threemonkeys | "old skool sf" ?! (Reply)

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.