I've often wondered what percentage of the reading population enjoys fantasy and science fiction. Any opinions?
Fantasy and science fiction fans
- Thread starter Death Wizard
- Start date
- Status
I think I heard it once that those two genres combined claim about 11% of total sales, so I voted for the 10% to 30% stat. It can be very misleading too, since the SF and Fantasy thread here seems to always be busy with top readership numbers.
Tri
Tri
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 17,778
- Reaction score
- 6,944
- Location
- At the portal to the Pacific
- Website
- sealeyandrews.wordpress.com
I voted 10-30 percent. Not that this is a terribly accurate way to figure it, but I based my vote on a the results of a hand-raising poll in a writer's group I went to the other day.
I think out of a room of about 50 writers, about 20 percent raised their hand to say this was the genre they wrote in. But the majority of people were romance and mystery/thriller.
I know that's technically different than *readers* of this genre, but I figure if they are writers of the genre they were probably readers first.
I think out of a room of about 50 writers, about 20 percent raised their hand to say this was the genre they wrote in. But the majority of people were romance and mystery/thriller.
I know that's technically different than *readers* of this genre, but I figure if they are writers of the genre they were probably readers first.
I voted 10-30 percent. Not that this is a terribly accurate way to figure it, but I based my vote on a the results of a hand-raising poll in a writer's group I went to the other day.
I think out of a room of about 50 writers, about 20 percent raised their hand to say this was the genre they wrote in. But the majority of people were romance and mystery/thriller.
I know that's technically different than *readers* of this genre, but I figure if they are writers of the genre they were probably readers first.
Interesting.
I loved it when I was a kid and continued to love it. I've met adults who said they loved it as kids and then "grew out" of it.
As much as I hate to say it, I'm thinking it's less than 10% of readers. Now, if you expand to include visual medium, I'd say the number would be significantly higher. It's just my opinion, but I really think most fantasy - at least the type of fantasy that I like - comes across better in TV and movies than in print.
Thats not to say it comes across badly in print.
I just think that being able to actually see it play out adds something more to the fantasy genre than it does to others, for reasons I can't really define.
I think, by and large, romance is and likely will remain the most popular genre. Personally, I can't stomach romance novels (despite the fact that I tend to have a great deal of relationships in my writing), but I think they more or less play to the same audience as soap operas - and those aren't going away anytime soon, either.
Thats not to say it comes across badly in print.
I just think that being able to actually see it play out adds something more to the fantasy genre than it does to others, for reasons I can't really define.I think, by and large, romance is and likely will remain the most popular genre. Personally, I can't stomach romance novels (despite the fact that I tend to have a great deal of relationships in my writing), but I think they more or less play to the same audience as soap operas - and those aren't going away anytime soon, either.
I read somewhere that romance is the hottest selling genre in e-publishing, followed by fantasy. With Print books, I still think romance is #1 and has been for some time. The thing is, traditional SF&F have been around for a long time and I do not see it going anywhere, though we are now getting lots of subgenres in both. They all fall under Speculative Fiction anyway...
10-30% with the 30% sounding a bit too high.
10-30% with the 30% sounding a bit too high.
This is really hard to figure number wise for a couple of reasons.
I love it. But I've known people who are utterly mystified by it. It reminds me of something I heard about Star Trek: the original show addressed subjects like racism and other controversies by planting it on another planet. And it went right by the censors. I've cheered through a movie and looked at the relative next to me and they look totally bewildered. Perhaps there is a gene for getting it or something!
Plus you have to factor in the spin offs: Star Wars has so many novels now it spans millenium, Star Trek characters would have to be having a whole adventure every second to cover all theirs and so on. And then there are the video game connections. So that's something that draws more people. It spreads out too: I've read an author's original novels just because I liked a Star Wars book they wrote.
Then there is that final catch even for the most die hard fan. I have rarely seen a sci fi or fantasy stand alone. Most are series or at least trilogies. So it's a commitment to read them and buy them. Some people might decide it's not worth the effort to try. Especially if the library doesn't carry much. (Whether due to lack of demand or lack of funds I have WAY more than the library. The mystery section is booming though.)
So I suspect our group is small only over 10% due to spin offs. But we are committed!
I love it. But I've known people who are utterly mystified by it. It reminds me of something I heard about Star Trek: the original show addressed subjects like racism and other controversies by planting it on another planet. And it went right by the censors. I've cheered through a movie and looked at the relative next to me and they look totally bewildered. Perhaps there is a gene for getting it or something!
Plus you have to factor in the spin offs: Star Wars has so many novels now it spans millenium, Star Trek characters would have to be having a whole adventure every second to cover all theirs and so on. And then there are the video game connections. So that's something that draws more people. It spreads out too: I've read an author's original novels just because I liked a Star Wars book they wrote.
Then there is that final catch even for the most die hard fan. I have rarely seen a sci fi or fantasy stand alone. Most are series or at least trilogies. So it's a commitment to read them and buy them. Some people might decide it's not worth the effort to try. Especially if the library doesn't carry much. (Whether due to lack of demand or lack of funds I have WAY more than the library. The mystery section is booming though.)
So I suspect our group is small only over 10% due to spin offs. But we are committed!
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 20,006
- Reaction score
- 5,353
Yes, BUT, we need to factor in the paranormal romances (also considered fantasy) which are really huge right now.
Liosse de Velishaf
Banned
I read somewhere that SFF is about 8-15% of the commercial fiction market, and romance is somewhere around 22%. So I voted 10-30%
Since I work in a liberry, here are my thoughts on the matter based on what I see checked out!
