Roopa Rajesh: "Dear Michael Damian and Lynne Thomas: The Appeal of SFF"

Dear Michael Damian & Lynne Thomas: The Appeal of SFF

By

Roopa Rajesh

                As a reader, I often find myself revisiting science fiction and fantasy (SFF) despite the large variety of compelling pieces and texts available to me from outside of these two genres. While some might say that it’s important to broaden your horizons by familiarizing yourself with more diverse selections, I have found SFF to fulfill all that I look for in literature, as it contains a great range of archetypes, plots, lessons— a great range of distinct experiences for the reader— by itself.

SFF can be quite the ride. The form of escapism that it provides me with is something that continues to attract and engage me as I grow up— despite any changes in interests or passions. The implausible nature of the plot or the main idea that makes the whole story work is rather captivating (if written well). They make one wonder— suppose what the world or universe would be like if the proposed ideas, notions, or culture existed and were prominent in our daily lives— possibly even make one loathe the way things really are, compared to the fantastic elements in the piece. Reading The Candy Shop War as a kid, you might have been left resenting the lack of moon rocks— capable of rendering you weightless— in real life. SFF enables us to place ourselves in a variety of situations, regardless of how much far-fetched or absurd they may seem.

                You never know what to expect. Although you may have much experience with a variety of texts from the genre previously and you might think you know what’s up, you never know what’s coming. Eventually, you learn to not have expectations— to just let the stories take you by surprise. It’s amazing how we, as humans, are able to conceive of the impossible— how we can imagine that which has never happened and never (as far as we know) will happen. It’s interesting to see how different authors approach the same issue or concept and what decisions they make in borrowing and modifying facets from the metatext. And while some writers might focus on creatures or gadgets, others tend to focus on perhaps answering a philosophical or ethical question through the experiences of an individual or society as a whole. So while you may come across a story that you have heard is about a concept that you’ve had experience with multiple times before and think “oh, God, not again”, it’s rash to dismiss it based solely on your past experiences, as SFF is constantly changing with the contributions of new authors.

                SFF features a great variety of skilled writers. While the magic and bizarreness might be what initially attracts readers to SFF, the genres do offer more than mere entertainment. Many leave us feeling changed, teaching us something about ourselves or others. It’s rather interesting how writers are able to make us reflect on our lives with a story that is so far removed from reality. Despite the absurdity of certain plots or settings, many stories manage to reflect on a certain aspect of human nature, giving us the opportunity to reflect on our nature.

                SFF provides us with a way to stay entertained, while broadening our interests and making us think. In my opinion, it’s one of the few genres that provide you with a variety of distinct experiences.