Comments on: Wondrous, detailed map of the history of science fiction http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: grikdog http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049865 grikdog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049865 At the Little Read Book Store in Ames, Iowa, I once met a woman who'd just gotten the world's first-ever Ph.D. awarded for a dissertation about "Women In Science Fiction." She's never heard of Judith Merrill, nor (by admittedly cursory once-over) has this guy. At the Little Read Book Store in Ames, Iowa, I once met a woman who’d just gotten the world’s first-ever Ph.D. awarded for a dissertation about “Women In Science Fiction.” She’s never heard of Judith Merrill, nor (by admittedly cursory once-over) has this guy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1051409 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1051409 Bujold's Vorkosigan series is definitely not cyberpunk, and Paladin of Souls is most assuredly fantasy, not sci-fi at all. Sadly I'm a young whippersnapper and can't speak for the older stuff, just ohh and aah. I would object to calling Crichton "hard" science fiction though, as I've always gotten a good chuckle over how bad his "science" is. Bujold’s Vorkosigan series is definitely not cyberpunk, and Paladin of Souls is most assuredly fantasy, not sci-fi at all. Sadly I’m a young whippersnapper and can’t speak for the older stuff, just ohh and aah. I would object to calling Crichton “hard” science fiction though, as I’ve always gotten a good chuckle over how bad his “science” is.

]]> By: RSFSmee http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1050388 RSFSmee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050388 As this is, to the best of my awareness, a unique document, whether Mr. Shelley erred in positioning, including, or excluding a certain work is, I feel, somewhat dilatory: Critiquing the first non-religious mapmaker because he put your home village on the wrong side of a creek is beside the point. The question ought to be: Is this graphical display of science fiction history *useful,*? I claim it is, both for demonstrating the proximity of science-fiction fandom to literary criticism, and for highlighting the criticality of historical context in understanding contemporary works. Abrams' Trek reboot cannot be understood without reference to TOS; TOS cannot be understood without reference to all that Shelley's diagram demonstrates as its antecedants. As this is, to the best of my awareness, a unique document, whether Mr. Shelley erred in positioning, including, or excluding a certain work is, I feel, somewhat dilatory: Critiquing the first non-religious mapmaker because he put your home village on the wrong side of a creek is beside the point. The question ought to be: Is this graphical display of science fiction history *useful,*? I claim it is, both for demonstrating the proximity of science-fiction fandom to literary criticism, and for highlighting the criticality of historical context in understanding contemporary works. Abrams’ Trek reboot cannot be understood without reference to TOS; TOS cannot be understood without reference to all that Shelley’s diagram demonstrates as its antecedants.

]]> By: Avi Solomon http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049110 Avi Solomon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049110 Too bad Gurdjieff is missing from the Space Opera stream! Too bad Gurdjieff is missing from the Space Opera stream!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049626 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049626 Wot, No Omni magazine? Short lived, but high budget and influential in the 80s. Wot, No Omni magazine? Short lived, but high budget and influential in the 80s.

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049371 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049371 I know- hard to believe anyone could make that mistake. I know- hard to believe anyone could make that mistake.

]]> By: StevieB http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049649 StevieB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049649 Nice.. Fell well within the Schwarzschild radius... Must have suffered some kind of time-dilation effect... seem to have flashed forward... it can't be that time already... shit. ps. Amongst other notable absences, where's Cory..?;) Nice.. Fell well within the Schwarzschild radius… Must have suffered some kind of time-dilation effect… seem to have flashed forward… it can’t be that time already… shit.
ps. Amongst other notable absences, where’s Cory..?;)

]]> By: mraverage http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049415 mraverage Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049415 Did i miss Leguin's "The Dispossessed" in there? Was Voyager really listed and not Enterprise? Were Varley's horror tour de force "Press Enter" and KSR's mountaineering novella Green Mars skipped? Did i miss Leguin’s “The Dispossessed” in there?
Was Voyager really listed and not Enterprise?
Were Varley’s horror tour de force “Press Enter” and KSR’s mountaineering novella Green Mars skipped?

]]> By: shadowfirebird http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048905 shadowfirebird Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048905 I can't make much sense of it as a diagram but he's certainly touched most of the stuff I think important Except that the hard SF is a bit lacking. Wait, Tehanu in with the hard SF? WTF? It's a fantasy novel! (And IMO not really a good one.) I can’t make much sense of it as a diagram but he’s certainly touched most of the stuff I think important

Except that the hard SF is a bit lacking. Wait, Tehanu in with the hard SF? WTF? It’s a fantasy novel! (And IMO not really a good one.)

]]> By: burritoflats http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048906 burritoflats Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048906 I don't know anything about Science Fiction writings, but this map strongly reminds me of Pete Frame and his exhaustive "Rock Family Tree" series - though Frames drawings are more rigid and grid-like. one of Frames trees - http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/frame/frame3.jpg I don’t know anything about Science Fiction writings, but this map strongly reminds me of Pete Frame and his exhaustive “Rock Family Tree” series – though Frames drawings are more rigid and grid-like.

one of Frames trees –
http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/frame/frame3.jpg

]]> By: Hosidax http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049163 Hosidax Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049163 (Slightly off-topic...) I find it hard to believe he didn't actually connect Poe's Dupin and Sherlock Holmes. Doyle might have made his hay on the low brow periodical, but Holmes is a direct rip of Dupin, and all the rest are an offshoot of Holmes. Also the Holmes pipe into the wormhole should be HUGE in comparison... Poe may have invented the archetype, but Doyle created the genre. (Slightly off-topic…)

I find it hard to believe he didn’t actually connect Poe’s Dupin and Sherlock Holmes. Doyle might have made his hay on the low brow periodical, but Holmes is a direct rip of Dupin, and all the rest are an offshoot of Holmes. Also the Holmes pipe into the wormhole should be HUGE in comparison… Poe may have invented the archetype, but Doyle created the genre.

