitely an element of what Ro...I think there was definitely an element of what Robert's talking about in older SF, and that probably has played a part in the bad image.<BR/><BR/>It is true, however, that people are reading less. Book sales are pretty much down all the time...except the months that a new Harry Potter book is released.<BR/><BR/>Now we just need someone to come up with a childrens' SF series that can capture the Harry Potter readers...then I might have readership by the time I retire!J Alan Erwinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07961944518711473445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16939453.post-59837970892006622352007-05-21T07:06:00.000-06:002007-05-21T07:06:00.000-06:00Keith,Sorry, I meant to sign that post. But I thi...Keith,<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I meant to sign that post. <BR/><BR/>But I think it's that image that comes to mind, not ours, when most people think of SF -- otherwise they'd be reading the stuff too. <BR/><BR/>The Harry Potter novels have definitely been able to compete with TV, sports, video games, internet, and new media; reading is not out of style. We shouldn't blame the readers for our own failure to grab them, our own inability -- so far -- to compete for their attention. It can be done. <BR/><BR/>Robert E. PorterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16939453.post-11387385022187748282007-05-20T14:05:00.000-06:002007-05-20T14:05:00.000-06:00I strongly disagree. "Childish, sexist, out of tou...I strongly disagree. "Childish, sexist, out of touch, irrelevant" - That's not the SF that I know. Anonymous must be reading something different than what I am reading. <BR/><BR/>SF is losing it's market share to TV, sports, video games, internet and new media. Kids aren't readers and TV takes up the time that we used to use for reading. It is not SF that is loosing, but reading is out of style.<BR/><BR/>I teach at night at the local college. The kids aren't stupid, but they have never been challenged. They don't have to study or read or use their heads for anything than keeping their eyebrows up.Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18215176294238619193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16939453.post-18439132436292528002007-05-20T05:12:00.000-06:002007-05-20T05:12:00.000-06:00I'd say that too often SFers have earned -- and ev...I'd say that too often SFers have earned -- and even celebrated -- their image as childish, sexist, out of touch, irrelevant... alienating most of their potential audience. There's still a demand for SF elements, but it's supplied by children's and YA and romance and suspense/thriller writers who have adapted to the evolving market.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com