Hello Gentle Reader
It’s all over the internet. This bill is all over the internet. News reports popping right left and centre. Some cheer at the thought; others scoff. For so long authors like Ursula K Le Guin, have remarked that Science Fiction and Fantasy – genre fiction in general; have always been placed in the literary ghetto, unfairly and unjustly. Yet now, a politician in West Virginia seeks to change this alienation – well at least for science fiction. Ray Canterbury a Republican delegate (I know what you’re thinking Republican promoting science!) hopes that the promotion of science fiction will allow for a further interest in mathematics and science in general.
“I'm primarily interested in things where advanced technology is a key component of the storyline, both in terms of the problems that it presents and the solutions that it offers.”
In other words:
“I'm not interested in fantasy novels about dragons.”
Take a hike Tolkien! All your elves and furry footed vertically challenged gardening and smoking bastards, need to pack up and move out! Of course does this also mean that the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez are also of no use? Do they even read that in school? Does that mean that other works like “Catcher in the Rye,” and authors like Virginia Woolf and Fitzgerald will be put on hold, or shelved alongside with the dusty old volumes of Shakespeare, which is taken down periodically with the countless moans of students? Will it all be replaced by Asimov, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells? What about more softer or social science fiction like Samuel R Delany – highly inappropriate I suppose; or Ursula K Le Guin or even William Gibson? What about the fables and parables of such authors like Andrei Platonov, or Angela Carter or Franz Kafka or Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky?
Alvin Toffler, David Brin, James Gunn and others are applauding this decision. Why shouldn’t they be applauding this decision? If it comes to pass they will be taken out of the literary ghetto, and will be placed alongside their friends and co-workers George Orwell for his novel “1984,” and Aldous Huxley and even Margaret Atwood for her novel and controversial school taught one as well “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Yet other less known works like Lois Lowry “The Giver,” have slide by the literary police and have allowed them to be taught in schools. Yet there is always a sense of trepidation when it comes to this, kind of business.
Reading should be encouraged. It should be enforced, and meant to be pushed in order to help others, in their adult lives, when reading is not just some pass time it’s an essential skill. With the crucial ability of reading comes writing. Yet, if people do not like literary works like “The Great Gatsby,” and other novels (Shakespeare is understandable) than why do we think that students would be any more keen on reading science fiction? Then again the world is changing. It evolves every day. Technology becomes more advance. The rise of space tourism. Just the other day I read about a one way mission to Mars for life! – Of course it’ll become a reality television program to help fund this six billion dollar venture. It comes to reason that to a degree some works of science fiction; like Kim Stanley-Robinson’s “Mars Trilogy,” are coming to take shape. Perhaps there are merits.
I am left feeling rather skeptical on the matter. If science fiction gets into the school system, is it going to be required reading in English class, or is it going to be an option or extra credited class? Being forced read Shakespeare is bad enough. Being forced to read Fitzgerald or Woolf or Joyce (if you’re teacher really hates you!) is all bad enough. Now we want these students to read science fiction, and then hold a straight face when we talk about space squids? I understand where Mister Canterbury is coming from. But there just feels like there should be, better wars fought. Perhaps if a student wrote a book report on a science fiction novel, and its relevance, in the language arts, than perhaps that, is one aspect that one can be a little more liberal and open minded about; but to teach these works – and which ones at that; alongside the work of some great classic works of literature and contemporary literature as well, is still a bit of a touchy issue. Not because one is denying that science fiction has no literary merit, it’s just what merit does planet O’ona have to that of earth – if it is supposed to be allegorical representation of earth, why didn’t the author just make it a future earth?
So many questions not enough answers. I understand that Mister Canterbury wants to help students and young people broaden their minds, and realize that with imagination the possibility of technology can be shaped – or the world can be changed. Yet science fiction is an acquired taste. It is an acquired taste like wine or scotch or cigarette’s – and more importantly like poetry. I have read science fiction, most of it a bore on me and at times sparkling understanding comes through.
In the end I am both on the fence and leaning backwards, falling into the already traveled route of where English class has come from and has been going. Yet I am willing to listen.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
M. Mary
