Sci-fi

[maderr]

So I finall finished this book of short stories I've been reading. Writer's of the Future Vol 19 (I think 19), a collection of fantasy and sci-fi stories that all won L.R.Hubbards contest of the same name. (Which I've entered, and will probably enter again and again until I win the fucker).

Most of the stories were sci-fi. All of the sci-fi stories ended depressingly, or at best bittersweet.

It's a trend rather common to sci-fi short stories, at least in my experience. And while it's not my favorite genre by a longshot, I've read a good number of short stories simply b/c they're in (and usually predominant) the sci-fi/fantasy collections I read.

I don't get it. They almost all have the same fucking theme: technology and advancement = bad. Meaning it all inevitably leads to tragedy and or misery. Or, like I said, bittersweet. It just gets redundant. The last story was actually one of the few that didn't follow this theme, but it still ended on an unhappy note. Imho it was rather a stupid ending. Mildly preachy in a predictable way. In fact a lot them tried for the 'happy ending' by doing that lofty "I am wise now and have learned my lesson' thing...but that's why they come off bittersweet at best. I'm not even sure that's the right word. More like they start out fine, but get so lost in "conveying a message" the story falls flat.

Maybe I'm just picky, and snarking at these stories because they're a good taste of my competition. But...not really. I can see why they're good, skill wise and all. But I don't get why they are content wise.

I mean I'm not one to talk - if you don't like fluff my stories are probably going to kill you. I know my stuff tends toward the ridiculous and cute, for the most part. But sheesh, I'd rather someone rolls their eyes and laugh at me than read one of these things and walk away from the book feeling down. Maybe it's just me, but when I read I prefer stuff that doesn't remind me too much of reality. I get plenty enough of that as is.

Granted angst and all help a story but there's a limit. I don't think you should *ever* walk away from a story feeling either miserable or "meh." Sad? Sure. But not miserable.

Then again most of these people are now published and successful writers, whereas I'm broke and going in on Monday to box watches. I guess I really have no room to speak. On the other hand, I know more than a few people who really enjoy all the silly stuff I write. If depressing is part of doing fiction right, I think I'll just keep doing it wrong.

Comments

[stardance.livejournal.com]

I agree... sci does tend to get formulaic after awhile. I am a sucker for happy endings myself. Sad endings are acceptable, though, as long as you don't walk away feeling disappointed or cheated somehow....

Also, I think you have what it takes to get published ^^. As long as the opinion of one of your rabid fangirls matters at all ^^

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I fully approve of sad endings that fit. But more often than not, they don't. Sign me up for happy any day.

Thank you. That means a lot. I don't know if I ever truly express just how much you and all my other faithful followers mean to me. I hope if I do get published and rich and famous (*snort*) I never forget what it was like to be right here.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.

I think every genre will tend to get formulaic after a while.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Formula I don't have a problem with. Hell, I go by formulas all the time. "If it ain't broke" and all that.

Crappy formulas I do have a problem with. When it's so bad you don't give a shit about the characters, there's a problem. And misery is seldom a good forumala.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

One guess might be that you are reading a crappy depressing collection of short stories.

There are definitely a few sci-fi novels I would recommend that could be right up your alley, that might make you less sick of the genre. Now that I think of it, both books I'm thinking of have female protagonists and were written by the same lady author. Well, unless you count the one or more male personalities inside the one protagonist . . .

(BTW, my saying "sick of the genre" is more due to my perpensity(sp?) to slightly exagerrate to make things sound more dramatic than my actually thinking that is the case.)

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Sci-fi novels are usually much better, at least the few I've read. It just seems to be the shorts that suffer. But I'm game to be proven wrong if you've got the books.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

*thinks hard*

Except for the Bolo books which I was loaned, I think all of the sci-fi books I own are actual novels. Wait a minute, that was improper use of "except." I'm not quite sure what you would think of the Bolo books. I was not depressed by them though, and I think I know depressing pretty well.

I think that sci-fi short stories are more prone to be negative because sci-fi is the medium to attempt to foresee problems in the future that could arise out of the misuse of technological advancements. "If this were invented, what should be avoided?" Types of questions. Or, "You were so caught up trying to see if it could be done that you didn't stop to think if you should." *wracks brain* That was from Jurassic Park.

I often think that stories that simply use future science/technology for a background are more truly not sci-fi. Star Wars is actually more adventure/western/fantasy than sci-fi. I say western because Lucas actually said that was part of his inspiration.

[thecookietheory.livejournal.com]

:pokepokepokepokepoke: =3 Hiii! Yeah. Sorry, that was out of the blue. Because I don't know any other way to send feedback, behold!:

I love the new chapter of Embrace. And I want more. I think I'm addicted. O_o Luff eet. Loooovvvveee. Uh, yeah. *pokes again* Write faster, darn you! =3

Also, I think that comming away from a story that makes your heart ache and your head hurt is a wonderful feeling -- when you only read such a story, say, once a year. Because that's what makes them special. =3
~Hannah-chan

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Thanks! ^_^

I don't know what I'm doing correctly that has so many loving Embrace, but I'm certainly not going to complain. I'll try to write more quickly.

It is wonderful when done properly, and I agree that done too often it loses it's affect. I think that's why I don't read King often - his books always make me sad.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Well, I like stories that end well.

Though, I enjoy many that are dark in tone.

