I think I'd like this article even if it didn't dramatically segue at the end into a mini review of Triverse. As it is, though, I'm clearly slightly biased in declaring this the best post on Substack.
Seriously, though - thank you, Daniel! That's the most thoughtful review I've had of Triverse as a whole (outside of individual chapter comments, which are also lovely), and it sounds like it's doing what I hoped it would for readers.
Honoured to be mentioned alongside all those other amazing writers.
On the subject of Pegg's comments, I always lean towards a (slightly lengthy) CS Lewis quote that perfectly sums up my attitude to most things in life, and especially entertainment:
“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
Lots of reading in common here. Found it esp. interesting you mention MI7 (I have not seen Silo, might watch it though, having read this), I saw MI7 yesterday and found it far too long, albeit a good action flic with a nonsense story. My son liked it and his critique was that the movie ended with a cliffhanger, he wanted to see part 2. I don't. Maybe it is a question of age or simply absorption/saturation, MI7 could be 90mins and be far better for it.
Not seen MI7 yet. Was due to watch it last night but got called off. I'm not overly fussed. Never been a huge fan of the series. Although, saying that, the last one was OK. I'm actually writing about franchise saturation in my next post and why studios should know when to leave well enough alone
I've not read any Sword and Planet but having a look there, I recognise the stories that you mean and it does seem to be that melding of fantasy and science fiction genre's so I will have a look into that. Thanks for the recommendation
When it comes to Pegg's comments, well...sigh. I have too many standard SF readers who scorn my work because it's near-future, has a Western setting, and honestly? Is closer to *Succession* than it is to a lot of science fiction. Or *Yellowstone.* Or *Longmire.*
But it is SF. Just heavy on the social science side of things.
For most of my life I think I've also been a little skeptical about straight-up science fiction. I'm always afraid it will involve, like, a nihilistic global corporation staffed by muscular men in shiny black overalls. It doesn't help when the book I'm browsing is a thousand pages and there are space ships on the cover. I know this is unfair and it's great to read how some of the sci-fi heavy hitters lobbied against these sorts of cliches. I think I like sci-fi best when it kind of defies the genre of sci fi. Or better, when it transcends it. I really want to mention Black Mirror, currently on Netflix. Black Mirror clearly exists within the sci-fi realm but the stories are incredibly human. They're nearly always about people facing not only the unintended life or death consequences of technology, but huge moral issues as well. (Black Mirror lately has crossed into horror and comedy too.) There are many examples from the show I could use, but the one named San Junipero springs to mind. I don't remember when I was so moved by a TV drama. It made me cry.
Hi Ruben, Yeah, I think that’s been similar to my issues too. However, as I mention in my post I’m hopefully trying to change my thought process so I can at least give some of them a chance before dismissing them
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve heard good things about Black Mirror so will check it out 👍🏼
As a writer, I have a question. How do I convince readers like you to try my work? It's more social science in orientation, a little bit of Succession/Yellowstone/Longmire--near-future science fiction with a Western setting and lots of scheming and a strong dose of romance.
Still trying to figure it out, because I'm one of those writers that gets a lot of the "best writer I've never heard of" comments in reviews, but it never seems to catch fire. So what would catch the eye of a reader like you? Genuinely curious.
Hi Joyce, Your stories sound great! So, again it’s probably more down to me taking the time to discover them and not dismissing them out of hand as they don’t fall in my normal genre comfort zone. Thanks for reading my post. All the best
I know how you feel! It's hard because there are a zillion writers vying for attention of (at least it seems to me) a dwindling number of readers. I am now aware of your Speculations substack and hope to see more of your work there.
Thank you! If you're interested in fiction, take a look at my Martiniere Stories Substack--I'm currently serializing a novel there. Link to the first episode...
Wow, thank you VERY much for the shout out! I'm truly honored by your kind words.
ALSO, excellent analysis of what makes science fiction, horror, and (especially) fantasy so darn enticing. I've always loved both science fiction and fantasy (though I definitely lean more towards fantasy), and nothing blends the 2 genres better than Star Wars. Apropos of nothing, have you happened to read my OFFICIAL ranking of the Star Wars movies?
Hi Josh, no worries. Your stories are my ideal type of fantasy that I struggle to find these days. Glad you liked the post. Just caught up with your Star Wars ranking there. Very similar to mine. I was quite disdainful of the prequels until my son made me watch them over and over and I found them to be actually quite decent with some good moments. Apart from Attacks of the Clones of course. Nothing is saving that one!
Hi Josh, no worries. Your stories are my ideal type of fantasy that I struggle to find these days. Glad you liked the post. Just caught up with your Star Wars ranking there. Very similar to mine. I was quite disdainful of the prequels until my son made me watch them over and over and I found them to be actually quite decent with some good moments. Apart from Attacks of the Clones of course. Nothing is saving that one!
I think I'd like this article even if it didn't dramatically segue at the end into a mini review of Triverse. As it is, though, I'm clearly slightly biased in declaring this the best post on Substack.
