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Anxst · 06-03-2011, 05:57 AM

What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image?

Positive mental image. I've always loved sci-fi. In some ways, I believe that sci-fi is our future. In my opinion, one of the reasons things from sci-fi so commonly arrive in the real world in some form is because we can only engineer what we can imagine. Sci-fi is the idea testbed for our future.

Do you gravitate to this genre, or stay clear?

I gravitate to the genre. For fiction books, sci-fi and fantasy are my main genres.

What is your favorite piece?

Such a tough call. I think I will have to go with The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein. The ideas in it seemed so wild but believable when I was a kid. Even now, the seeds of realistic societal changes are there. It's a future that could happen, and shows something that I could believably see resulting in revolution in such a society.

Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic?

I well remember reading sci-fi novels when we were camping in the summer, and telling my dad the stories of what I'd read when we went fishing the next morning. Although he was never a big reader, it got him into sci-fi movies, and we always had a great time watching and then discussing them.

How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre?

Differs by author, but overall it's pretty poor. It has gotten better, and I certainly hope it continues to improve.

Oddly, I always felt the sci-fi childrens authors had the better portrayals of women in their books, and I hope that, combined with the changing status of women in society, has been what led the new generations of male authors to have better thoughts on portraying women in their writings.

How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest in the topic?

The same as I do when meeting anyone with an interest in the topic: I start a conversation! I love talking any of my interests with people, male or female.

List the first 5+ sci-fi works that come to your mind.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Dune by Frank Herbert
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

If one of those doesn't get someone to love sci-fi, I wouldn't know where to send them anymore.

06-03-2011, 05:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Anxst Condensing fact from the vapor of nuance. Location: Madison, WI	What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image? Positive mental image. I've always loved sci-fi. In some ways, I believe that sci-fi is our future. In my opinion, one of the reasons things from sci-fi so commonly arrive in the real world in some form is because we can only engineer what we can imagine. Sci-fi is the idea testbed for our future. Do you gravitate to this genre, or stay clear? I gravitate to the genre. For fiction books, sci-fi and fantasy are my main genres. What is your favorite piece? Such a tough call. I think I will have to go with The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein. The ideas in it seemed so wild but believable when I was a kid. Even now, the seeds of realistic societal changes are there. It's a future that could happen, and shows something that I could believably see resulting in revolution in such a society. Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic? I well remember reading sci-fi novels when we were camping in the summer, and telling my dad the stories of what I'd read when we went fishing the next morning. Although he was never a big reader, it got him into sci-fi movies, and we always had a great time watching and then discussing them. How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre? Differs by author, but overall it's pretty poor. It has gotten better, and I certainly hope it continues to improve. Oddly, I always felt the sci-fi childrens authors had the better portrayals of women in their books, and I hope that, combined with the changing status of women in society, has been what led the new generations of male authors to have better thoughts on portraying women in their writings. How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest in the topic? The same as I do when meeting anyone with an interest in the topic: I start a conversation! I love talking any of my interests with people, male or female. List the first 5+ sci-fi works that come to your mind. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein Dune by Frank Herbert Old Man's War by John Scalzi Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card Anathem by Neal Stephenson The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold If one of those doesn't get someone to love sci-fi, I wouldn't know where to send them anymore. __________________ Don't mind me. I'm just releasing the insanity pressure from my headvalves.