The Letters to the Editor department is intended to be a forum for our readers to express their own opinions and ideas. While we appreciate the many complimentary letters we receive each day, you won't find them on this page. Instead, you will find letters that go beyond or even contradict what we have written, letters that offer a different perspective and provide a different view of science fiction. If you would like to submit a letter, please use our feedback form or send a message to scifiweekly@scifi.com.
-- Craig E. Engler, Editor
Total Recall 2070 Is Nothing New
well! It's bad enough that great original works like J. Michael Straczynski's Crusade (okay, so it's a Babylon 5 spin-off; it's still original in my book) get the shaft because of cash problems and such. But when crap like that Total Recall 2070 is unloaded onto an unsuspecting public that expects good quality television and not just titillating tripe, that's when I get upset. Come on, for crying out loud. Total Recall 2070 is a rehash of several SF concepts and mismatched tales like Judge Dredd (the comic, not the movie), Blade Runner, Space Precinct, Max Headroom, and some of the better Sliders episodes, all done badly. When are the powers-that-be going to learn that SF doesn't mean FX! The characters and the tale makes the story. That's why we will always have B5 and will forget Recall 2070 before it's even 2001.
James K. Chambliss
weirdarchives@excite.com
SF&F Will Never Be "High" Art
believe science fiction and fantasy have moved well beyond the point of requiring either mainstream or elite validation. These two genres, taken as a single unit, represent one of the largest entertainment blocks in television, movies, books, games and merchandising. Clearly they already have acceptance by the mainstream.
This mainstream acceptance, however, may be even more of an impediment to elite validation than when SF and fantasy occupied a position somewhere out on the periphery of popular or "low" culture. Why? Because low culture pre-dated "high" culture. The notion of high culture emerged at the same time as the first middle class. It was an effort by this new, emerging segment of society to separate itself from the working class and align itself with the old aristocratic class.
In the early days, they would go to the same plays or operettas (or at least different works by the same artist), but in different theaters. Later "high" culture came to be defined by its lack of popular appeal. And, over time, we've all been infected by this way of thinking. How many of us haven't been guilty of thinking that an artist who has suddenly gained wide-spread appeal has "sold out"? Many of us just assume that a truly good artist can't be popular.
So give it up. SF and fantasy are too popular to ever be considered "high" art--and shouldn't we all be grateful for that!
Dave Anderson
andersdr@tcfreenet.org
SF Fans Aren't Normal
n the letters regarding fandom, I see many cries of "We're normal, dammit!" Um, gang...no, we're not. We learn new science for the sake of enjoying or creating stories that probe human nature and explore the limits of what-if. We use our brain power for non-practical pursuits like learning constructed languages (e.g. Klingon) and coming up with the best visual pun in a masquerade. We push science forward by dreaming of things that others dismiss as impossible (How about space travel? How about telephones?). We're scientists; we're linguists; we're dreamers. We're not normal.
Sharon Cichelli
spiderella@juno.com
SF Fandom Lacks Faith In The Future
he problem with SF fandom is twofold. First, most "regular" people are too occupied dealing with the everyday world to bother thinking about possible futures or changes brought on by science/technology. Most people don't anticipate change (examples: computers, cloning, extraterrestrial fossils on Mars)--they just try to cope with it. These days, the news tend to resemble science fiction.
Second, many of the SF fans at conventions reveal a mind set that is even
less interested in "anticipating change"--they are squarely focused on
"past futures."
I mean, what true grown-ups would participate in endlessly discussing old, badly dated Star Trek and Babylon 5 episodes?
Or how about the costume-show people who show signs of not being able to cope with reality? (Guess what: Wearing a pajama uniform or a plastic helmet and sword won't hide that fat rump and pot belly fanboy! At least the Brazilians in the Rio De Janeiro carnival dress up with some flair, taste and imagination.)
Sorry, but SF fandom generally suffers from lack of faith in the future and a stunted imagination. Lost in inane fantasies that pretend to be "SF" but are mere wish-fulfillment, they keep running away from the fantastic change that is happening now, in the real world.
Sad as this may be, a few of these fans grow up to become scientists
or astronomers. But that's the minority who grew up...
Alf Yngve
E-mail Withheld By Request
You Think SF Fans Have It Bad...
ur society loves to stereotype anyone who doesn't fit into its definition of what's normal. You think SF fans have it rough, try being a gamer. AD&D and vampire live-action role-playing games are seen as the first stage in a Satanic conspiracy by fanatical Christian groups, while the mainstream media gladly parrots their views instead of actually talking to gamers, all in the name of ratings.
Gamers are portrayed as dangerous loner-types with very little grasp on reality who participate in strange, demonic rituals and then kill themselves. Or as D&D geeks who have no social skills, no contact with the opposite sex and who run around thinking that they're elves. I have the misfortune to be an SF fan and gamer.
I don't know how many times I've had my mundane relations say "Oh, you like sci-fi like that Star Trek stuff" or have had fundamentalist fanatics tell me that I was on a fast-track to Hell because I read Tolkien and have D&D books. Maybe it's time that the various groups of fandom get together and start defending themselves. I do think that gamers need defending more than SF fans. I mean, when's the last time some preacher appeared on the news claiming that Star Trek was a route to Satanism?
John Madigan
mastiffson@yahoo.com
Ellison Does Not Agree With Sexism
would like to comment on a couple of things that Irina Ruden talked about in her letter last issue. Harlan Ellison did not agree with the sexism in A Boy and His Dog. Ellison is a staunch supporter of women's rights and the sexism was not in the original story. Also, I am glad that there are women who love SF. I only know one other person close to home who likes SF and she is a girl. Stand up and be counted! And keep on reading.
James M. Palmer
grendel2@bellsouth.net
