How many SF fans do you know in person?

[GrantG]

I literally know no one who enjoys science fiction, much less anyone who writes it. Is this normal? Are you "alone" as well, other than the people you met online who you never meet in person?

I have known such people, but I don't currently know any anymore. And it's not like I'm a hermit or anything.

 

[jojajihisc]

Same thing here. I know nobody who regularly reads for pleasure (outside of my extended family) let alone reads SF, let alone who writes it.

 

[mosaix]

Interesting question. I belong to a reader's group of about 20 people. I think, probably, 2 of them would read SF without any qualms, because they enjoy the genre.

The rest would probably object. We read Flowers For Algernon about a year ago, most people in the group enjoyed it but denied that it was SF.

And I think that's the problem. The media, and hence the majority of the public's, perception of SF is of space ships, blasters and aliens.

On the other hand, I joined the British Science Fiction Association about 4 years ago. At the first annual get together that I attended, in Walsall, I met the Managing Director of a customer of mine who was an avid SF fan. So maybe you have lots of friends and acquaintances who are SF fans, and you just don't know it.

 

[Rodders]

I know a lot of people that enjoy SF, but i don't have any friends or colleagues that i could call fans. To a certain extent, i'm quite glad as it's my thing. Whenever these guys watch something SF related [most notably Star Wars], they always think of me. Besides, i think that if i did have a friend that was into it as much as i am, i would start to get a bit more obsessed.

I come to the Chrons and other forums to satisfy my needs and requirements for good SF converation.

 

[Vertigo]

I have a couple of acquaintances who I know are into SF but I rarely speak to them never mind discuss SF. I have one friend that is into Fantasy but not much SF again we sometimes discuss but not often. My Mum and brother are into SF&F but mainly fantasy and again I don't often discuss with them as our tastes are rather different. Essentially this is one of the reasons that I joined this forum.

I would like to say that one thing that does annoy me sometimes (touched on by Mosaix) is when talking with people into "mainstream" fiction how dismissive they can be about both SF and Fantasy. They so often seem to view it as trivial. Sure there is some trivial SF&F but are they trying to tell me there is no trivial mainstream fiction? And I consider the good SF&F to be equally good. Incidentally mainstream is another term I dislike as it seems to dismiss anything else as trivial by implication but there doesn't seem to be a better term for distinction except maybe "non-SF&F" which is a bit clumsy.

 

[Interference]

Quite a few, it's definitely a growing medium and I suspect we can thank film and TV for that. I don't think you could find many in a group who don't know some Sci-Fi terms, for instance, and a lot of them will know the catch phrases from Trek.

Some of the least likely people - I'm thinking of one in particular - like Trek. In the specific case I'm thinking of it's the social implications of diversity and assimilation that gets them.

Sci-Fi is real, now.

Now, can we have a definition of "fan", please?

 

[Connavar]

I know no one that reads SF close friends or casual ones,coworkers.

Too often people me around me read whats most popular right now. Urban fantasy,romance vampire,epic fantasy,crime books.

Why do you think im addicted to this forum with people that actually read more than just series of a certain genre

Of course i know many people who enjoy SF tv,movies. Specially tv shows like BSG,Firefly,SG1,Babylon 5,Star Trek and new series like Stargate Universe but i dont call these people fans since reading the books is not in the picture.

 

[Interference]

That lets me out, then

 

[Connavar]

That lets me out, then

Well people enjoy Inception and co dont know what SF is so i dont call them fans

Different meduims,different fans.

If people who enjoyed Sf tv,movies actually read the books fantasy would be the little brother in sales,popularity.

 

[Interference]

I read very little, as I've mentioned to many people here, though I've delved into the staples (Asimov, Clarke, Vonnegut, Banks and a few others), however by far my most inspiration comes from what I trust is quality Sci-Fi on TV and in film - actually, even the poor quality inspires by omission. I tend to fix it up in my mind later.

I'm currently improving Enterprise as I drift off to sleep at night, for example.

 

[chrispenycate]

I don't even have anyone round me who reads English by choice, let alone SFF. I have one friend in England who reads SF without me having launched him into it, and possibly two I've converted to it. I go to a monthly meet of SFF reader\writers in French, but although I have seen two of them outside the pizzeria, we do not make any effort to meet up. Nesa and Morpheus visited once, and I went to the Glasgow worldcon, but for most of my life I have been totally isolated in my reading perversion, sometimes succeeding in getting a member of the family to read something I particularly appreciated.

 

[Captain Campion]

First time poster and this seems a really good place to jump in.

