Are Fantasy Readers Dumber

This is a comment on a thread that I made at A Dribble of Ink on the question of "are fantasy readers dumber than SF readers?"   

I wouldn’t say that the readers are dumber. They enjoy different types of stories. The fact that there is a lot of overlap in the fandom, shows that the stories are not too dissimilar. I perceive that a majority of SF readers also read fantasy, but that the percentage of fantasy readers that cross over into SF is significantly lower. I won’t say that one story focuses on story, characters, or world building more than the other because I can come up with titles that are for and against for both genres. I will say that good SF does seem to be more about an overreaching idea than most fantasy I have read.


I tend to enjoy science fiction more. I also tend to learn more from reading science fiction. Some science fiction builds from current minor discoveries and builds on them. I think that SF would be more of an academic read for that reason. Anyone that has read a Neal Stephenson novel can attest to the pages upon pages that he goes through discussing the science or math that he is using as a plot point. It can be sometimes off putting to me as well. I am not saying that fantasy is not academic and can’t be learned from, but, in my reading experience, science fiction tends to do this a lot more.

In defense of Ender’s Game; I believe OSC has gone on record about the ansible and FTL stating that he didn’t have the science and didn’t want to explain them with bad science. As they were needed to move the plot along and not put in as a Deus Ex Machina at the very end, this is excusable to me. Ender’s Game was all about the idea of the Battle School.

Someone mentioned WoT. I hope that no other writer tries to write so many characters into a series ever again. That is complex in a bad way. It has almost turned me off of serials.

How to Read The Wheel of Time

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Book umpteen has just been released in The Wheel of Time saga.  Since last I read, the author had died and the series was being handed off with extensive notes and plot outlines for a final book.  The said final book turned into a final three books and I am still waiting for that to be further extended. 

I have talked to many people that absolutely love this series and I have spoken to others who are disenchanted with it.  Upon countless interviews with 98.3+- .7 percent of the Wheel of Time reading population, I have determined the reason for this disenchantment and can keep it from affecting you.

I started the series in 1999 (yes 11 years ago and 9 years into the series).  The series was able to progress up to book 8 while I was reading.  I was able to read 8 books in one fale swoop.  I devoured every one of them within a year.  I then waited 2 years for book 9, a year for book 10, and two additional years for book 11.  I was completely lost in book 11.  and hadn't really enjoyed them since book 9.

In my extensive interviews I have found that 88.6+-.9 percent of the fanbase also lost interest after they were caught up with the series.  I have surmised that it is the vast amount of characters and very detailed plot that do this.  The books have an appendix they I found myself using extensively for almost every character.  The world got too complex for me to read in instalments (no easy task, I could follow 90's X-men after all). 

If you really want to get into this series, wait a couple years and it might be through and start it then.  I probably won't pick up the last three until then if at all.  I know I will need to reread the other books to fully enjoy and I don't think I am willing to commit to 9k pages of books that I have already read.  It would take a regular sized novel just to summarize those books. 

This is a series meant to be read without very many breaks.  This is the problem with series in general but expecially those that run past around 5 books. 

*all statistics are imaginary, especially the ones used in this post.

10 Science Fiction/Fantasy/Comic movies that should be made

This is a blogfest post for Ellie Garrett's Top 10 films they should have made. 

1. I will start with the ubsurd-Yeast Lords.  They were already filming scenes for this in the movie Gentleman Broncos, so why didn't they just film it to completion to be released as a two disc set on DVD.  Sure it would have been horrible, but in an Ed Wood, we totally know that it is horrible type way. 

2.  In 1985 Clint Eastwood should have played Wolverine.  Sure he is too tall, but so is Hugh.  Special effects sucked back then but they could have done it better than the origins movie. 




3.  Armor-  This little known John Steakley novel is Awesome military sci-fi.  I love this book.  After watching Terminator TSCC I will say that you cast Bryan Austin Green as the lead. 

4.  The Wheel of time-  Hey Hollywood, you sick of trilogies, then try out this on going series that will keep you filming for 10 years.  Great thing about these books is that you can cut away at them (especially in the later books) and the fans won't care in the least.  In fact, cut everyone but the top 10 characters. 

5.  Ender's Game-  Uncle Orson is very protective of his baby and has full creative control over the rights.  Hollywood, just do the movie the way he wants it done, it will be successful.

6.  I Am Legend-  Don't tell me that they have made this movie three times, because they haven't.  I would give this to a Japanese psych horror director, maybe the guy that did Audition. 

7.  Mists of Avalon-This would have to be a trilogy but the story is just so epic.  Not sure who could play the actors, but I am sure that Gary Oldman would make a great Kevin Harper.

8.  Predator:  Permanent Midnight- This is a great installment in the predator series and would work well as a stand alone movie. 

9.  Spiderman 2099-  Why remake/reboot the same old spiderman.  This future take on spederman is pretty awesome and could reinvigerate the franchize.  I pick Wilmer Valderrama to play Miguel.

10. Terminator:  TSCC-  Bring back the cast of this show and finish up the story line in one humdinger of a movie.