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Science Fiction in the Real World
No ordinary critic, Norman Spinrad explicates, celebrates, and sometimes excoriates science fiction from the privileged perspective of an artist armed with intimate knowledge of the craft of fiction and even of the writers themselves. In these 13 essays, Spinrad urges science fiction as a genre to reach its potential. He divides the essays—new works written specifically for this book combined with those that appeared in Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine— into five "Literature and A Critical Overview," in which Spinrad establishes his critical standards; "Alternate Visual Translations," a discussion of comic books and books made into movies; "Modes of Hard SF, Cyberpunk, and the Space Visionaries"; "Psychopolitics and Science Heroes—True and Otherwise"; and "Masters of the Careers in Profile," discussions of Sturgeon, Vonnegut, Ballard, and Dick.
- GenresScience Fiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 11, 2014
These essays are 25 to 30 years old, and so diving into them I wondered if I would find them of historical interest only or possibly simple dated. When Spinrad covers more general topics – the difference between sf and sci-fi, the need for critical standards, etc – there is a sense of familiar territory being gone over once again. Putting yourself back into the time of their original publication is necessary, but even that bit of intellectual time travel is made easy by Spinrad’s lively, opinionated, and extremely readable prose.
He is best when he gets down to specifics. He is good on the issues of literary quality versus scientific accuracy in hard science fiction. He makes a case that cyberpunk should be relabeled neuromanticism, and that when Greg Bear found himself on a cyberpunk panel at the 1985 Worldcon, he did indeed belong there, despites Bear’s claims to the contrary. The New Wave gets mentioned in several contexts, but perhaps because Spinrad himself was closely involved with it, he does devote an entire essay to it.
In a couple of contexts he makes the point that much of what keeps sf relegated to the pulp publishing category, what he terms the masturbatory power fantasies aimed at adolescent males, can also be found in the best of sf writing, and is justifiably considered the sort or ur myth that underlies much of Western myth and literature. It may seem obvious, but 25 years later it remains a point worth making, that much depends on how well written something is. And Spinrad doesn’t hesitate to divide the flock.
Even if you feel you will know the arguments Spinrad is going to put forth, there is still the pleasure of reading his prose. And you might find something that decades after it was written can still really piss you off. And what can be better than that?
He is best when he gets down to specifics. He is good on the issues of literary quality versus scientific accuracy in hard science fiction. He makes a case that cyberpunk should be relabeled neuromanticism, and that when Greg Bear found himself on a cyberpunk panel at the 1985 Worldcon, he did indeed belong there, despites Bear’s claims to the contrary. The New Wave gets mentioned in several contexts, but perhaps because Spinrad himself was closely involved with it, he does devote an entire essay to it.
In a couple of contexts he makes the point that much of what keeps sf relegated to the pulp publishing category, what he terms the masturbatory power fantasies aimed at adolescent males, can also be found in the best of sf writing, and is justifiably considered the sort or ur myth that underlies much of Western myth and literature. It may seem obvious, but 25 years later it remains a point worth making, that much depends on how well written something is. And Spinrad doesn’t hesitate to divide the flock.
Even if you feel you will know the arguments Spinrad is going to put forth, there is still the pleasure of reading his prose. And you might find something that decades after it was written can still really piss you off. And what can be better than that?
February 25, 2024
Mr. Spinrad set out to get the ball rolling on creating a serious critical framework for discussing science fiction and fantasy, something that would go beyond the minutiae of fandom and connect to the larger project of literary criticism. For my money, he did a great job. I have returned to it several times since I first read it back in college, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the interplay between SF/Fantasy as narrative forms, as genres, as marketing categories, or as business would do well to pick this gem up.
August 16, 2018
Very few science fiction writers ever tell us about the genre in which they work, the few that have haven't been particularly interesting. As usual, Spinrad is the exceptional; must read for anyone who is a reader of the genre!
June 14, 2013
Published in 1990 and including essays going back to 1985, this collection has both held up well and aged badly. The critical insights are as valid today as they were when published though they are related to books and films from a previous era. Some of the cultural touchstones do not hold up as well. Consistent references to recreational sex and drug use sound seriouly dated and there are a number of word choices (barbled?) that reek of patchouli and the use of the phrase, "far out man!" Still Spinrad clearly has a deep and well earned understanding of science fiction in all its forms and the final essay on Phillip K. Dick, particularly the analysis and appreciation for The Transmigration of Timothy Archer (admittedly one of my favorite books of all time)is worth the price of admission.
April 19, 2009
Thought provoking stuff from an edge of the genre writer and critic.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews