Science Fiction Readers’ Advisory

Presented March 18, 2015for the State Library of New South Wales

Megan McArdlemegmcardle@gmail.com

Genrify.com @megmcardle

● What is SF?● Who reads SF?● Why do people read SF?● Subgenres ● Core authors & titles● Keeping up with SF● Questions

Goals for Today

Science Fiction is the “What if?” genreIntellect + Imagination

SCIENCE fiction● Future● Space● Technology

What is SF?

Literary Fiction Genre Fiction● Reflects the reality of people’s lives● Explores the human condition● Focuses on inner life, emotions● Scope is small, intimate

● Escape from the reality of people’s lives

● Explores the human condition● Focus more on external stimuli ● Scope is large, expansive

Who reads SF?

photo via Manchester Evening News

Stereotype vs reality

If you build it, they will come● Self-service● Collectors and completists● Respect for the classics● Displays and exposed covers

Appeals: Pacing, Characters, Story, Frame (Saricks)● Fast paced● Characters to ground the story● Wide range of stories in SF

○ Science, Technology, Life on other planets● Near-future, Far future, even the past● Earth, Solar System, Universe

Why do people read SF?

● Space Opera● Military SF● Post-Apocalypse● Dystopian● Alternate History

○ Steampunk● Time Travel● SF Romance● Planetary Romance

Subgenres, Movements & Themes

● Science Fantasy● Near Future SF● First Contact● Sociological SF● Comic SF● Cyberpunk● Hard SF● Technothriller

APPEAL LABEL

I like fast reads with lots of battles and interesting worlds

MILITARY SFSPACE OPERA

HARD SFI like to learn about science & technology. It’s really important to me that the science is right.

NEAR-FUTURE SFSOCIOLOGICAL SF

I like books about the characters dealing with the consequences of changing technology

POST-APOCALYPTICDYSTOPIA

I like stories that are about dark turns the future can take & end of the world disasters

Forget the future! I like books about the past, but with robots and gadgets.

STEAMPUNK

NEWish● Peter Watts● Greg Egan● Robert Charles Wilson● Hannu Rajaiemi● Kim Stanley Robinson● Stephen Baxter● Alastair Reynolds

BACKLIST● Arthur C. Clarke● Isaac Asimov● Vernor Vinge● Poul Anderson● Larry Niven

HARD SF

THE MARTIANby Andy Weir

NEWish● John Scalzi● Joel Shepherd● Jack Campbell● T.C. McCarthy● Charles E. Gannon

BACKLIST● Robert Heinlein● Joe Haldeman● David Weber● John Ringo● Elizabeth Moon● Jerry Pournelle● David Drake

Military SF

OLD MAN’S WAR by John Scalzi

NEWish● James S.A. Corey● Rachel Bach● John Scalzi● Jack McDevitt● Pierce Brown● Brian K. Vaughan

BACKLIST● Iain M. Banks● Frederik Pohl● Lois McMaster Bujold● Peter F. Hamilton● David Weber● Sharon Lee & Steve

Miller● E.E. Smith

SPACE OPERA

LEVIATHAN WAKES by James S.A. Corey

NEWish● Ernest Cline● Ramez Naam● Lauren Beukes● Charles Stross● Paolo Bacigalupi● Tobias S. Buckell● Daryl Gregory

BACKLIST● Neal Stephenson● William Gibson● Nancy Kress● J.G. Ballard● Philip K. Dick● Bruce Sterling● Walter Jon Williams

NEAR FUTURE

READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline

NEWish● Ann Leckie● Karen Lord● Ian McDonald● Jo Walton

BACKLIST● Ursula LeGuin● C.J. Cherryh● Ray Bradbury● Octavia Butler

SOCIOLOGICAL SF

ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie

NEWish● Ben H. Winters● Hugh Howey● Adam Sternbergh● M.R. Carey● Emily St. John Mandel

BACKLIST● David Brin● John Brunner● Sheri S. Tepper● Octavia Butler● Gene Wolfe

DYSTOPIAS & POST-APOCALYPTIC

THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS by M.R. Carey

NEWish● Cherie Priest● China Mieville● Chris Wooding● Meljean Brooks● Gail Carriger● Ian Tregillis

BACKLIST● Tim Powers● K.W. Jeter● Neal Stephenson● Jeff VanderMeer● Philip Pullman● Connie Willis● George Mann

STEAMPUNK & ALT HISTORY

KAREN MEMORY by Elizabeth Bear

Magazines: Locus, Review journalsWebsites: Tor.com, sfsignal.com, io9.comAwards: Hugo & the NebulaMedia tie-ins: Movies, TV, streamingTalk to fans

Keeping up with SF

Find me on twitter @megmcardle &at my website Genrify.com

Thank you!