Hmmmm... thoughts? (LBF)

StephenJSweeney · Apr 16, 2008

I was at the London Book Fair today, chatting to some of the publishers, and I was told something [interesting / objectionable] by one of the Big publishers.

I asked whether they are printing a lot of science fiction at the moment (just wanted to know about the market), and I was told that they had sold off their science fiction list because it was losing interest.

BUT they then asked whether I classed my work as science fiction or science fantasy. I said the latter. They then asked if it was aimed solely at adults or young adults, and again they were in favour of the latter.

Any one else encountered this? Is science fantasy now the in thing?

(and maybe it is, and I didn't know!)

Storm Dream · Apr 16, 2008

Just a guess, but the way they differentiated between science fiction and science fantasy makes me think this is related to the hard sci fi vs space opera subgenres over in the States.

Space opera/science fantasy is more or less a story with, say, an intergalactic setting. Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly, all of them -- more concerned with story and character and exotic settings than, say, with whether or not that warp drive is plausible. Which makes it fantasy.

If that's the case, their idea of science fiction might well be "hard sci fi," which has always concentrated on being technologically possible. The last thing I read in that genre was...The Timeships? It was a struggle to get through, even though it sported intriguing ideas. Enough technoporn, let's blow something up!

Anywhoo, it's a thought.

StephenJSweeney · Apr 16, 2008

Yeah, that's what I thought too. As soon as she said Adult Science Fiction I couldn't help but think of Stephen Baxter..!

waylander · Apr 16, 2008

Care to name the publisher?
PM me if you don't want to mention it in the open
John Jarrold has been upbeat in his assessment of the market for SF in the UK

StephenJSweeney · Apr 16, 2008

I'd rather not name them. Well, not yet anyway

But, yes, I figured it was Hard Science Fiction they were no longer interested in. I've not seen so many on the shelves these days.

SPMiller · Apr 16, 2008

As far as I know, interest in hard sf has been down since the 80s, so I've always seen serious hard sf as sort of a niche market.

And thinking about how much mass-produced science fantasy I had my mother buy for me in my youth, well, it's no surprise it's still selling well.

Hmmmm... thoughts? (LBF)

StephenJSweeney

Storm Dream

Into the blue memory

StephenJSweeney

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

StephenJSweeney

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged