Comments on: The Hidden SF Treasure Box http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/the-hidden-sf-treasure-box/ SF, science, and daily living Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:35:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Bill Green http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/the-hidden-sf-treasure-box/#comment-4878 Bill Green Mon, 19 May 2008 21:18:13 +0000 http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-4878 This is interesting. I read Neil Gaimen's "Neverwhere" for example, and thought it was one of the best SF stories I've read in a while. I think his stories may be aimed at the young adult audience, so I agree there is a lot of good stuff out there. One thing I've observed is that young adult females seem to be okay with the young adult SF, however, try talking about SF to an adult female and you get the "deer in the headlights" look. Perhaps the audience is greater for this type of work than traditional SF because both young males & young females seem to be interested in it. I think its true that kids are looking for adventure in scifi or a mystery. Really just like any adult story but surrounded by the scifi environment; it engages their imagination. This is interesting. I read Neil Gaimen’s “Neverwhere” for example, and thought it was one of the best SF stories I’ve read in a while. I think his stories may be aimed at the young adult audience, so I agree there is a lot of good stuff out there. One thing I’ve observed is that young adult females seem to be okay with the young adult SF, however, try talking about SF to an adult female and you get the “deer in the headlights” look. Perhaps the audience is greater for this type of work than traditional SF because both young males & young females seem to be interested in it.

I think its true that kids are looking for adventure in scifi or a mystery. Really just like any adult story but surrounded by the scifi environment; it engages their imagination.

]]> By: hyperpat http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/the-hidden-sf-treasure-box/#comment-4874 hyperpat Wed, 14 May 2008 20:42:34 +0000 http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-4874 It was just about at that age (9) when I started stumbling across sf, mainly those works by Heinlein and Asimov. Didn't tackle Wells or Verne till a couple of years later. Back then (1957), my school library actually had quite a selection of good sf - perhaps because of a librarian who had some idea of what kids that age were really looking for, with adventure and environments far removed from their everyday lives at the top of the list. But I'm very happy to hear of a teacher who actually introduces kids to sf! During my school years, sf was essentially forbidden in the classrooms, and there were very few teachers who had an opinion of sf that was higher than 'trash' (except for those few works that had gotten the nod by the literary academia, such as 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451 - none of which are good introductory materials to sf - and of course these weren't <i>really</i> sf, but rather dystopias, as sf couldn't be that good). It was just about at that age (9) when I started stumbling across sf, mainly those works by Heinlein and Asimov. Didn’t tackle Wells or Verne till a couple of years later. Back then (1957), my school library actually had quite a selection of good sf – perhaps because of a librarian who had some idea of what kids that age were really looking for, with adventure and environments far removed from their everyday lives at the top of the list.

But I’m very happy to hear of a teacher who actually introduces kids to sf! During my school years, sf was essentially forbidden in the classrooms, and there were very few teachers who had an opinion of sf that was higher than ‘trash’ (except for those few works that had gotten the nod by the literary academia, such as 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451 – none of which are good introductory materials to sf – and of course these weren’t really sf, but rather dystopias, as sf couldn’t be that good).

]]> By: wpm1955 http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/the-hidden-sf-treasure-box/#comment-4872 wpm1955 Wed, 14 May 2008 19:25:18 +0000 http://hyperpat.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-4872 This is very interesting. I am a teacher in an overseas American school. I teach Grade Three, and have just been introducing my students this year to science fiction. We don't have a lot in this genre in elementary school, unfortunately. At least we have two versions for kids of H.G. Well's "The Time Machine." My kids really enjoyed it. I also showed them the three movies in the "Back to the Future" series. I think there is FAR too much in the "Realistic" genre, which is of interest to SOME kids, but not MOST kids. Most kids prefer adventure, or mystery/science fiction adventure. I think much of what is in elementary libraries is what ADULTS feel kids should be interested in, and not necessarily what the kids ARE interested in! Best regards, Madame Monet Writing, Painting, Music, and Wine (in Marrakesh, Morocco) winewriter.wordpress.com This is very interesting. I am a teacher in an overseas American school. I teach Grade Three, and have just been introducing my students this year to science fiction. We don’t have a lot in this genre in elementary school, unfortunately. At least we have two versions for kids of H.G. Well’s “The Time Machine.” My kids really enjoyed it. I also showed them the three movies in the “Back to the Future” series.

I think there is FAR too much in the “Realistic” genre, which is of interest to SOME kids, but not MOST kids. Most kids prefer adventure, or mystery/science fiction adventure. I think much of what is in elementary libraries is what ADULTS feel kids should be interested in, and not necessarily what the kids ARE interested in!

Best regards,
Madame Monet
Writing, Painting, Music, and Wine (in Marrakesh, Morocco)
winewriter.wordpress.com

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