Read on Twitter
60/
First, the litmus test of reading "from the last decade" is a very bad one.
Even if we assume that good SF is evenly distributed over time (it's not), why read a random selection of recent stuff instead of the top 1% of previous decades?
>>> https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290749897147215872
First, the litmus test of reading "from the last decade" is a very bad one.
Even if we assume that good SF is evenly distributed over time (it's not), why read a random selection of recent stuff instead of the top 1% of previous decades?
>>> https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290749897147215872
61/
But to answer the question, in the last year or so I've read and loved SFF like @KarlKGallagher 's Torchip Trilogy, @robkroese 's Iron Dragon novel, William Gibson's Interface, some stuff by China Mieville, Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey, and more.
But to answer the question, in the last year or so I've read and loved SFF like @KarlKGallagher 's Torchip Trilogy, @robkroese 's Iron Dragon novel, William Gibson's Interface, some stuff by China Mieville, Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey, and more.
62/
"let me get this straight"
...and proceeds to get it wrong
No, I didn't say I don't read recent SF. I do. I pointed out an unexamined and false premise you had. https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290750884607954944
"let me get this straight"
...and proceeds to get it wrong
No, I didn't say I don't read recent SF. I do. I pointed out an unexamined and false premise you had. https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290750884607954944
63/
"MOVED ON"
it's all caps so it must be true
yes, there is no other reason to read Heinlein other than historical interest -he certainly doesn't have a fun style, good plots, strong female characters, good moral lessons, or anything else
good point https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290751878867771392
"MOVED ON"
it's all caps so it must be true
yes, there is no other reason to read Heinlein other than historical interest -he certainly doesn't have a fun style, good plots, strong female characters, good moral lessons, or anything else
good point https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290751878867771392
64/
please read more carefully ; I didn't say that none of it is good; I said that greatness was not evenly distributed
> there are great science fiction writers right now
not that many! https://twitter.com/sharagodwinson/status/1290751817161138176
please read more carefully ; I didn't say that none of it is good; I said that greatness was not evenly distributed
> there are great science fiction writers right now
not that many! https://twitter.com/sharagodwinson/status/1290751817161138176
65/
I'm sorry that Heinlein wrote about women who were very competent at math, engineering, and other skills, while still being sexual beings.
I hope that him suggesting that some women are like this hasn't hurt your feelings too much. https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290753266851012612
I'm sorry that Heinlein wrote about women who were very competent at math, engineering, and other skills, while still being sexual beings.
I hope that him suggesting that some women are like this hasn't hurt your feelings too much. https://twitter.com/iridienne/status/1290753266851012612
66/
I strongly agree with this!
...and this is why I was saying that it's better to read a curated selection of classics than to concentrate on reading things merely because they're "recent".
Reading award winners of all yrs > reading random 2020 books https://twitter.com/doctorflopsy/status/1290753611794808834
I strongly agree with this!
...and this is why I was saying that it's better to read a curated selection of classics than to concentrate on reading things merely because they're "recent".
Reading award winners of all yrs > reading random 2020 books https://twitter.com/doctorflopsy/status/1290753611794808834
67/
That's not remotely what I said.
I made an observation about distribution, not a causal argument.
Please pay attention and engage constructively ; strawmen are boring. https://twitter.com/sharagodwinson/status/1290755300396417024
That's not remotely what I said.
I made an observation about distribution, not a causal argument.
Please pay attention and engage constructively ; strawmen are boring. https://twitter.com/sharagodwinson/status/1290755300396417024
68/
Still chuckling that I made an SJW mad by agreeing with Heinlein that some women are smart / good at things and enjoy sex.
Still chuckling that I made an SJW mad by agreeing with Heinlein that some women are smart / good at things and enjoy sex.
69/
Agreed; am in the middle of her most recent novel. https://twitter.com/tr0g/status/1290757006597459973
Agreed; am in the middle of her most recent novel. https://twitter.com/tr0g/status/1290757006597459973
70/
I'm not making that claim, necessarily, but it's certainly not IMPOSSIBLE to make that claim. https://twitter.com/doctorflopsy/status/1290756614035771392
I'm not making that claim, necessarily, but it's certainly not IMPOSSIBLE to make that claim. https://twitter.com/doctorflopsy/status/1290756614035771392
71/
why, exactly, Sir Kevin the White Knight, should I re-read that?
Are you upset that I had the temerity to civilly disagree with a female interlocutor, and use a book written by a female author as my cite? https://twitter.com/kevinmarks/status/1290768713520750603
why, exactly, Sir Kevin the White Knight, should I re-read that?
