Maurice, apparently, in your forties, you were still an "open-faced sandwich":
open to new ideas and experiences. I would suggest that makes you an exception
that proves the rule. Most people are fairly hardwired in their tastes and
beliefs by then. IMNSHO.
I ask, were you a SF reader of any kind prior to discovering Octavia
Butler two decades ago? My entry drug was a fantasy novel called "Black and
Blue Magic" by Zipha Keatley Synder ("Twelve-year-old Harry Houdini Marco is
awkward and clumsy, bearing little resemblance to his magician namesake, until
he acquires the gift of flight." - does it get any better than that?)read when
I was ten years old. Wow! Pow! Zoom! That book took me to the moon. Next thing
you know I am reading Arthur C. Clarke, Samuel L. Delany and, yes, Octavia
Butler.
As an adult few things, and mostly movies seen on the big screen(the first
"Matrix," "Slumdog Millionaire"), come near to affecting me that way.
~rave!
--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, mcjennings...@... wrote:
>
> I'm 62! I 'discovered'. Octavia Butler I my late 40s. There ARE no limits
> except the ones we put on ourselves. Go on. Discover and enjoy!
>
> And for me, it's still about books. The pictures that the words create in my
> imagination are perfect for me. They don't need translation ore
> interpretation.
>
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "ravenadal" <ravena...@...>
>
> Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:47:35
> To: <scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Foundation-like
>
>
> Is it possible to become a sci-fi reader in one's thirties? I have always
> considered SF a young person's game - if you don't get the bug early you
> seldom get it. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have suggested a great
> book to someone post thirty to only be met with a "I don't read science
> fiction."
>
> ~(no)rave!
>
> (by-the-by: regarding Asimov, his style has always left me cold. I am a Sir
> Arthur C. Clarke guy, myself).
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "marian_changling" <md_moore42@> wrote:
> >
> > I am going to guess that she is in her thirties.
> >
> > I groaned when I heard that she was reading the book. Mainly because SF of
> > that era was strong on ideas and less so with characterization. I remember
> > loving the book but I don't know if I could read it now. Now I might sit
> > back and gripe that there were no real female characters.
> >
> > I'm concerned that she might think that is what SF is like.
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Martin Baxter" <truthseeker013@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Marian, the "Hyperion" series is about the closest I can think of in
> > > comparison, in terms of scope and depth of event and characterization.
> > > Having read both, I wouldn't dis-recommend "Hyperion". I would, however,
> > > suggest "Foundation" first. Can I be rude and inquire as to your friend's
> > > age? A few SF book recommends I've made recently have faltered because
> > > I've advised books written during my generation to people of a later one,
> > > and many of the cultural constructs are incomprehensible to them.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ---------[ Received Mail Content ]----------
> > >
> > Subject : [scifinoir2] Foundation-like
> > >
> > Date : Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:27:06 -0000
> > >
> > From : "marian_changling" <md_moore42@>
> > >
> > To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > >
> > I have a friend who started Asimov's "Foundation" series because of the
> > theme. Now she is faltering. I wouldn't be surprised if it is because of
> > 1940's style of writing.
> > >
> > > Anyone know a modern book with a similar theme? Has no one taken up the
> > > mantle of psychohistory from Asimov? Wikipedia mentions a number of
> > > graphic novels and "Hyperion". I never read that one; anyone know
> > > anything about it? Anyone have another suggestion?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
> > >
> >
>
