A proactive response to the "genre is dying" argument...

[Fishbowl Helmet]

Should be required reading, IMO.

http://io9.com/5970034/9-joyful-ways-to-demolish-your-favorite-genre

Your thoughts?

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

This was very interesting. It's certainly true that speculative fiction can fall into the Same Old Thing very easily, although the main attraction of the genre is that it is something different, limited only by the imagination of the author.

 

[Grunkins]

Good article. Wish the writer had given more examples.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

"Or screw mash-ups — just create something that nobody can taxonomize."

By screw, I presume he means, "don't bother with" ? In which case - right on. I think mash-ups, as in music, are for people who struggle with ideas. My aim is to write novels nobody can categorise.

 

[Lilmizflashythang]

Some of it seems risky to me. Playing like something is going to happen, then doesn't usually gets gripes. Seems like a catch-22 to me.

 

[Parson]

It seems that what is really being said in the article is "write a good story, don't worry about the genre," which is nothing less than common sense.

 

[AE35Unit]

saying the genre is dying is like saying people dont dream, dont imagine anymore.

 

[James Coote]

I read a similar thing years ago that can be neatly summarised as 'subverting expectations'.

However, with some of the suggestions, you can still take it the wrong way, and create something that, whilst hilarious for genre fans in its mockery and piss taking, fails to really advance the genre in any meaningful direction