Are you upset that I had the temerity to civilly disagree with a female interlocutor, and use a book written by a female author as my cite? https://twitter.com/kevinmarks/status/1290768713520750603
72/
we've got a bluecheck tagging in
I guess I'm a reactionary for saying that SF authors wrote, on average BETTER sf about gender issues, race, trans, etc. in the 1970s (when editors selected on merit) than in the 2020s (when they don't) https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290770912975912960
we've got a bluecheck tagging in
I guess I'm a reactionary for saying that SF authors wrote, on average BETTER sf about gender issues, race, trans, etc. in the 1970s (when editors selected on merit) than in the 2020s (when they don't) https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290770912975912960
73/
> modern sci-fi is far better
not just better, but FAR better
LOL
as if
hey, have you read Hugo award winning novel "Redshirts" ? https://twitter.com/McfuckyouSweety/status/1290771837174140930
> modern sci-fi is far better
not just better, but FAR better
LOL
as if
hey, have you read Hugo award winning novel "Redshirts" ? https://twitter.com/McfuckyouSweety/status/1290771837174140930
74/
I didn't say "no", I said "all but". Which, if you're familiar with the English language, you know means "nearly".
Jeff Vandermeer is a great author.
John Scalzi ... also, yes, writes. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290772169899888643
I didn't say "no", I said "all but". Which, if you're familiar with the English language, you know means "nearly".
Jeff Vandermeer is a great author.
John Scalzi ... also, yes, writes. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290772169899888643
75/
you still haven't answered the question, Sir Kevin. Why, out of nowhere, did you jump in and tell me that I need to read about people who don't respect women's rights?
Something I tweeted, one presumes?
Please like to what I said. https://twitter.com/kevinmarks/status/1290772492366295041
you still haven't answered the question, Sir Kevin. Why, out of nowhere, did you jump in and tell me that I need to read about people who don't respect women's rights?
Something I tweeted, one presumes?
Please like to what I said. https://twitter.com/kevinmarks/status/1290772492366295041
76/
Well argued, I appreciate the examples and footnotes. https://twitter.com/WenSchw/status/1290772823355428864
Well argued, I appreciate the examples and footnotes. https://twitter.com/WenSchw/status/1290772823355428864
77/
perhaps the worst mistake of the progressives in the 1970s was deinstitutionalization ---> https://twitter.com/nico_nicole97/status/1290772918104985600
perhaps the worst mistake of the progressives in the 1970s was deinstitutionalization ---> https://twitter.com/nico_nicole97/status/1290772918104985600
78/
Already answered up-thread in tweet #61
Thanks for tagging in at the top of the thread and asking questions that were already answered hours ago ; marks you as a serious interlocutor https://twitter.com/WenSchw/status/1290773138070896640
Already answered up-thread in tweet #61
Thanks for tagging in at the top of the thread and asking questions that were already answered hours ago ; marks you as a serious interlocutor https://twitter.com/WenSchw/status/1290773138070896640
79/
And I, in turn, find Vandermeer's politics and hubris despicable as well.
But (a) I don't care about his opinion of my politics; (b) I do care that he's good at the craft, which is why I read him. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290773330119860224
And I, in turn, find Vandermeer's politics and hubris despicable as well.
But (a) I don't care about his opinion of my politics; (b) I do care that he's good at the craft, which is why I read him. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290773330119860224
80/
LOL, seriously, @nberlat , what kind of point is "some author disagrees with your politics" supposed to be?
Why would you even SAY that?
What do you think it's going to accomplish?
Heinlein and Haldemann had very different politics but they respected each others craft.
LOL, seriously, @nberlat , what kind of point is "some author disagrees with your politics" supposed to be?
Why would you even SAY that?
What do you think it's going to accomplish?
Heinlein and Haldemann had very different politics but they respected each others craft.
81/
Most of the authors I read and like the most (Mieveille, Macleod, Barnes, Banks, etc) are left of center.
Most of the authors I read and like the most (Mieveille, Macleod, Barnes, Banks, etc) are left of center.
82/
I see you put the words "real sf fans don't care about politics" in quotation marks.
Odd, as I didn't say those words.
What I said was that I don't care what Jeff V thinks of my politics. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290774255374938113
I see you put the words "real sf fans don't care about politics" in quotation marks.
Odd, as I didn't say those words.
What I said was that I don't care what Jeff V thinks of my politics. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290774255374938113
83/
Please work on your reading comprehension.
