Buffistas

Where's the praising and extolling of my virtues? Where's the love?

Host ,'Not Fade Away'

The Minearverse 5: Closer to the Earth, Further from the Ax

[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls, The Inside and Drive), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.

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Topic!Cindy - Aug 15, 2006 10:48:26 am PDT #817 of 10001

What is even happening?

I find it difficult to define the line between science fiction and fantasy. I mean, sometimes it's easy to say a story is one or the other, but if the mysterious, big-eyed humanoid creatures messing with people are fairies, it's fantasy, and if they're aliens, it's science fiction. There's a David Brin story where they're both, or possibly neither. Is it sci-fi or fantasy?

It's the progenitor of Lost. Seriously, I agree. I don't think I've heard the term "speculative fiction" before. At least, it hasn't stuck with me.

§ ita § - Aug 15, 2006 10:50:58 am PDT #818 of 10001

Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Andromeda on the other hand, that's a different kettle of fish.

"The Unconquerable Man" was great TV.

Strega - Aug 15, 2006 12:16:45 pm PDT #819 of 10001

I don't think I've heard the term "speculative fiction" before. At least, it hasn't stuck with me.

The first paragraph at Wikipedia describes how I've usually seen it used, though I know there is some history of people taking, and causing, offense with "SF" versus "sci-fi," and whatever else people find to fight about. I just find it a more useful term than sci-fi.

Topic!Cindy - Aug 15, 2006 12:58:51 pm PDT #820 of 10001

What is even happening?

Yes, it seems to be more useful, because an awful lot of people mean Sci-Fi + Fantasy, when they just say "Sci-fi". I don't like to refer to it as genre, because there are all sorts of genres, and it confuses me.

Is the taking and causing offense due to the bat-shit crazy fandom genre?

Betsy HP - Aug 15, 2006 1:04:45 pm PDT #821 of 10001

If I only had a brain...

But, you know, romance readers and writers are as batshit as the best of 'em. The batshit is found in all walks of life. (And can be cleaned off with the Hose of Reality.)

ChiKat - Aug 15, 2006 1:04:46 pm PDT #822 of 10001

That man was going to shank me. Over an omelette. Two eggs and a slice of government cheese. Is that what my life is worth?

I don't like to refer to it as genre, because there are all sorts of genres, and it confuses me.

Me, too, Cindy.

I do like the term "speculative fiction." That seems to encompass what I think of when I think "sci-fi." Which, of course, is more than just sci-fi in my own little brain.

Jessica - Aug 15, 2006 2:01:21 pm PDT #823 of 10001

If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?

While I'm not opposed to the term "speculative fiction," I don't see how it's any narrower than "genre," really. All fiction is speculative, that's why it's fiction.

Cashmere - Aug 15, 2006 2:20:35 pm PDT #824 of 10001

Now tagless for your comfort.

It's the same reason DH despises the term "character actor"--all parts are characters and actors are portraying them.

Betsy HP - Aug 15, 2006 3:33:27 pm PDT #825 of 10001

If I only had a brain...

You need some term for "person who isn't usually the hero" -- people like Denholm Elliott or Helen Broderick that you're always pleased to see but who are never the star.

Cashmere - Aug 15, 2006 3:35:13 pm PDT #826 of 10001

Now tagless for your comfort.

That's what I tell him, Betsy--but he just says that it's just a way of saying "ugly actor."

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