Comments on: An Interview about Spellwright & my Contemplations Fantastic http://www.blakecharlton.com/2009/11/an-interview-about-spellwright-my-contemplations-fantastic/ Med Student, Novelist, Essayist Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:16:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Muser http://www.blakecharlton.com/2009/11/an-interview-about-spellwright-my-contemplations-fantastic/comment-page-1/#comment-19115 Muser Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:22:39 +0000 http://www.blakecharlton.com/?p=941#comment-19115 You know, SSF is my favorite genre, but I don't think it's literature. I've taken literature courses and learned what makes fiction literary as opposed to commercial, and I just can't imagine how an SFF novel could be literature. It can make darn good commercial fiction, though (the best, IMHO). But literature is written to be literary, isn't it? And commercial fiction is written to be commercial fiction. Neither is better than the other; they're just different. And SFF belongs part of the latter category. That's not a bad thing at all. Anyway, that's just the impression I've gotten from the literature classes I've taken. You know, SSF is my favorite genre, but I don’t think it’s literature. I’ve taken literature courses and learned what makes fiction literary as opposed to commercial, and I just can’t imagine how an SFF novel could be literature. It can make darn good commercial fiction, though (the best, IMHO). But literature is written to be literary, isn’t it? And commercial fiction is written to be commercial fiction. Neither is better than the other; they’re just different. And SFF belongs part of the latter category. That’s not a bad thing at all. Anyway, that’s just the impression I’ve gotten from the literature classes I’ve taken.

]]> By: Tyson Perna http://www.blakecharlton.com/2009/11/an-interview-about-spellwright-my-contemplations-fantastic/comment-page-1/#comment-1034 Tyson Perna Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:29:21 +0000 http://www.blakecharlton.com/?p=941#comment-1034 Finally got around to reading the interview and I'm glad I did. You always have much to say, Mr. Charlton. I'm looking forward to reading Spellwright even more than I was before. Regarding literary, excuse me Literary, acceptance of SFF, I think the genre is better off without it. With acceptance comes writers writing for the critics, something SFF has been blessedly free of for the most part. Writing with critics in mind equals stagnation and death. Just look at the current state of Literature. Steinbeck, Hemingway, and Faulkner it ain't. Finally got around to reading the interview and I’m glad I did. You always have much to say, Mr. Charlton. I’m looking forward to reading Spellwright even more than I was before.

Regarding literary, excuse me Literary, acceptance of SFF, I think the genre is better off without it. With acceptance comes writers writing for the critics, something SFF has been blessedly free of for the most part. Writing with critics in mind equals stagnation and death. Just look at the current state of Literature. Steinbeck, Hemingway, and Faulkner it ain’t.

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