I never said that I don't read anything recent, and in fact listed a half dozen books published in the last year or so that I've read. https://twitter.com/WenSchw/status/1290774513307668481
Please work on your reading comprehension.
I never said that I don't read anything recent, and in fact listed a half dozen books published in the last year or so that I've read. https://twitter.com/WenSchw/status/1290774513307668481
84/
I didn't claim to be "one true arbiter of science fiction", I claimed to have an opinion.
Also, the authors I laud have not stated any such thing; you've created that out of whole cloth.
Please stop saying dumb things; it's tedious. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290774729222234113
I didn't claim to be "one true arbiter of science fiction", I claimed to have an opinion.
Also, the authors I laud have not stated any such thing; you've created that out of whole cloth.
Please stop saying dumb things; it's tedious. https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290774729222234113
85/
> I love John Scalzi
I'm embarrassed for you that you said this out loud, where people can hear it.
This ties into my thread earlier, about how critics can educate earnest but naive readers in what craft looks like. https://twitter.com/McfuckyouSweety/status/1290774885149663232
> I love John Scalzi
I'm embarrassed for you that you said this out loud, where people can hear it.
This ties into my thread earlier, about how critics can educate earnest but naive readers in what craft looks like. https://twitter.com/McfuckyouSweety/status/1290774885149663232
86/
I do, in fact, understand that quotation marks have multiple uses.
But in this case you were ascribing the words to me.
What other use of quotation marks did you intend? Scare quotes? https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290775132626092038
I do, in fact, understand that quotation marks have multiple uses.
But in this case you were ascribing the words to me.
What other use of quotation marks did you intend? Scare quotes? https://twitter.com/nberlat/status/1290775132626092038
87/
I never said that there are no straight white male SF authors; I said that they are not getting published by Tor, etc., and are not receiving awards. Scroll up thread for footnotes documenting the correctness of this claim. https://twitter.com/McJohnson922/status/1290775411341717504
I never said that there are no straight white male SF authors; I said that they are not getting published by Tor, etc., and are not receiving awards. Scroll up thread for footnotes documenting the correctness of this claim. https://twitter.com/McJohnson922/status/1290775411341717504
88/
I'm not sensitive, quite the opposite.
I'm RTing you as part of a pedagogic project where I show my followers what modern SF fans are like.
I'm not sensitive, quite the opposite.
I'm RTing you as part of a pedagogic project where I show my followers what modern SF fans are like.
89/
> I'm not reading your thread
and yet you are, and you're responding to it. Odd.
> do something constructive
like what? write a book? start a company? run a farm? https://twitter.com/McJohnson922/status/1290775848652378113
> I'm not reading your thread
and yet you are, and you're responding to it. Odd.
> do something constructive
like what? write a book? start a company? run a farm? https://twitter.com/McJohnson922/status/1290775848652378113
90/
No, I'm referring to your claim that the right controls the government as an example of deinstitutionalization: a crazy person has been let out and handed a twitter account https://twitter.com/nico_nicole97/status/1290775963534491648
No, I'm referring to your claim that the right controls the government as an example of deinstitutionalization: a crazy person has been let out and handed a twitter account https://twitter.com/nico_nicole97/status/1290775963534491648
92/
I'm not whining.
I'm holding my interlocutors up for contempt in front of an audience of my friends.
Thank you for playing your role in this little 1-act play. https://twitter.com/McJohnson922/status/1290777415430500354
I'm not whining.
I'm holding my interlocutors up for contempt in front of an audience of my friends.
Thank you for playing your role in this little 1-act play. https://twitter.com/McJohnson922/status/1290777415430500354
93/
No, it's not that you like things that I don't. There are many things that are good that are not to my taste (e.g. The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies).
What I'm saying is not that you're BAD but that your taste is IGNORANT and UNTUTORED. https://twitter.com/McfuckyouSweety/status/1290777782147059714
No, it's not that you like things that I don't. There are many things that are good that are not to my taste (e.g. The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies).
What I'm saying is not that you're BAD but that your taste is IGNORANT and UNTUTORED. https://twitter.com/McfuckyouSweety/status/1290777782147059714
94/
Delta V was great; read it on suggestion of Neal Stephenson (I asked him for recommendations at a recent signing). https://twitter.com/micahodor/status/1290778083583234050
Delta V was great; read it on suggestion of Neal Stephenson (I asked him for recommendations at a recent signing). https://twitter.com/micahodor/status/1290778083583234050
95/
I'm not "whining"; I'm *attacking*.
