this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2026
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Chapotraphouse

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[–] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 32 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Kurt Vonnegut said (in his memoir i think) that he never set out to be a science fiction writer. in his perspective, he just wrote fiction, but the identity of "science fiction writer" was assigned to him by literary critics.

these were the people who had invented "science" fiction as a way to compartmentalize it and set it apart because they were too dim to contemplate science or technology.

[–] BearerOfPickles@hexbear.net 19 points 4 days ago (1 children)

So many of that era of writer prefer the term speculative fiction, and I can see why. Maybe doesn't feel great to be lumped in with Five cent comic slop

[–] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 12 points 4 days ago

the vibe i got from KV's musing was that doofuses likely invented it to describe other, smarter authors because they didn't want to compete with actual intelligence and creativity.

[–] tombruzzo@hexbear.net 10 points 4 days ago

He also said he wouldn't mind being a science fiction writer if critics didn't constantly mistake the science fiction drawer for a urinal

[–] regul@hexbear.net 27 points 4 days ago

Science Fiction as a genre has matured a lot since Chandler's time, I think. But also it's a bit rich to be a writer of another incredibly formulaic type of genre fiction and get real precious about a different one.

[–] SorosFootSoldier@hexbear.net 19 points 4 days ago

Shit, time traveler

[–] Krem@hexbear.net 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

the Bryllis shrank to half an inch long (...) and Google had told me it wasn't enough

we've all been there

[–] TankieTanuki@hexbear.net 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I was in a vat of cryogenic blorgon!

[–] muad_dibber@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 4 days ago

Chandler was a big influence on Philip K Dick, and I could totally see him writing : "my breath froze into pink pretzels"

[–] tombruzzo@hexbear.net 8 points 4 days ago

You'd think he'd love a genre where he could spend ages describing scenery, interiors, and people's clothes.

That said, he didn't actually live in LA so all his writing was a science fiction style LARP anyway

[–] teslekova@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

Hehe. Yep, that's a good description. And if you like it, you like it. I really enjoy working out what the hell is going on.

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

Dodge swinger 1973