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Speculative Fiction and Colorado
Sep. 7th, 2007 07:39 pmPerhaps it is just because it is not commonly used, but "speculative fiction" sounds clunky to my ear. But right now it is all that we have and I am thinking that our local "science fiction" convention needs to move towards using "speculative fiction" in its promotional literature. Why? Because younger fans, younger even than me, read a lot more fantasy, supernatural thrillers, horror, and the like than they do stuff that would be strictly defined as science fiction. I know the historical reason for this, but in advertising (and shouldn't advertising have a "z" rather than a "s" given how it is pronounced?) the perceptions of the target audience need to be taken into account rather than people who already know and care that fantasy used to be a little appendix to SF.
This is not the only option by any means. For one thing there is so darn much speculative fiction published each year that a rebel group of fans wishing to focus on just space opera could probably put on a pretty good convention. So could just about any named sub-genre from the vampire romances to magical realism.
The only problem with such plans is that it is a heck of a lot more work to start a new small event than it is to keep the old large salad-bar (something for everyone, pick and choose what convention you want to have) going. The thing is that I like the social and party aspects of conventions a lot more than I do the listen to published types talk about publishing aspects of our con. And the fact is that older people are on average less interested in meeting new friends, partying, and less able to stay up late socializing.
I do want to start my own more focused on socializing convention like event (Colorado Geek Holiday), but it is terrible amounts of work and hard to get people interested. Though now that I live in town perhaps I'll be able to have more parties. We'll see how Richie feels about that. Though our apartment is a lot cleaner and fit to be seen by folks. Right. Social group first, convention afterward. Maybe a small event this spring. Off to do more convention-y type stuff.
This is not the only option by any means. For one thing there is so darn much speculative fiction published each year that a rebel group of fans wishing to focus on just space opera could probably put on a pretty good convention. So could just about any named sub-genre from the vampire romances to magical realism.
The only problem with such plans is that it is a heck of a lot more work to start a new small event than it is to keep the old large salad-bar (something for everyone, pick and choose what convention you want to have) going. The thing is that I like the social and party aspects of conventions a lot more than I do the listen to published types talk about publishing aspects of our con. And the fact is that older people are on average less interested in meeting new friends, partying, and less able to stay up late socializing.
I do want to start my own more focused on socializing convention like event (Colorado Geek Holiday), but it is terrible amounts of work and hard to get people interested. Though now that I live in town perhaps I'll be able to have more parties. We'll see how Richie feels about that. Though our apartment is a lot cleaner and fit to be seen by folks. Right. Social group first, convention afterward. Maybe a small event this spring. Off to do more convention-y type stuff.