Those aren’t genre tags those are demographic tags. There’s a target demo and age range, and Shonen while known to cater to young boys is actually an all audiences demo tag.
Even with these tags: story, art, etc are varied in their execution.
I agree: know a tag avoid it. Also in bookstores avoid the shrink wrapped manga. 🤣 Then look up the title or tag
I sympathize with the desire to break out of genre ghettos, but we can do this increasingly well with key words. AI searches are going to make genre only as relevant and readers want it to be.
Also to many lit critics, science fiction is best defined as stories that ask, "what if?" with regard to breakthrough discoveries (like aliens, new planets, etc ) or social and technological innovation, even if those innovations or discoveries are literally impossible. It challenges our presuppositions, our prejudices, makes us question every step we think is bringing us "forward." These kinds of stories span from Frankenstein (described by Shelley as a ghost story, fwiw), to War of the Worlds, to time travel stories, to Jurassic Park. What a sweet genre, right?
I don't want to lose the sci-fi label, I want it to mean something again. If SF is just your backdrop, if it's just space ships instead of dragons but the story could happen in any setting, that's cool. I love a good space opera aesthetic. But let's keep the heart of Science Fiction alive.
I don't think the Genres are dead nor are they dying. In my view we shouldn't wish for such things as that's the death of something very human, very beautiful in us. So going to back you up on this one Boorman. Both as a reader and writer of Fantasy/Mythic Fiction.
I've been getting impression that the most useful division (for fiction, at least) in bookstores would be "hard porn" "soft porn" and "not porn", in decreasing amount of shelf space needed. Modern SF/F being almost completely subsumed in the first two categories.
The terms "science fiction" and "fantasy" describe a genre that fits the overall type of story being presented. It's a broad category but a useful one. Replacing these terms with narrow, subjective categories like “Does it inspire? Does it entertain? Does it speak to the human spirit?” are not helpful.
The category “sci-fi”, has existed for over 100 years it's meaning is well known to readers. It does not need to be replaced by an over complicated classification system.
I always like the Japanese genre tags. You get what it says on the tin. Harem yaoi echiee, you know what it is before you read it, and can avoid it.
Those aren’t genre tags those are demographic tags. There’s a target demo and age range, and Shonen while known to cater to young boys is actually an all audiences demo tag.
Even with these tags: story, art, etc are varied in their execution.
I agree: know a tag avoid it. Also in bookstores avoid the shrink wrapped manga. 🤣 Then look up the title or tag
I agree about Arthur C Clarke mentioned here, but what about the works of Heinlein from a similar era, in particular The Moon is a Harsh Mistress?
Its diamond hard Sci-Fi with a hopeful story about fighting back against (government) oppression.
Would 'realistic' be the tag used for hard Sci-Fi in this system?
Sounds about right.
Especially since a good amount of low fantasy/magical realism stuff can fit into that category too.
considering he's the arch nihilist, is he really the example you want?
To be fair i was putting the book forward as an example, not the author.
I sympathize with the desire to break out of genre ghettos, but we can do this increasingly well with key words. AI searches are going to make genre only as relevant and readers want it to be.
Also to many lit critics, science fiction is best defined as stories that ask, "what if?" with regard to breakthrough discoveries (like aliens, new planets, etc ) or social and technological innovation, even if those innovations or discoveries are literally impossible. It challenges our presuppositions, our prejudices, makes us question every step we think is bringing us "forward." These kinds of stories span from Frankenstein (described by Shelley as a ghost story, fwiw), to War of the Worlds, to time travel stories, to Jurassic Park. What a sweet genre, right?
I don't want to lose the sci-fi label, I want it to mean something again. If SF is just your backdrop, if it's just space ships instead of dragons but the story could happen in any setting, that's cool. I love a good space opera aesthetic. But let's keep the heart of Science Fiction alive.
I feel the same about Fantasy/Mythic stuff.
I don't think the Genres are dead nor are they dying. In my view we shouldn't wish for such things as that's the death of something very human, very beautiful in us. So going to back you up on this one Boorman. Both as a reader and writer of Fantasy/Mythic Fiction.
Mate. What nonsense. Detective noir, murder mysteries and sci fi all lumped together by 'feeling generated. No.
I read Fantasy and Sci Fi and History books. Nothing else. I am not interested in wading thru your feelings categories.
What nonsense.
Brian's categories make more sense than the old marketing categories that you worship.
Why are you fake bully boy veteran scifi cucks such avid defenders of the system?
Why champion the feeling of man while using ai art?
I've been getting impression that the most useful division (for fiction, at least) in bookstores would be "hard porn" "soft porn" and "not porn", in decreasing amount of shelf space needed. Modern SF/F being almost completely subsumed in the first two categories.
The terms "science fiction" and "fantasy" describe a genre that fits the overall type of story being presented. It's a broad category but a useful one. Replacing these terms with narrow, subjective categories like “Does it inspire? Does it entertain? Does it speak to the human spirit?” are not helpful.
The category “sci-fi”, has existed for over 100 years it's meaning is well known to readers. It does not need to be replaced by an over complicated classification system.