Seriously, though - thank you, Daniel! That's the most thoughtful review I've had of Triverse as a whole (outside of individual chapter comments, which are also lovely), and it sounds like it's doing what I hoped it would for readers.
Honoured to be mentioned alongside all those other amazing writers.
On the subject of Pegg's comments, I always lean towards a (slightly lengthy) CS Lewis quote that perfectly sums up my attitude to most things in life, and especially entertainment:
“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
Thanks very much Simon. Also think Lewis was spot on there 👍🏼
Lots of reading in common here. Found it esp. interesting you mention MI7 (I have not seen Silo, might watch it though, having read this), I saw MI7 yesterday and found it far too long, albeit a good action flic with a nonsense story. My son liked it and his critique was that the movie ended with a cliffhanger, he wanted to see part 2. I don't. Maybe it is a question of age or simply absorption/saturation, MI7 could be 90mins and be far better for it.
BTW, did you ever read any Sword and Planet SF/F?
Not seen MI7 yet. Was due to watch it last night but got called off. I'm not overly fussed. Never been a huge fan of the series. Although, saying that, the last one was OK. I'm actually writing about franchise saturation in my next post and why studios should know when to leave well enough alone
I've not read any Sword and Planet but having a look there, I recognise the stories that you mean and it does seem to be that melding of fantasy and science fiction genre's so I will have a look into that. Thanks for the recommendation
Looking forward to that post then, I surmise the studios won't listen though. Franchise milking is a thing.
When it comes to Pegg's comments, well...sigh. I have too many standard SF readers who scorn my work because it's near-future, has a Western setting, and honestly? Is closer to *Succession* than it is to a lot of science fiction. Or *Yellowstone.* Or *Longmire.*
But it is SF. Just heavy on the social science side of things.
For most of my life I think I've also been a little skeptical about straight-up science fiction. I'm always afraid it will involve, like, a nihilistic global corporation staffed by muscular men in shiny black overalls. It doesn't help when the book I'm browsing is a thousand pages and there are space ships on the cover. I know this is unfair and it's great to read how some of the sci-fi heavy hitters lobbied against these sorts of cliches. I think I like sci-fi best when it kind of defies the genre of sci fi. Or better, when it transcends it. I really want to mention Black Mirror, currently on Netflix. Black Mirror clearly exists within the sci-fi realm but the stories are incredibly human. They're nearly always about people facing not only the unintended life or death consequences of technology, but huge moral issues as well. (Black Mirror lately has crossed into horror and comedy too.) There are many examples from the show I could use, but the one named San Junipero springs to mind. I don't remember when I was so moved by a TV drama. It made me cry.
Hi Ruben, Yeah, I think that’s been similar to my issues too. However, as I mention in my post I’m hopefully trying to change my thought process so I can at least give some of them a chance before dismissing them
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve heard good things about Black Mirror so will check it out 👍🏼
All the best
As a writer, I have a question. How do I convince readers like you to try my work? It's more social science in orientation, a little bit of Succession/Yellowstone/Longmire--near-future science fiction with a Western setting and lots of scheming and a strong dose of romance.
Still trying to figure it out, because I'm one of those writers that gets a lot of the "best writer I've never heard of" comments in reviews, but it never seems to catch fire. So what would catch the eye of a reader like you? Genuinely curious.
Hi Joyce, Your stories sound great! So, again it’s probably more down to me taking the time to discover them and not dismissing them out of hand as they don’t fall in my normal genre comfort zone. Thanks for reading my post. All the best
You're welcome!
I know how you feel! It's hard because there are a zillion writers vying for attention of (at least it seems to me) a dwindling number of readers. I am now aware of your Speculations substack and hope to see more of your work there.
Thank you! If you're interested in fiction, take a look at my Martiniere Stories Substack--I'm currently serializing a novel there. Link to the first episode...
https://joycef1d.substack.com/p/no-good-choices-part-one
Wow, thank you VERY much for the shout out! I'm truly honored by your kind words.
ALSO, excellent analysis of what makes science fiction, horror, and (especially) fantasy so darn enticing. I've always loved both science fiction and fantasy (though I definitely lean more towards fantasy), and nothing blends the 2 genres better than Star Wars. Apropos of nothing, have you happened to read my OFFICIAL ranking of the Star Wars movies?
https://joshtatter.substack.com/p/episode-4-a-new-post
Hi Josh, no worries. Your stories are my ideal type of fantasy that I struggle to find these days. Glad you liked the post. Just caught up with your Star Wars ranking there. Very similar to mine. I was quite disdainful of the prequels until my son made me watch them over and over and I found them to be actually quite decent with some good moments. Apart from Attacks of the Clones of course. Nothing is saving that one!
Unfortunately for me, Attack of the Clones is my oldest's favorite Star Wars movie 😩
Oh dear 😁
Hi Josh, no worries. Your stories are my ideal type of fantasy that I struggle to find these days. Glad you liked the post. Just caught up with your Star Wars ranking there. Very similar to mine. I was quite disdainful of the prequels until my son made me watch them over and over and I found them to be actually quite decent with some good moments. Apart from Attacks of the Clones of course. Nothing is saving that one!