The Trouble with Science Fiction

A few months back, Robert Sawyer was elated to see his novel accepted by Analog and at the same dismayed to notice that that magazine had cut back on its newsstand distribution. In the comments to Sawyer's post, you will notice the declining sales of the Big Three science fiction magazines.

What's going on here? Far be it from me to give an erudite answer to that question, but as a consumer of science fiction, I'll say this. I have been disappointed time and again by the material I see in these magazines. Truth be known, I often prefer to read the nonfiction.

Eight out of ten stories seem like they are trying too hard to be something they aren't. The ones I do like don't seem to get nominated for awards. So here's the bottom line. The editors of these magazines are out of touch with what I like. Surely I am not alone.

And to read some of their forewards, interviews, and other writings, I really do feel alienated. I feel like I'm being told something like "We know what's best for you, and that's what you are going to get."

Then look at this. Just for kicks, go to the SFWA web site and go through the members. Take a look at who isn't there. Michael Crichton? Neil Gaiman? Stephen King? Where are you? I don't see you.

The trouble with science fiction is that nobody's reading it. At least not SFWA style.