Comments on: Not Your Parents’ Literature: Traditional vs. Blended Genre Traditions

By: Beej

Beej — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:24:33 +0000

I haven't actually read much cyberpunk. I heard a really interesting paper on Neuromancer at this year's PCA conference in New Orleans, but I didn't understand a lot of it because I'm just not familiar with the genre or the work itself. I have Neal Stephenson's "Crytonomicon" on my shelf to read sometime, but who knows if I'll get to it any time this century. I think it's been on my list since 11th grade...

I agree about real world twists that made the series interesting. That's what "The Dresden Files" do that make them so interesting. Harry Dresden is a modern-day wizard who is listed in the yellow-pages as a Private Investigator Wizard. It's fantastic.

By: Xash

Xash — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:02:07 +0000

I think the books I've enjoyed the most are books that take our standard world and twist some form of the fantastical into it. The Stand, Neverware, American Gods,heck even the Harry Potter books I find infinitely more interesting then insert Dungeons and Dragons book #1206 about drow rangers with no character flaws overcoming adversity.

I like the idea of Steampunk or Cyberpunk because it takes our view of something already established, and changes a single but far reaching element.

I especially like Cyberpunk because as a bonus you get to witness an authors forecasting of technological progression. Reading an old book like Neuromancer I find it fascinating how somethings we have totally achieved, perhaps in slightly different forms, while others technology has gone off on a completely different direction. Plus I find Cyberpunk to be much more believable then say Star Wars or whatnot.

I've always just thought of Starwars as a Fantasy series, that happens to be set in space. They make no attempt to explain how anything works, they just seem to rely on the old adage that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic (which is not to comment on the force, which is all but magic) In addition, due to when it was made compared to now we again have this issue where technology has advanced in amazingly different directions that anyone could have imagined. It always Irks me a little when I see Darth Vader, and he's got these huge Fisher Price control buttons on his chest to manage his life support and stuff, Meanwhile they've got Lightsabers and faster then light travel but it looks like he's about to watch a betamax on his torso.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:01:18 +0000

I guess the genre mix for Pushing Daisies would be fairy tale/forensic procedural.

By: Beej

Beej — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:29:02 +0000

Be aware that "Storm Front," the first Dresden Files book, is a little more quirky and experimental than the rest of the series. It is good, but the rest of the series is really where it hits its stride.

And I love the Sopranos. I got the series on DVD as a Christmas gift, and my roommate and I watched all of them. They're just fantastic.

If you've not watched "Pushing Daisies," then I highly suggest you pick up the Season 1 DVD. It doesn't really fall into any traditional genre categories, either. It's just fun.

By: gordon

gordon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:23:15 +0000

Really great post I think you've sold me on the Dresden files, I'll need to order the first book from Amazon.

I'd love to have a career as an author. I enjoy writing and reading and I too like the mix of genres. It's also why I enjoy books like The Dark Tower.

I'd highly recommend George R. R. Martin. He manages to breath some fresh air into the fantasy genre by being a lot more hardcore and hardboiled. I love reading books in which I know anything can go!

In terms of TV shows, I could recommend a few non-sci-fi/fantasty shows. The Wire is probably the best thing I've ever had in front of my eyeballs whilst The Sopranos is good too.