tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484180326012950400.post8967099662792612898..comments2024-03-27T23:55:17.673-07:00Comments on Flogging Babel: ExuviationMichael Swanwickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18389836784776252022noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484180326012950400.post-31092446175215361562010-05-12T14:25:03.966-07:002010-05-12T14:25:03.966-07:00I have also have found that Chinese science fictio...I have also have found that Chinese science fiction (what little I have read) has seemed to me to be a bit too heavy on exposition- specifically teaching the reader about scientific phenomenon and technology, speculative or otherwise. There is too much "tell" and not enough passive "show" for my taste. Throughout the 20th century many kinds of genre fiction in China had to justify their existence in terms of social value (their potential to "educate" people), which has it's roots all the way back in the New Culture movement in the early 20th century.<br /><br />I presume one reason that SFW has been around for so long, surviving even in politically very repressive eras, is because it strongly emphasized SF as a form of popular science education for young people. I don't think this has necessarily been the case for SFW or science fiction in general in China for many years now, but I think its mark can still be seen, from what I have encountered so far. It would be a huge mistake to make sweeping generalizations about Chinese SF in general though, of course.David Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09983230505509685792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484180326012950400.post-10186348072156222952010-05-12T12:35:04.336-07:002010-05-12T12:35:04.336-07:00I read Exuviation based on your recommendation. I...I read Exuviation based on your recommendation. I enjoyed it. What did you mean when you said it is "strange to American eyes"? In what way did you find it strange?<br /><br />It did not read like a Golden Age science fiction story to me, and I suppose that is part of your point, but though it wasn't a typical story, it does seem to be within the bounds of what one might encounter in science fiction written in English speaking countries.<br /><br />It does have an interesting theme of being true to yourself and how that might not be compatible with the incentives and definition of success in the world around you.<br /><br />Then again, I am Canadian, and perhaps that lends a familiarity with weird identity issues that makes "Canadian eyes" different enough from "American eyes" to make a difference. I figured "North American eyes" would be approximately the same, but maybe that accounts for me finding it not that strange?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09355554009165741454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484180326012950400.post-45544434984705037732010-05-12T09:22:28.810-07:002010-05-12T09:22:28.810-07:00I would earnestly suggest you find a permanent nam...I would earnestly suggest you find a permanent name for the blog and stick to it. Please don't ask your readers to keep finding you every few years. Follow Pat J's advice.JJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13404985455733545060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484180326012950400.post-22241657596907922682010-05-12T08:01:25.257-07:002010-05-12T08:01:25.257-07:00Do you own the domain michaelswanwick.com ? If so...Do you own the domain michaelswanwick.com ? If so, I suggest setting up a WordPress blog at, say, michaelswanwick.com/[darger and surplus book title] .Pat Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12017241100280042937noreply@blogger.com