Sci-Fi versus Fantasy

[English assassin]

Sci fi for sure. One word: cyberpunk.

No disrespect to fantasy [warning: extreme disrespect coming] but a genre whose most well known author's most well known work is a second rate mish mash of ideas he riped off from the sagas, is not saying "creative geniuses at work" to me.

[caravel]

No disrespect to fantasy [warning: extreme disrespect coming] but a genre whose most well known author's most well known work is a second rate mish mash of ideas he riped off from the sagas, is not saying "creative geniuses at work" to me.

I think you'll find that most fiction works are based on old myth and legends, actual history, ancient cultures or a "mish mash" of these.

Tolkien's borrowing from the "die nibelungen" among others, is no different to more modern works borrowing from Tolkien and/or popular mythology. Sci-fi also tends to borrow heavily from previous works. All books have some kind of inspiration, and I believe it was Tolkien's intention to weave a story around those legends and at the same time give them some credibility. I would say that those old legends were an inspiration and Tolkien did not simply copy them. The main fault with Tolkien's work is that it is overly self indulgent and contains the repugnant and arrogant elves (warning this book may contain traces of elves). This is where the self indulgence comes across much more strongly as it appears as if Tolkien worships them.

[Mithrandir]

Elves Arrogant? don't be silly.

[KukriKhan]

I've tried to enjoy fantasy - really tried hard, because people whose opinion I respect in other areas tout it.

But

it puts me to sleep. Always has. Every time.

It must be a character flaw of mine, or a lack of sufficient imagination, or something. I just can't seem to suspend my disblief long enough to enjoy the story.

On the other hand, most sci-fi keeps, if not rivets, my attention. Once the author explains 'how' some different-from-current-reality thing works, I'm sold and dig in for the long haul.

So: sci-fi.

[Marshal Murat]

Dead Even.

I like David Drake

[Don Corleone]

I'm surprised nobody jumped on my Boris Vallejo comment. I'll have to post some in the Babe Thread when I get home tonight to give you all a touch of what I'm talking about.

Anyway, Sci-Fi has one thing going for it that puts it slightly ahead in my book. Sci-Fi could potentially happen. We're guaranteed not to visit Middle Earth. We just might travel the stars one day.

This whole thread reminds me of a hysterical skit on Saturday Night Live a couple of years ago. They had phone-love for nerds, and instead of 'hot blonde', 'nympho redhead', they had "Galdriel", "Princess Leigha" and other sci-fi/fantasy females at the other end of the phone. Priceless.

[English assassin]

On the other hand, most sci-fi keeps, if not rivets, my attention. Once the author explains 'how' some different-from-current-reality thing works, I'm sold and dig in for the long haul.

So: sci-fi.

Aha, a fellow sharer of a guilty secret ! Sure, I really like Sci fi because of its cutting edge exploration of current social problems....wait, FLT travel works HOW? Wow, tell me more.

Yup, hard sci fi, not an insult but a recommendation in my book.

No disrespect to Tolkien, different strokes for different folks. But if you like Tolkien you're going to LOVE the elder Edda, if you see what I mean

I'm surprised nobody jumped on my Boris Vallejo comment.

By the power of Google....yes, you have a definite point.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Don, are you talking about this kind of art;



It does have an overweight guy in a wife beater.

Huh, all the options are still within one vote of each other, 17, 16, 17.

Closest poll ever.

CR

[Blodrast]

Keep looking, CR.
Good things come to those who... er, seek ?