As is evident from everyone's comments, what constitutes the golden 10% and the chunderous 90% of Sturgeon's law sure does vary (as do the percentages). It's not just a matter of taste. There are so many different methods for assessing goodness. Right now I'm struggling to like baseball because I keep trying to make it fit a cricket model. It's only letting go of my knowledge of cricket that's allowing me to begin enjoying it--just in time for the last few games of the season. Thank God basketball's nothing like cricket.
Teresa--I was so sure you'd have the answer to that question . . .
Justine
Sturgeon's law is the obvious (and accurate) response to comments on the overall crapness of the fantasy genre, but it's not really that helpful. Why is it that only certain genres cop the crapness accusation? Why is it so often fantasy or romance? I've read many fine examples of both genres. (Though of course many excellent romances are not published as romance eg Sarah Waters books). Is it simply that we have to have hierarchies? And for sf to be good fantasy must be bad and vise versa?
Justine
In response to Brian Parry:
Where does the stuff about respecting US presidents come from? The Republicans seemed not to show much for Clinton when he was president. Does the respect only apply to Republican presidents?
I ask as a curious Australian. Being from a nation state largely brought into being by transported, largely poor and working class law-breakers, respect for authority has never been Australia's strong point.
In a non-violently flamey way I do find it extraordinary that so many USians feel that Clinton was a worse president than Bush. What criteria are they using to judge? Surely not economic ones.
Just curious.
Very enjoyable blog, Teresa.
| Year | Number of comments posted |
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| 2003 | 4 |
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