I know a fair amount of people who enjoy SciFi, but not just because it's SciFi (i.e. they aren't going out looking for the next SciFi book, just looking for a good book).

I guess the question is, what is the definition of SciFi? I don't have the answer, myself.

One could suppose that for the purposes of this discussion the reference is for speculative fiction involving future worlds, galactic civlizations, etc., (what might be hard core? Would I be right on that?). The Dunes and Foundations of the world, I guess.

It's a shame that more people aren't drawn to the genre. People tend to enjoy stories wherein the characters are pushed to the limit, challenged emotionally/physcially/morally in situations of high drama. No genre can do this like SciFi because, by definition, there are no limits as to where the story can take you (or the characters). I guess the "science" aspect sometimes scares people off.

Just my 2 cents. Like I said, first time poster. Don't hurt me.

 

[Interference]

Welcome, Cap, it's quite painless here, mostly

 

[Ian Whates]

I'm honestly not sure how many SF fans I know personally... Certainly well in excess of 100, most likely double that... Hmm... guess I just know lots of 'unconventional' folk.

 

[The Ace]

Not too many.

 

[GrantG]

Wow, I always assumed most SF fans had tons of like-minded friends.

We read Flowers For Algernon about a year ago, most people in the group enjoyed it but denied that it was SF.

And I think that's the problem. The media, and hence the majority of the public's, perception of SF is of space ships, blasters and aliens.

I also get annoyed with people who think that's what SF is. A lot of it was like that, but I prefer Flowers for Algernon (which I think is most definitely SF) to blaster fiction any day. When I read The Road and even Stephen King's latest book, I was thinking, "Holy crap, this is undeniably SF and normal people like it!"

But the things Vonnegut, Stanislaw Lem, and Margaret Atwood have said about the genre only seem to foster the public's misconception of it. (Though I think Vonnegut and Atwood both recanted... more or less silently. I could be wrong about that.)

Now, can we have a definition of "fan", please?

That's a tough one. I don't know anyone who would willingly browse the SF section, so let's say a fan—in this case—is anyone who would seek out such a book.

To a certain extent, i'm quite glad as it's my thing.

I like this answer, too. I like having an acquired taste most people don't have. But it would be nice to be able to hand someone a manuscript and not get the usual complaint: "It's good, but I don't know much about science fiction." Man, that's soooo aggravating. I may be imagining it, but when normal people say "science fiction," it seems they involuntary snarl.

 

[Allegra]

I recently successfully converted a friend to a Vonnegut fan but she's not convinced that Kurt Vonnegut can be called a SF writer. Honestly I'm not sure either.

I know very few SF/F readers but we don't often talk much about books. It seems most people prefer to discuss these things online. The public's misconception about the genre doesn't really bother me because I believe like listening to music, reading is a personal thing.

 

[Interference]

I recently successfully converted a friend to a Vonnegut fan but she's not convinced that Kurt Vonnegut can be called a SF writer. Honestly I'm not sure either.

I think his work is covered by both Fs and only occasionally by the S.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

SF and Fantasy readers often congregate. But if you want to meet them, you have to go to those places where they do that: conventions, book-signings, etc.

Once you do, you will eventually find many mysterious connections between them and the people you already know. One of them works at the same company as your ex-roommate, another has a sister who is the best friend of your brother's girlfriend, still another has a cousin (also an SFF fan) who has lived next door to your uncle for twenty-three years. They are people you may have almost met a thousand times — passed him in the hall at your friend's apartment building, eaten at the same favorite restaurant, worked for the same company but she was hired shortly before you left for a new job — or it may be that you have met them but you didn't know it — the cashier at a store where you shop, the doctor who saw you once when your doctor was on vacation, the supervisor you asked to speak to when the person you were speaking to on the telephone was not properly handling your complaint.

Actually, they are everywhere, but you just have to make a little effort to make contact with them.

 

[Captain Campion]

I like this answer, too. I like having an acquired taste most people don't have. But it would be nice to be able to hand someone a manuscript and not get the usual complaint: "It's good, but I don't know much about science fiction." Man, that's soooo aggravating. I may be imagining it, but when normal people say "science fiction," it seems they involuntary snarl.

It is frustrating, isn't it?

When I hear someone say "I'm not really in to science fiction" I want to ask, "does that mean you're not into interesting characters, fascinating stories, great dramas, and plot lines that make you really think about life, existence, and what it all means?"

The realm of science fiction provides a canvass on which writers and directors can conjure infinite possiblities to ask so many question and really put characters to the test. In comparison, "Normal" literature/movies/film is incredibly constrained.