"old skool sf" ?!

[threemonkeys]

Paul McAuley has certainly been ranting a bit lately but in a well reasoned passionate kind of way. Have a look at this on the not very healthy state of affairs in sf at the moment. Given that writers are leaving the genre I can see his point - I note that with his latest book, Greg Bear has well and truly joined the list of authors moving into thriller/crime stories.

This from the end of McAuley's piece is rather nice though in a rabble rousing kind of way:

So if you’re a writer, write from the heart as well as from the mind. Aim for an audience if you like, but know this: at best you’re going to hit nothing more than a temporary, here-and-gone demographic. Wouldn’t it be better to try to write the book that means more to you than any other book? You’ll probably fail. But you can always try again, and fail better. And, dear reader: buy books. Tell people about the books you like. Spread the word. Behave like you have found the best and finest secret in the world. And who knows? Perhaps you have.

Comments

[thoatherder.livejournal.com]

Science fiction is in trouble, no doubt about that, either. It has lost a considerable share of the market it once owned, its audience is growing older because it is having trouble attracting new readers, and it has lost confidence in itself.

Is this actually the case? I go into the bookshops and there are lots of SF books (not ones I want to buy but that's another story). What I see here is three assertions, without anything to back them up.

And even if this is the case, this is nothing new, look at the decline of the SF magazine from the heydays of the 1950s and 60s. SF waxes and wanes.

The issue may be not that SF is in decline, but that publishers are more and more focused on the 'blockbusters'. They aren't interested in a middle list, just getting out the next million seller, and in many cases that means whatever is hot right now. And crime/thriller is enjoying a resurgence, so that is what publishers are pushing...

I think that the situation is much more complicated that what McAuley makes it out to be.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I think where McAuley is coming from is that over the last 10 years or so it has become increasingly difficult to make a living as a writer unless you aren't, as you say, writing the next blockbuster. It has become hard to survive on the mid-list. More sophisticated sales tracking tools over that time have enabled publishers to focus on a smaller range of high sales items. This means that the story variety in science fiction (not fantasy and not alternate history) that publishers are prepared to put out there is diminished.

[thoatherder.livejournal.com]

That publishers are neglecting the mid-list is not the fault of the writers. What is happening is that the "invisible hand" is forcing SF writers out in favour of more profitable writers from the point of view of the publishers. McAuley seems to be arguing that if the writers could only write 'better' books it would all come right.

What writers need to do is write more *popular* books, books that reach the widest possible audience. And SF isn't there, it is niche market, you might as well talk about writers making a living writing westerns (cue scenes from "A Fall of Moondust" by Arthur C. Clarke re the book "Shane").

I can recall Harlan Ellison talking about the lack of promotion of SF books back in 1983, and making comments about it then. Nothing is new.

Mid list SF writers writing better is not going to help, because by definition then they will become blockbuster authors. It may be that writing SF becomes a part time job, which is sad. But unless you can get the publishers to alter how they market genre books, there's not much you can do about it.

[russellk.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. It's harder to live on the mid-list because there are many more on that list than there were. As the genre expanded - contrary to McAuley's comments, it *has* grown worldwide - publishers have published books that might previously have been rejected. Perhaps pleasing authors more than readers. More books are being published, but are selling fewer units per book.

Changes in the distribution network in the US has meant much less support for the mid-list in that country, so I'm led to believe. The situation is nowhere near as bad in the UK, Australia and NZ. But then most mid-list books don't make it here anyway.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

On the subject of support and promotion (but otherwise unrelated), my sister wanted to buy some books by NZ fantasy authors to take back to the pre-teen and teen children of her friends. I took her into Dymocks Wellington and attempted to show her your books as part of the options on offer only there weren't any on the shelves at all. Very disappointing - she had to make do with Margaret Mahy and Maurice Gee.

I'm going back in tomorrow - I will try to find out the story from their buyer.

[russellk.livejournal.com]

Margaret Mahy and Maurice Gee will do her very nicely. I'm not surprised mine aren't readily available. They've done poorly in New Zealand compared to Australia, even on a per capita basis. NZ book shops just aren't willing to carry stock. I'd like to know what the buyer says though.

Ah well. Your sister can get them in the UK now; they're published by Orbit there. And thanks very much for thinking of them.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

The SF&F buyer wasn't around, so I talked to another buyer who is a big fan and keeps an eye on what they have. He was surprised that they didn't have your books - "we usually have them". Either they are out of stock or it is a recent decision to free up some shelf space (they are always complaining of not having enough space).

For what its worth, Arty Bees have a couple of copies of each of your titles so locals can still get them if needed.

[russellk.livejournal.com]

Arty Bees? Sounds interesting. Must look them up. Is that book/coffeeshop on Lambton Quay still there? Parsons, I think it was called.

Wellington is a good place for books. Unless you leave them outside.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

http://www.artybees.co.nz/
They have 2 shops - started as a secondhand shop but now also sell new SF and crime fiction. They try to fill the niches that the chain stores don't cater for - a bit like Barbara's books in that respect.

Parsons is still there. I can't see them ever selling your fiction or any other SF but it would be the sort of place to look for your atlas of NZ. Ditto Bennetts down by parliament.

Things are about to change in Welly though because Borders are about to open a megastore down that end of town.