]]> By: Wickedashtray http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1050191 Wickedashtray Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050191 One of my favorite Sci-Fi critics published a great book which contained tiny reviews of just about every sci-fi novel/anthologies written "The Ultimate Guide To Science Fiction" by David Pringle is a fantastic guide for anyone wanting to get further into the genre. Its out of print but there are still used copies available on Amazon. A second printing which has updates came out but you'll pay through the nose for even a dog-eared copy. One of my favorite Sci-Fi critics published a great book which contained tiny reviews of just about every sci-fi novel/anthologies written “The Ultimate Guide To Science Fiction” by David Pringle is a fantastic guide for anyone wanting to get further into the genre. Its out of print but there are still used copies available on Amazon. A second printing which has updates came out but you’ll pay through the nose for even a dog-eared copy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048915 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048915 Pretty nifty! Needs another wormhole though, for alternative history / steampunk. Pretty nifty! Needs another wormhole though, for alternative history / steampunk.

]]> By: Yarp http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049940 Yarp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049940 Maybe I'm just not seeing it amidst the hubbub, but I couldn't find Stanislaw Lem or his masterpiece "Solaris." Maybe I’m just not seeing it amidst the hubbub, but I couldn’t find Stanislaw Lem or his masterpiece “Solaris.”

]]> By: Tomas http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049174 Tomas Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049174 Wonderful piece, it makes me think and review. I also see books that I probably should have read, but missed, and others that I read long ago (50 years?) and need to read again as old friends. Thanks! Wonderful piece, it makes me think and review.

I also see books that I probably should have read, but missed, and others that I read long ago (50 years?) and need to read again as old friends.

Thanks!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049194 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049194 @jerwin: "Mission of Gravity" is right after the F&SF bulb, between Bester and Dick. An impressive work, for all its essential incompleteness. @jerwin: “Mission of Gravity” is right after the F&SF bulb, between Bester and Dick.

An impressive work, for all its essential incompleteness.

]]> By: palindrome http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048943 palindrome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048943 Heh. He spelled Elric wrong. Heh. He spelled Elric wrong.

]]> By: Yamara http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1050995 Yamara Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050995 It's missing <i>Cowboy Bebop</i>. Should have it's own color and widget, too, since it's "a genre onto itself". And the Irwin Allen TV shows should be grouped together, not flailing around <i>Star Trek</i>. On the other hand, now that I put it <i>that</i> way... It’s missing Cowboy Bebop. Should have it’s own color and widget, too, since it’s “a genre onto itself”.

And the Irwin Allen TV shows should be grouped together, not flailing around Star Trek.

On the other hand, now that I put it that way…

]]> By: Shibi http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048950 Shibi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048950 I wish that it was a little easier to read. I wish that it was a little easier to read.

]]> By: John Farrier http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048963 John Farrier Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048963 I wonder how Shelley is defining "speculative fiction". I wonder how Shelley is defining “speculative fiction”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048969 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048969 He's trolling us. He's got to be. He listed "the forever war" as "the forever peace" He’s trolling us. He’s got to be.
He listed “the forever war” as “the forever peace”

]]> By: mwt http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1048976 mwt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048976 Gorgeous. I love the alien blob of it all. Gorgeous. I love the alien blob of it all.

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049246 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049246 The order of the last two "Planet of the Apes" films is reversed. No, I'm not counting Tim Burton's remake. The order of the last two “Planet of the Apes” films is reversed. No, I’m not counting Tim Burton’s remake.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049250 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049250 An unforgivable error, if what you say is true. An unforgivable error, if what you say is true.

]]> By: genre slur http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049254 genre slur Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049254 Wow. Sturgeon squeezed in. The template for Kilgore Trout just squeezed in with More Than Human? The man is a monster of 20th century literature... ask most of the writers on the map. anyway, rant done. Wow. Sturgeon squeezed in. The template for Kilgore Trout just squeezed in with More Than Human? The man is a monster of 20th century literature… ask most of the writers on the map. anyway, rant done.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049019 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049019 It is just my lack of observation or are there no mentions of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Anyone capable of pointing out the books, movies, television show or radio series to me? It is just my lack of observation or are there no mentions of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?

Anyone capable of pointing out the books, movies, television show or radio series to me?

]]> By: RadioSilence http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049023 RadioSilence Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049023 wow! wow!

]]> By: Calimecita http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049024 Calimecita Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049024 It's fantastic. I love that there is so much in there that I haven't read yet - I'm always looking for book recommendations, especially among the classics of SF and fantasy. Why, I only read 'More than human' last month! It’s fantastic. I love that there is so much in there that I haven’t read yet – I’m always looking for book recommendations, especially among the classics of SF and fantasy. Why, I only read ‘More than human’ last month!

]]> By: jerwin http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049042 jerwin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049042 Not so. <i>The Forever War</i> is right under John Varley's <i>Gaia trilogy</i>. Not so. The Forever War is right under John Varley’s Gaia trilogy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/09/wondrous-detailed-ma.html#comment-1049303 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049303 Zoomed It: http://zoom.it/GJBW7 Zoomed It: http://zoom.it/GJBW7

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