Comments on: In defense of sense of wonder http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html thoughts and opinions by author s. andrew swann Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:14:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Genrewonk » Sensawunda: why the hate? http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-4962 Genrewonk » Sensawunda: why the hate? Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:03:58 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-4962 [...] also brings up Nancy Kress’ article again, which brought about my last post on the [...] [...] also brings up Nancy Kress’ article again, which brought about my last post on the [...]

]]> By: SMD http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2746 SMD Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:59:29 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2746 What about those folks who read any science fiction book and get that "gosh wow" moment? I have to admit that any well written SF book gives me a bit of the "gosh wow," so I guess I can't see the loss of the sense of wonder. Then again, maybe that will go away with time. What about those folks who read any science fiction book and get that “gosh wow” moment? I have to admit that any well written SF book gives me a bit of the “gosh wow,” so I guess I can’t see the loss of the sense of wonder. Then again, maybe that will go away with time.

]]> By: Genrewonk: thoughts and opinions by author S. Andrew Swann » Blog Archive » So what is SF good for? http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2173 Genrewonk: thoughts and opinions by author S. Andrew Swann » Blog Archive » So what is SF good for? Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:35:16 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2173 [...] up on the sense of wonder post, as well as picking up some threads from my earlier post on Mundane SF, and the latest Scalzi [...] [...] up on the sense of wonder post, as well as picking up some threads from my earlier post on Mundane SF, and the latest Scalzi [...]

]]> By: Mary Fagan http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2163 Mary Fagan Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:08:33 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2163 Where would we be without a sense of wonder? Isn't that the need we seek to fill when we reach for a book? Isn't that what drives us from Jules Verne to the for-real Mars rover? Seems to me the issue with sf is what gives the reader that sense of wonder: whiz-bang gadgets or the emotions of the characters involved with them. The awe is a given. Where would we be without a sense of wonder? Isn’t that the need we seek to fill when we reach for a book? Isn’t that what drives us from Jules Verne to the for-real Mars rover? Seems to me the issue with sf is what gives the reader that sense of wonder: whiz-bang gadgets or the emotions of the characters involved with them. The awe is a given.

]]> By: Becca http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2162 Becca Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:34:15 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2162 "Hyperion" Wow...what a terrific book. I haven't read it in close to ten years and it still sticks in my mind. I think its time to find whatever corner it has wound up in and crack it open once more. But to the post at hand: I agree! I think all really good books give you a sense of wonderment of some sort, characters you believe in and feel for. If we didn't not care for the people in the stories we read then what is the sense in reading them? Sure, the stories from Barrayar wouldn't be as different or far out but the characters would be just as riveting and fascinating and engaging. Miles Vorkosigan is one of my all time favorite characters but he wouldn't be the same without a space ship to command! “Hyperion” Wow…what a terrific book. I haven’t read it in close to ten years and it still sticks in my mind. I think its time to find whatever corner it has wound up in and crack it open once more.

But to the post at hand: I agree! I think all really good books give you a sense of wonderment of some sort, characters you believe in and feel for. If we didn’t not care for the people in the stories we read then what is the sense in reading them?

Sure, the stories from Barrayar wouldn’t be as different or far out but the characters would be just as riveting and fascinating and engaging. Miles Vorkosigan is one of my all time favorite characters but he wouldn’t be the same without a space ship to command!

]]> By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2155 S Andrew Swann Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:32:30 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2155 Actually I think she isn't suffering from any shortcomings (I like her writing) but I do think there's a literary impulse to de-emphasize genre-specific elements. To be fair she wasn't saying there was anything wrong about the "gosh-wow" factor, just that it didn't interest her in and of itself. . . <i>My</i> point is that any genre element, taken in isolation, makes a weak story. How many locked room mysteries can you sustain interest in? Actually I think she isn’t suffering from any shortcomings (I like her writing) but I do think there’s a literary impulse to de-emphasize genre-specific elements. To be fair she wasn’t saying there was anything wrong about the “gosh-wow” factor, just that it didn’t interest her in and of itself. . .

My point is that any genre element, taken in isolation, makes a weak story. How many locked room mysteries can you sustain interest in?

]]> By: michelle http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2154 michelle Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:17:41 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2154 There seems to be a growing number of literary types who look down their nose at SF wonder, space opera, cool gadgets, etc. They perceive themselves as above all that. From what I can tell, they are, I believe, insecure about their own lack of creativity and scientific knowledge. So they diss that which they don't/can't understand or create. Because you're right, a well-written novel of any genre will have tangible characters, but that is not what defines it as SF. It's the cool gadgets, places, etc., that make it SF. Perhaps the literary types makes bold statements to hide their shortcomings in the science/engineering arenas. There seems to be a growing number of literary types who look down their nose at SF wonder, space opera, cool gadgets, etc. They perceive themselves as above all that. From what I can tell, they are, I believe, insecure about their own lack of creativity and scientific knowledge. So they diss that which they don’t/can’t understand or create. Because you’re right, a well-written novel of any genre will have tangible characters, but that is not what defines it as SF. It’s the cool gadgets, places, etc., that make it SF. Perhaps the literary types makes bold statements to hide their shortcomings in the science/engineering arenas.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2153 Rachel Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:12:06 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2153 And it's not even a problem confined to SF - you completely reminded me of the "Recapture the Wonder" book by Zacharias ( http://www.amazon.com/Recapture-Wonder-Ravi-Zacharias/dp/1591452767 ) And it’s not even a problem confined to SF – you completely reminded me of the “Recapture the Wonder” book by Zacharias ( http://www.amazon.com/Recapture-Wonder-Ravi-Zacharias/dp/1591452767 )

]]> By: Jim Harris http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/12/in-defense-of-sense-of-wonder.html#comment-2152 Jim Harris Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:25:18 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=643#comment-2152 Yes, the solution is to combine what Nancy Kress wants with major sense of wonder. I want every kind of fiction I read to have the kind of characterization that Kress wants. Some SF writers have that knack. When I read an anthology of SF stories, the ones that really stand out do so because they work on the level that Kress is talking about. But I don't think you can have science fiction without sense of wonder. Well, yes you can, it would be routine like your average mystery novel. Yes, the solution is to combine what Nancy Kress wants with major sense of wonder. I want every kind of fiction I read to have the kind of characterization that Kress wants. Some SF writers have that knack. When I read an anthology of SF stories, the ones that really stand out do so because they work on the level that Kress is talking about. But I don’t think you can have science fiction without sense of wonder. Well, yes you can, it would be routine like your average mystery novel.

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