Favorite Science Fiction Settings
The fine fellows over at SfSignal were kind enough to solicit my opinion about my favorite SFF settings. In my typical orotund fashion, I analyzed the several possible meaning of the question and defined the role of setting in “counterfactual fiction” (my newly-coined term for SFF) before saying I liked Tolkien’s Middle Earth and Zelazny’s Amber and especially liked the Tschai, Planet of Adventure, of Jack Vance.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/08/mind-meld-favorite-sf-and-f-settings/
And, while we are at it, the fine fellows at SfSignal linked to an article appearing on the fine website of Magical Words, written by the beautiful and talented Mrs. Wright, who, in addition to penning one of my personally favorite books, also made me lunch today:
Yesterday, I met my first grader at the bus after school. As we walked home, he asked suddenly:, “Mom, why do you write fantasy?”
I must admit, I was taken aback. I did not have an easy answer ready on the tip of my tongue (or any other part of my tongue, for that matter.) After stuttering a bit, I recovered and said, “Because it is filled with wonder—wonder, magic, and enchantment. Because when you write fantasy, you can write about anything.”
And really, that is the reason. For me, it is all about the wonder. Fantasy can do anything, go anywhere, occur in any milieu. It can take place in your back yard, in the ancient past, on the moon, in another dimension—the nature and laws of which can be anything you imagine. It can be frightening, romantic, mysterious, filled with intriguing factoids. But there is one thing fantasy does better than any other genre, and that is wonder.
http://magicalwords.net/specialgueststars/special-guest-stars-jagi-lamplighter
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
