[SFRA-L] examples of bad "sci-fi"?

[Everett Hamner]

Here it is:
http://thenostalgialeague.com/olmag/hamilton-thundering-worlds.html

Thanks for this, Doug; I'm designing a new history of sf course for the
spring and this could be a great preface to the Wesleyan anthology ....

Everett Hamner
Western Illinois University

On Fri, Sep 9, 2011 at 10:53 AM, Davis, Doug <ddavis at gdn.edu> wrote:

> Well, if you were teaching fantasy, you could have everybody read the “Eye
> of Argon.”****
>
> ** **
>
> To demonstrate more skiffy versions of SF in my classes, I often turn to
> the pulps. Not that I think that pulp-era SF is bad SF, but by today’s
> standards it can look ridiculous and the genre truly has moved on from these
> early works. And most SF movies are still working a pulpy vein.****
>
> ** **
>
> Both Lisa and I have had great success teaching a short story by Ed
> Hamilton, “Thundering Worlds.”  Now, I think this is a great story with huge
> mind-blowing imagery and a funny punchline. It is action packed. I love
> teaching it. But, the writing is overcooked, the dialog stilted, the plot is
> thin, the characters are non-existent, the bad guys are racist stereotypes,
> and the premise (turning planets into giant rocket ships that one man drives
> like a giant truck) is silly by today’s standards.  In other words, it’s a
> lot like the original 77 Star Wars.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Again, I don’t think this story in-toto is bad, but there is a lot of bad
> stuff in it and it always provokes a rousing discussion. I don’t think you
> will find any students who think SF should still be written like “Thundering
> Worlds.” But they’ll never forget it.
>
> ****
>
> You can find the story in Brackett’s Best of Edmond Hamilton collection.  I
> think it is also available free online.****
>
> ** **
>
> Doug Davis, Ph.D.****
>
> Editor, *SFRA Review*****
>
> Associate Professor of English****
>
> Division of Humanities****
>
> Gordon College****
>
> 419 College Drive****
>
> Barnesville, GA 30204****
>
> ddavis at gdn.edu****
>
> (678) 359 5817 (office)****
>
> (678) 359 5140 (fax)****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* sfra-l-bounces at wiz.cath.vt.edu [mailto:
> sfra-l-bounces at wiz.cath.vt.edu] *On Behalf Of *aevans2 tds.net
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 08, 2011 4:39 PM
> *To:* sfra-l at wiz.cath.vt.edu
> *Subject:* [SFRA-L] examples of bad "sci-fi"?****
>
> ** **
>
> Dear SFRA colleagues,
>
> Each fall I teach an Intro to SF course. Early on I try to clarify the
> terminology of "SF" (or "sf") versus "sci-fi" (or "syfy")--partially in
> order to get the students to stop automatically using the latter term when
> referring to the works we are studying.  I'm sure all of you have probably
> had similar experiences.
>
> My students tend to like the notion of having two terms to describe the
> genre--one for good science fiction (that is intellectually demanding) and
> one for bad science fiction (that is not).  But they invariably want
> examples of each.  I normally do not have any difficulty providing them with
> multiple examples of good science fiction in literature and film.  And I
> don't usually have a problem in coming up with examples of bad science
> fiction in film.
>
> But I do seem to have trouble identifying bad works of science fiction in
> literature.
>
> Any suggestions?  What examples would you offer of a really bad "sci-fi"
> novel or short story?
>
> Best,
> Art
>
>
>
>
>  ****
>
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>
>


-- 
-- 
Everett Hamner
Assistant Professor of English
Western Illinois University
3561 60th St.
Moline, IL  61265
(309) 762-3999 ext. 62247
http://www.wiu.edu/cas/english_and_journalism/directory/show.php?e-hamner
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