I'm not asking anyone to feel bad for ME; I'm asking people to feel bad for YOU (plural) because you have bad taste and argue poorly.
https://twitter.com/Gearoid_Dubh/status/1290778435711897604
I'm not "whining"; I'm *attacking*.
I'm not asking anyone to feel bad for ME; I'm asking people to feel bad for YOU (plural) because you have bad taste and argue poorly.
https://twitter.com/Gearoid_Dubh/status/1290778435711897604
97/
No, this thread is not about anti-diversity.
This thread is about how modern SF authors do diversity so POORLY. https://twitter.com/rise804/status/1290778905671073797
No, this thread is not about anti-diversity.
This thread is about how modern SF authors do diversity so POORLY. https://twitter.com/rise804/status/1290778905671073797
98/
I thought about what it would feel like to write a book as bad as Scalzi's typical output while I was writing my novels.
...and that's why I did six drafts, to make sure that that wouldn't happen. https://twitter.com/ZombieDevaney/status/1290779081647312897
I thought about what it would feel like to write a book as bad as Scalzi's typical output while I was writing my novels.
...and that's why I did six drafts, to make sure that that wouldn't happen. https://twitter.com/ZombieDevaney/status/1290779081647312897
99/
I know you only by your words in this thread.
I critique you only based on your words in this thread.
https://twitter.com/Gearoid_Dubh/status/1290779266356060167
I know you only by your words in this thread.
I critique you only based on your words in this thread.
https://twitter.com/Gearoid_Dubh/status/1290779266356060167
100/
The last time I had a blog I ended up with a farm. https://twitter.com/melico24/status/1290779322618347521
The last time I had a blog I ended up with a farm. https://twitter.com/melico24/status/1290779322618347521
101/
102/
The problem, Brittany, is that affirmative action in publishing worked exactly like affirmative action always does: selecting people based on criteria other than ability.
Have you LOOKED at the kind of stuff that wins the Hugo these days?
Ooof. https://twitter.com/brittania_/status/1290779506156789760
The problem, Brittany, is that affirmative action in publishing worked exactly like affirmative action always does: selecting people based on criteria other than ability.
Have you LOOKED at the kind of stuff that wins the Hugo these days?
Ooof. https://twitter.com/brittania_/status/1290779506156789760
107/
Now I'm curious to hear the whole story! https://twitter.com/Ranba_Ral/status/1290780563968794624
Now I'm curious to hear the whole story! https://twitter.com/Ranba_Ral/status/1290780563968794624
111/
When have I painted myself as a victim, Brittany?
My books sell thousands of copies, I win awards, I make good money from my writing. I don't NEED or WANT mainstream publishers.
Sharing data on how the market works != claiming victimization. https://twitter.com/brittania_/status/1290780821607993344
When have I painted myself as a victim, Brittany?
My books sell thousands of copies, I win awards, I make good money from my writing. I don't NEED or WANT mainstream publishers.
Sharing data on how the market works != claiming victimization. https://twitter.com/brittania_/status/1290780821607993344
113/
I do, in fact, not realize that that is the subtext, because it's not.
I write well, I'm content with what I write, I'm happy with the awards I've won, I'm thrilled with the money.
I just lament that entryists have taken over the big publishers. https://twitter.com/brittania_/status/1290782054234255360
I do, in fact, not realize that that is the subtext, because it's not.
I write well, I'm content with what I write, I'm happy with the awards I've won, I'm thrilled with the money.
I just lament that entryists have taken over the big publishers. https://twitter.com/brittania_/status/1290782054234255360
114/
"Oh, you consider yourself knowledgeable about the traditions of science fiction? Name 20 novels published by Tor in the last three weeks that you've read!"
- far too many people
"Oh, you consider yourself knowledgeable about the traditions of science fiction? Name 20 novels published by Tor in the last three weeks that you've read!"
- far too many people
116/
Their entire world view is that only stupid evil people oppose them, so they go through the rituals to demonstrate that I am much dumber than they are.
They don't always succeed.
https://twitter.com/monsteriszero/status/1290784987378331649?s=19
Their entire world view is that only stupid evil people oppose them, so they go through the rituals to demonstrate that I am much dumber than they are.
They don't always succeed.
https://twitter.com/monsteriszero/status/1290784987378331649?s=19
119/
Show yourself, coward. I will never log off! https://twitter.com/p33nix/status/1290786564608421888?s=19
Show yourself, coward. I will never log off! https://twitter.com/p33nix/status/1290786564608421888?s=19
