One of my favorite sci-fi authors (Sharon Lee) has declared June 23rd Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers Day.
As she puts it:
So! In my Official Capacity as a writer of science fiction and fantasy, I hereby proclaim June 23 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Day! A day of celebration and wonder! A day for all of us readers of science fiction and fantasy to reach out and say thank you to our favorite writers. A day, perhaps, to blog about our favorite sf/f writers. A day to reflect upon how written science fiction and fantasy has changed your life.
So … what might you do on the 23rd to celebrate? Do you even read fantasy/sci-fi? Why? Why not?
My answer:
Well, that's easy. Since I rarely read Fantasy or Sci-Fi, there will no celebration on the 23rd.
In fact, I've never been much of a sci-fi or fantasy reader. Although I am tempted to give Fahrenheit 451 another shot, it was a struggle to get through it in high school. I wonder if it would be different viewed from an adult perspective. Lincoln's Dreams by Connie Willis, read for a book club, has the dubious honor of being my least enjoyable read of the past ten years.
Time travel is mildly appealing to me though. I was impressed with Octavia Butler's Kindred (also read for a book club) and, more recently, enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife.
My fantasy reading is also limited. I read the first Harry Potter book aloud to my children, but they were on their own after that! We did, however, attend several midnight parties to purchase multiple copies of new installments. At Twin A's insistence, I finally read Twilight last fall. It created quite a stir around school that "even Moms" were reading it, but I couldn't muster the enthusiasm for New Moon.
I'm not opposed to reading more science fiction of fantasy. Do you have any suggestions? Perhaps I'll find a few on the 23rd!
More responses to this question can by found at Booking Through Thursday.
Fantasy/sci fi has never been one of my favorite genres, but I must say I've been enjoying it more as I get older. (Isn't the converse usually true? My son and the children in my class adore fantasy!) Of course, I like Murakami's work, whose magical realism could be interpreted as fantasy; in fact, Kafka on The Shore won the World Fantasy Prize in 2005. I've also been reading some YA fantasy, Darkwood, which will be reviewed on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting question...you made me smile when you said, "no celebration here."
I took my grandchildren to the a Harry Potter party at the library. It was so much fun! We dressed up. It was quite a night ♥ I loved Twilight but haven't read New Moon yet.
ReplyDeleteIf you're not so keen about fantasy or sci fi then you're from my planet Joann. There, that's about as sci fi as you're going to get from me. Blech!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering...which Crichton's book your child going to read for her chemistry class??
ReplyDeleteIf u do finally decided to read sci-fi...I highly recommend to start with his books
I have heard fantastic things about The Time Traveler's Wife. I need to put it on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably not going to do anything special on the 23rd either :-)
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I know I'll get to Murakami at some point - maybe even for the next Japanese Literature challenge!
ReplyDeleteCharli and me - All the anticipation and hoopla surrounding Harry Potter was so much fun! I think it got a lot of kids interested in reading.
Darlene - Maybe it's just being too much of a realist? I've just never been able to appreciate it very much.
Novroz - She has to read State of Fear. I'll be over to leave the answer on your blog, too.
Jess - The Time Traveler's Wife was a good book. I read it for my book club and just about everyone liked it.
ReplyDeleteMarie - I guess it'll be life as usual for at least a few of us on the 23rd- lol!
I'm not very well-read in science fiction, but I adore fantasy. A few fantasy books I'd recommend to readers new to the genre:
ReplyDeleteGifts by Ursula Le Guin
Fire & Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar
The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson
A Fine and Private Place by Peter Beagle
And I'll stop now, or I'll be here all day :P
JoAnn, how odd that you mentioned Fahrenheit 451 as I blogged about it today!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read Kindred and also loved The Time Traveler's Wife.
I try not to pigeonhole reading into categories and read whichever books I am attracted to for whatever reason.
However, reading the SF & Fantasy section of the Guardian's 1000 Books You Must Read, I was surprised how many books were included under those genres that had never occurred to me as belonging to them e.g. The Handmaid's Tale and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Have a look at it for potential books to celebrate with as I think you will be pleasantly surprised too; the genre isn't as clearly defined as we may think.
I'm not a huge sci-fi and fantasy reader. Most of my sci-fi are Star Trek books.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Time Traveler's Wife too. And I'm hoping to get to read Farenheit... soon.
ReplyDeleteI love children's fantasy literature, but haven't read so much as an adult. I do enjoy it though. I have been meaning to give Fahrenheit 451 a go.
ReplyDeleteNymeth - Thank you for this wonderful list! I wonder if Goose Girl is the same Shannon Hale that wrote Austenland - that was such a fun book. I've always thought I should try Ursula Le Guin and Neil Gaiman. I keep seeing Terry Pratchett's name, too...
ReplyDeletePaperback Reader - Isn't that strange?! I'll be over soon to check out your post. Will also check out The Guardian list - thanks!
Yvonne - I've never read a Star Trek book, but I did used to watch the show with my brother ;-)
Violetcrush - Looks like we agree on TTW...we'll see when we get to Fahrenheit 451.
Shari - I didn't even think about children's fantasy when I wrote this post, but I certainly have loved some of that!
I don't particularly like fantasy, but I read sci fi along with other genres. It can be enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI love both fantasy and sci-fi.
ReplyDeleteI've read Twilight a few years ago and I loved it. I've finished all four books in the series.
I've also enjoyed Fahrenheit 451. :)
Anthonynorth - I'm thinking they may both be an acquired taste.
ReplyDeleteAlice - We'll see how I do with Fahrenheit 451 this time around ;-)