I am a sucker for a happy ending, and I hate to see the hero/protagonist lose or get the shaft.

I guess this holds true for stories I write as well as read (though this doesn't apply at all to movies just books).

What you describe doesn't sound like many sci-fi stories I've read; however, I haven't read much sci-fi lately. Except the Bolo books which I love. Those are collections of short stories about the intelligent semi self-aware tanks called Bolos. I continue to be amazed from the different stories about the world from a machine's point of view.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

You know my stand on happy endings already, and I usually avoid stories that hurt, mainly because I'm too easily influenced by the stuff that I read. One example would be how I stopped collecting Fruits Basket halfway through the series because it ripped my heart out SO badly.

Happy endings are one reason why I collect/read so many kids' books. They tend to be more colourful than 'adult' books, but they're good, too. <3 (TAMORA PIERCE! <3)

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

I can say I rather didn't like the last few episodes of Fruits Basket (I didn't read the manga). It was far more dark than I had wanted for that show.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I love Fruits. I wish they'd done more of the anime, instead of just stopping. Haven't read much of the manga yet, but that'll change once I have money again.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

I am perfectly willing to not be macho and say the end of Fruits Basket made me sad. I also would have liked the show to be longer.

Especially with the fan club president girl turning out to be smart and kind instead of mean and evil like I expected (which is good because that's my favorite character-type if they actually have a good heart), it was a show that pleasantly surprised me at most turns.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is... I like it happy-fluffy, that's why I stopped. Maybe once the series is completed and I know it has a happy ending, I'll start reading it again.

Ooo, just thought of another example. Angel Sanctuary made me want to CRY, and I've only ever read the manga once because I simply can't bring myself to go through all that pain-angst-heart-ripping-PAIN again. T_T

...Even though I love some of the characters to bits. <3

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Angel Sanctuary, god. There's an exception to my rule of "no sad stuff." I'm hideously addicted Kaori Yuki's stuff. She's just so good at what she does and I *heart* her artwork. I'm up to volume five of God Child and I know it's going to end badly and destroy me and I can't stop anyway.

Never mind Full Metal Alchemist. Christ, that's Angst redefined.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY. That's why I got the entire series of Angel Sanc. X_______X I think between reisha, euphyi and myself, we have almost all of Kaori Yuki's work, although those two are more enthusiastic about the angst.

FMA is just... I know I'll get the manga when it's complete, but I have no idea when that'll be.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

I have never seen/read Angel Sanctuary. No idea what it's about or the genre.

I've heard it is quite good though I don't think I'll see it unless someone shows it to me.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

It's good. The art is FANTASTIC and completely drool-worthy. It's also completely mind-fuck. ^^;;;;

Here's some art from Angel Sanc...

http://www.livejournal.com/community/yaoi_daily/242422.html#cutid1

http://www.livejournal.com/community/yaoi_daily/242607.html#cutid1

http://www.livejournal.com/community/yaoi_daily/243009.html#cutid1

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Mmmm....

Kaori Yuki is the living definition of mind fuck.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Well, at least her work is. ^^; I dunno bout her personally.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Well, I meant her manga. I phrased it poorly. Her stuff drives me crazy. "Confound it all, I love it though."

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Heheheh. Her stuff is true mind-fuck. *nods sagely*

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Yes, the art is quite good.

Reminds me of why I like Seraphic Feather, though I don't quite understand it.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Seraphic Feather. ^^;;;

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Well, it's shounen manga. However, I think there are many bishonen characters, angel-type things, and art with people draped over one another. No yaoi that I noticed though. Hiroyuki Utatane really tends towards the bisexual themes with male and female characters. Not in this book though.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

*purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* Sounds good. If I can find it, I'll read it. >D

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Heart-tearing pain?

That is why I never read the Video Girl Ai manga.

If something makes me feel like crumbling inside, I usually give it a thumbs up. I just don't like something ripping out the heart and handing it to me. Actually, I figured reading it would just make me mad at all of the characters who were horrible people.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Video Girl Ai...? Sounds familiar, but I don't think I've read it...

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Well, the show was good combination of fluff and serious. However, the manga was real dark complete with scenes of people being hired to work people over and other stuff I'd rather not have read (I imagine).

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Hmm...

[inklacedfeather.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with that. Sci-fi does tend to end rather blah.

I am one of the many who enjoy your stuff and as I said many times before, put anything you write out, anything (even if it's all just stapled together or held with one of those plastic spine things) and I'd buy it.

Which actually isn't a bad idea. Write some stuff don't post it anywhere, staple or spine it together and have us loving fans of yours pay you for it.

You know we wouldn't whatchamahosy any of your copyrights cause even if you aren't copyrighted we love ya too much to do anything bad to you.

It'd be like those fanmags they sell online that alot of writers write for only just your stuff.

And you can like get cash for it! Which is a deffinte plus!!!

[thealisonbailey.livejournal.com]

technology and advancement = bad

technology and advancement = koala?

It's hard for robots and machines to be cuddly and cute, so we treat them as "bad". I sleep with a baby Pooh plush, not the fax machine. Now, if the fax machine were padded, pink, and had big eyes, maybe then it could come to bed with me.

If depressing is part of doing fiction right, I think I'll just keep doing it wrong.

My main quarrel with fine literature. Being the freak I am, I like the happy.