How many times have you heard this?

[Worldbuilder]

How many times have you heard this?

"I used to read sf (fantasy) when I was younger."

Or this one:
"I used to read it (sf/f) a lot."

It offends me that they think they can outgrow it! I hear it ALL the time when I tell people I write SF. Perhaps it has outgrown them? Maybe some people take themselves too seriously when they get older and lose their imaginations?

Any ideas? I'd like a witty, but not terribly stinging answer for these people since it happens so often. When I go Greek dancing at the Taverna, I get asked all the time if I'm Greek. So I finally came up with a standard answer for that question. "I'm from the Greek Azores." I get some funny looks and, sadly, a lot of blank ones. (My grandparents were from the Azores.)

Anyhow, I think we all need an intelligent answer for people who think they can outgrow sf/f.

I hope you have some ideas for me. SF is for grown ups, darn it!

 

[Pyan]

"Really? Amazing how easy it is to lose track of the fun things in life, isn't it?"

 

[DeepThought]

"...SF is for grown ups, darn it!"

I fully agree, and the good stuff…is for the thinking person.



Cheers, DeepThought

 

[nixie]

you mean I'm a grown up

 

[The Ace]

Dunno, never did get the hang of growing up.

 

[D_Davis]

I used to do drugs. I still do, too.

--Mitch Hedberg


I used to read SF. I still do, too.

--D_Davis

 

[tangaloomababe]

I think I am the opposite, I used to read very little sci fi or fantasy when I was younger, I read far more now. However I also think that your taste in novels changes. You should not dedicate yourself to just a couple of styles of writing but rather expose yourself to as much as possible. I read many different types of books, not just sci fi and fantasy, although I must admit I do love a good sci fi!!!
I don't know that people think they have outgrown it, but more their tastes have changed. Personally I think its great that people read any sort of book. There is not enough of it!!!

 

[Clansman]

Pass them a copy of A Game of Thrones, Stormed Fortress, or Gardens of the Moon and ask them if this is children's literature.

Seriously, fantasy is a genre with noble roots stretching back to the dawn of human civilization. Some of the greatest works of literature in history are fantasy: The Iliad, The Odyssey, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Spencer's The Faerie Queene, Gulliver's Travels, et cetera and ad infinitum.

Science Fiction is a logical extension of this ancient genre, and allows the author to explore difficult issues with the gloves off, which a normal, realistic dramatic novel does not allow (too many rules).

In many ways, it is much more daring and relevant than "real world" literature.

I agree a bit with tangaloomababe (man, that's a tough handle to type!). Great books, regardless of genre, get read by readers. There are definitely not enough great books.

 

[steve12553]

I used to read complex political thrillers and economic textbooks, but I out grew them.

 

[Grimward]

*Gasps for air..."Can't breath...Can't breath"!"

Awesome, Steve, although it probably falls into the "stinging" category that WB was trying to avoid. Actually laughed out loud that time.

*Family in next room wonders whether visit to Psych ward is in order*

My offering:

"And life used to be a bit brighter, didn't it?"

 

[Clansman]

My father was always concerned about my love for fantasy when I was younger. When it did not abate despite me hitting the age of 25, he gave up. When the LOTR movies came out a few years ago, and he saw them, he told me that he should have read the books at the same time I was reading them. He is reading them now, and is quite impressed.

He is growing into fantasy, and he is 77.

All in all, I liked Steve's pithy answer, because for me, it is true. I used to read Tom Clancy and texts on economy, history and poli-sci, but I really did outgrow them. Now I read fantasy, science fiction, whatever else is good, and then what I have to read: law.

 

[K. Riehl]

" Ah, so you lost that sense of wonder"

"So you have learned to dislike new things have you?"

" Ya, the future isn't very interesting, is it?"

"Imagination, who needs it. I mean you can't have imagination and develop new products can you?"

Anyone who says that to me gets the sarcastic response. It's almost a spinal reflex.

 

[nixie]

I have a copy of James Barclay's Light Stealer with an introduction from stan Nicholls. He states in the introduction he knows an editor that wants to stop labelling books into genre, to wrap books in plain wrappers, title, author, brief synopsis. No jacket illustrations to hint at the genre.
Not because he thinks fantasy or sci fi are something to be ashamed of but because he feels that they could surpass the so called classics in main stream fiction.

 

[Connavar]

Im thinking if you can outgrow SF/Fantasy then its not for you.

You dont know what the genre are if you think its for kids or maybe you just dont care to find out.

I have made my brothers SF fans qaulity books like Dune,Starship Troopers,Foundation who is far from kids stuff.

One of them read mostly fantasy before and the other barely reads any genre except historical fiction.

 

[Tillane]

Hear this all the time, mostly following my own declaration: "I write Science Fiction stories."

"Oh. I used to read a lot of that when I was a kid..."

 

[Worldbuilder]

Thanks for the great responses guys! Keep 'em coming. Still looking for that perfect answer, although I'm leaning toward this one now from KR: " Ah, so you lost that sense of wonder"

I'm speaking to a SF group tomorrow about my book tomorrow. I think this might make for some fun interaction, too. I think I'll put the question to them. Might I share some of your responses?

I can think of all kinds of really sarcastic responses, but then I'd be alienating (oooohhhh - notice the word choice.) my potential fans. Of course, if they don't read SF, are they likely to try it for someone they just met? Not likely, huh? But still, I don't want people to know just how sarcastic I can be until they know me better.

 

[Grimward]

If it comes in handy, WB, can't speak for the rest but you're welcome to mine. Good luck!

 

[Tillane]

Well, if it's any help, my response is usually:

"So, you peaked early..."

 

[Nada]

Actually, one of those sentences I uttered myself. More or less.

Sometimes I have thought i grew up out of fantasy as a READER. Before i discovered Martin and, very recently, Erikson, I was bored by the usual cliches of fantasy (dragons, elfs, magic and so on...).

I think that "growing up" is a process every reader should go through: you read different books and, after exhausting certain stuff, you move toward more complex themes or more sophisticated authors.
For example I have grown out of eddings: after 4 cycles and 2 additional books, i am fed up of re-reading the same things over and over.
I also grown out of Asimov: I've read (almost) all of what he wrote.

If someone tells me that he/she does not read fantasy or sf anymore I'll simply ask why. Do they know the real good stuff? Or are they those kind of guys that, taken by life (work, family, kids) don't read ANYTHING more?

The smart remarks may be appropriate but only in those case in which they are making fun of way because of your passion. Then, well, arms are free. Go in for the kill

 

[StevenSavile]

Here's the thing though, you do out grow things during your life - it doesn't devalue the thing for what it was to you, but it no longer holds that same appeal. As a professional author I'm thinking any kind of smart retort isn't a particularly good way to go. You're looking at engaging in a dialogue - so when they say that they used to read sf, ask who they enjoyed, and hopefully you know your genre and can talk with energy and enthusiasm about those writers, ask why they stopped, ask the kind of fiction they read now. but be interesting, don't be flippant.

Because you know what, if you show an engaging personality you might just win a curious reader, but if you're an arse, you're an arse for life and you can bet that one reader will tell the story of the smart alec sf writer who thought they were too good for the readers... then you lose their friends as well.

Just something to chew on.