Comments on: Are we cool?

By: Marta

Marta — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:19:08 +0000

So true!

By: Ellie

Ellie — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:50:17 +0000

“Goddess love the boy, he stares damnation in the eye!”

Ten words, and it was enough for the reviewer to pretty much damn the whole book. ::shrugs:: C’est la vie, n’est-ce pas?

By: Debbie

Debbie — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:36:17 +0000

So what *was* the line? For those of us that don’t have the Sunday Times.

By: greta

greta — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:09:08 +0000

This sort of inverse snobbery is nothing but a pain. Those people who decide what to read based on nonsense like that deserve what they get. So there.

By: Arturo

Arturo — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:36:48 +0000

Agreed.
Sometimes admitting in public that you read fantasy get people to sneer. As you say, it’s somehow uncool.
Often people only see the stereotypes they themselves have created after watching Lord of the rings and walking past a comic store.
When you take the time, you get to see that Fantasy isn’t even a single homogeneous genre, but a rich and deeply varied one.
Take your pick, name your poison, fantasy can and will provided while making you exercise your imagination like you have never before.
Cool, uncool? Since when has reading become that? I feel a bit sad when I see all these books being sold by the name on the cover. The home libraries where all you can find are the best sellers that are cool, or the ‘certified’ worthy underground reads.
I read for my own enjoyment, my personal pleasure. If I like what I am reading, then it is cool.
Songs of the Earth? Cool.

By: Leo Elijah Cristea

Leo Elijah Cristea — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:12:20 +0000

Excellent blog post, with excellent points: there’s far, far too much snobbery from “outside” the genre lately. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, toffs with their noses in “hip” lit-fic decided that SFF fans/writers/readers actually considered their (usually bashing and derogatory) opinions important.

I agree entirely with your points about the Booker: it will never go to a fantasy book, because no matter how good, or relevant or skilfully crafted, SFF isn’t “important” enough for a novel to win the prize.

Don’t worry, though: you are very cool!