Re: New Blood: Preferences and Directions


<dwight.thieme@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1123635223.617398.226150@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I've been active among young people for some time now (and
by young, I
> mean for the purposes of discussion those in the
ten-to-twenty set),
> and I've seen very, very few that are active science
fiction readers.
> Readers of big-block fantasy, yes. Even those who like to
read
> 'rockets and rayguns' of the various TV trek franchises or
Star Wars.
> But virtually no new 'real sf' readers. Those that I do
see are at the
> upper edge, and they seem to like either the 'Prometheus'
type
> political stuff or military-sf, and are mostly
computer-science types.
>
> Where are the new guys? What are they reading? Is, ahem,
Science
> Fiction Dying?

I fear it _is_ dying! I think the main reason is that
"reading," as we knew it, in general is dying. With the rare
exception of blockbuster fantasy writings such as Harry
Potter etc. (mainly for children) can anyone say that teens
and young adults "read" much of anything? The digital
generation has taken its toll--those raised on videos MTV
and the internet barely know what a book is. anymore.

There may be a special case also; because of the light
pollution of the expanded cities, few young people have ever
seen the stars, live in the night sky. Those who have, at a
very young age never forget it. I saw the beauty in the dark
night sky one cold winter night at the age of ca. 2-3. It
shaped my life and thoughts for the next ca. 7 decades! SF
was the search for the answers to all the questions that all
those diamond-like stars raised. Maybe the youngsters don't
wonder "what if" very much anymore either--the world of
reality has overcome speculation and dreams. Sad. ...tonyC


.

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