Fantasy circulates at a MUCH higher rate in YA and Juvenile than in Adult. In Adult, they circulate a much lower than what I can only collectively term as bestsellers--your Pattersons, Graftons, Grishams, Sparks, etc. In YA and Juvie, however, SFF is THE big thing right now, if you're willing to count paranormal romance. That stuff is just flying off the shelf, while contemporary YA fiction is collecting dust. Same with Juvenile, though you don't find paranormal romance there; more fantasy adventure stories. But even there, they are doing very well. Diary of a Wimpy Kid might be the most popular series for Juvenile we're circulating right now, but there are many more fantasy series for children that are doing well right now than other genres for children.
That's just what I see at my work, though, so it could differ in other places. SFF is super hot in YA, though, for sure.
Fantasy circulates at a MUCH higher rate in YA and Juvenile than in Adult. In Adult, they circulate a much lower than what I can only collectively term as bestsellers--your Pattersons, Graftons, Grishams, Sparks, etc. In YA and Juvie, however, SFF is THE big thing right now, if you're willing to count paranormal romance. That stuff is just flying off the shelf, while contemporary YA fiction is collecting dust. Same with Juvenile, though you don't find paranormal romance there; more fantasy adventure stories. But even there, they are doing very well. Diary of a Wimpy Kid might be the most popular series for Juvenile we're circulating right now, but there are many more fantasy series for children that are doing well right now than other genres for children.
That's just what I see at my work, though, so it could differ in other places. SFF is super hot in YA, though, for sure.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2010
- Messages
- 308
- Reaction score
- 15
As much as I hate to say it, I'm thinking it's less than 10% of readers. Now, if you expand to include visual medium, I'd say the number would be significantly higher. It's just my opinion, but I really think most fantasy - at least the type of fantasy that I like - comes across better in TV and movies than in print.
Thats not to say it comes across badly in print.
I think, by and large, romance is and likely will remain the most popular genre. Personally, I can't stomach romance novels (despite the fact that I tend to have a great deal of relationships in my writing), but I think they more or less play to the same audience as soap operas - and those aren't going away anytime soon, either.
You make some great points. I agree that there are most likely a lot of people out there who would have little interest in reading epic fantasy but who enjoyed the LOTR movies. Romance also isn't for me.
So even the most popular genres are still in the minority then. Interesting.
Liosse de Velishaf
Banned
Well, there are a lot of genres. If the individual ones took up much more of the market, you'd get totals over 100%.
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2009
- Messages
- 1,860
- Reaction score
- 272
- Location
- New England
- Website
- www.kltownsend.com
I've heard this, too. I have friends that tell me they've "grown up" or have "grown out of it." To each his/her own, but I think telling that to someone who loves the genre and who writes in it is rather insulting.
I'm not quite sure what science fiction/fantasy has such a stigma on it. I find it one of the most innovative and imaginative genres out there.
I agree. It is insulting. And it makes it difficult to tell anyone about your writing, because you can't help but think that they'll think you're either childish or insane for writing what you write.
And, honestly, that's the saddest part about it.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 17,778
- Reaction score
- 6,944
- Location
- At the portal to the Pacific
- Website
- sealeyandrews.wordpress.com
I'm trying not to find it insulting.
But I do find it a little sad. Like growing up means you have to lose your sense of whimsy, or the ability to suspend disbelief. If that's what "growing up" is, then I don't consider myself a grown up anymore. If anything I think when you "grow up" you need to engage in fantasy even more just to cope with RL. LOLI wonder what genre they "grew into".
They can think what they like. J.K Rowling and others are laughing their way to the bank I think. And who is to say the young adult and kids fantasy flying off the shelves is only being read by the them? I don't limit myself to the 'adult' section when raiding the library or book store. The adult section is rather limited in some places.C.S. Lewis said that in the dedication to the real Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: "....you are already to old for fairy tales...But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again..." So maybe someday those who have outgrown them will grow back in. And maybe some people just won't admit they read it!
I agree. It is insulting. And it makes it difficult to tell anyone about your writing, because you can't help but think that they'll think you're either childish or insane for writing what you write.
I once talked to a woman at a party for about 15 minutes about what I write, including that my series is R-rated with sexual content. And not a half-hour later she introduced me to another person, saying that "he writes children's books like Harry Potter."
If that's the case, they'd put me in prison!
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 16,339
- Reaction score
- 4,111
- Location
- East O' The Sun & West O' The Moon
- Website
- www.jlevitt.com
That may be true for ebooks.
For the adult market romance definitely sells the most books -- with paranormal romance accounting for only ten percent or so of the romance market.
But second is mysteries. F&SF have a very small share, and horror, which was strong for a while, is dwindling rapidly.
Of course in terms of total sales you have to discount the outliers -- Twilight, Harry Potter, Stephen King. Together, they account for 99 percent of all fiction sales.
(Just kidding, it only seems that way.)
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2009
- Messages
- 1,860
- Reaction score
- 272
- Location
- New England
- Website
- www.kltownsend.com
I agree. It is insulting. And it makes it difficult to tell anyone about your writing, because you can't help but think that they'll think you're either childish or insane for writing what you write.
Luckily, I don't care what they think when it comes to my fantasy writing.
I still think it's sad that they feel that way, but I like what I write and I keep working to make it better.I'm trying not to find it insulting.
I wonder what genre they "grew into".
I know. I find it such a wonderful field. I'm an adult, but I don't think we should lose our sense of wonder.
In this person's case, she grew into suspense fiction. She reads stories about murders.
C.S. Lewis said that in the dedication to the real Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: "....you are already to old for fairy tales...But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again..." So maybe someday those who have outgrown them will grow back in. And maybe some people just won't admit they read it!
Often I find that adult books take themselves too seriously. I like to read the YA and children's books, too, because they are fun
I'm trying not to find it insulting.
I wonder what genre they "grew into".
Man, I agree with you entirely on this.
- Status