"Literary establishment" and SF
I get odd looks once in a while when people see the SF book that I carry with me ever so often. I guess they must be wondering as to what a "grown up" man is doing with such a book. From my point of view, it is they who are missing out on a great book if they have preconceived notions on what should not be read just because it is branded a particular genre.
Recently some SF admirers and self-appointed protectors of the 'genre' have been waging a 'holy war' against authors whose books they think are SF materials but who would rather not have their book branded SF. The list include Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" and Cormac McCarthy's "The Road". I have not been able to understand the over-zealous attitude of these defenders.
Matthew Cheney has written a nice piece on the issue, taking issue with one such defender, Jason Sanford. Cheney writes
Are there reviewers who don't like much SF? Sure. There are reviewers who don't like John Updike, reviewers who don't like cookbooks, reviewers who don't like Hillary Clinton -- even reviewers who don't like stuff I do! There are also people like Michael Dirda at the Washington Post, who has an informed and nuanced and even passionate knowledge of all sorts of different types of fiction. Don't like the Times? Read the Post.
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