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gallyangel
Posted 2015-01-17 3:50 AM (#9314 - in reply to #9306)
Subject: Re: The Definitive 1950s Reading Challenge		Quote Reply



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justifiedsinner - 2015-01-16 9:26 AM

jwharris28 - 2015-01-15 1:08 PM

Why does some science fiction become dated? DrNafario says the pulp style pushes him out of Galactic Patrol.



Definitely the writing style. Wells is still read, Verne too. Orwell and Huxley are classics. I would also say that the simpler the style the longer the book lasts. Simple is difficult to achieve, though, and requires greater writing skill.


The classic elements of storytelling, in other words. There are some SF books which are terribly dated, the science in them is just plan wrong. That must be a sin if you're working in the hard SF sub-genre. But still it can stand the test of time, if all those things from english class work. Readers have been known to forgive a lot if other parts of the story work well. What dates a story for me is culture. If the society/culture of some far flung place feels like 1955, 1968, whatever, then I have problems very quickly. I'd like to think I can handle bad, indifferent writing (I have to read my own), so that's not an issue for me. What breaks that suspension of disbelief is different for everyone.


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