talking about speculative fiction. karen burns sw iowa library service area [email protected]...
TRANSCRIPT
Talking About
SPECULATIVE
FICTION
Karen Burns
SW Iowa Library Service Area
Katie Dunneback
East Central Library Services
Let’s Review
Some Appeal Factors
• Pacing
• Characters
• Setting
• Period
• Tone (humorous, serious,..)
• Plot
• Style/Language
What makes a good “talk”?
• Talk about the appeal factors for that book—character, pacing, time period
• Tell it in your own “voice”
• Choose the right length for the situation and patron
• “Hook: Don’t tell the ending; make them want to read it!
• May include “If you liked…”
“Talking” About Books
• Traditional (in-person)– Groups– One-on-One
• Blogs and mini-blogs
• Podcasts
• Video talks
• Written (in house)
Talking About Speculative Fiction
• Defining “speculative fiction”• Describe characteristics and appeal
factors of the genre that are relevant to preparation of a talk
• Name 5 "sure bets" in the genre for the booktalking repertoire
• Discuss trends in the genre/s• Crossing over into nonfiction• Talk about at least one book in the genre
What is speculative fiction?
• Definition(s)
• Types, with examples– Science fiction– Fantasy– Horror– Supernatural
Appeal Factors
• Common with all genres: Setting, Period, Pacing, Characters, Style
• Additional for speculative:– Supernatural element– Science element (how “true” is the science”?)– World building
Setting
Plot
Period
Pacing
Characters
Style
Tone
Worldbuilding
Supernatural elements
Science
“Type”
All over the place!
Some Speculative Fiction“Sure Bets”
(and appeal factors to “talk” about)• Stephen King & Joe Hill (H)
• China Mieville & Richard K. Morgan
• Jim Butcher
• Gail Carriger & Linnea Sinclair
• John Scalzi
• Chelsea Cain
Your Sure Bets
Trends in Speculative Fiction
• Steampunk and other -punk
• Near Future & Post-Apocalyptic
• Vampires
• Zombies
• Mash-ups
• Rise of YA
• Urban Fantasy
Crossovers
Science (history, technology)
Subgenres like Paranormal Romance
What else?
Resources
• John Scalzi’s Whatever blog (especially the “Big Idea” and “Just Arrived” entries)http://whatever.scalzi.com
• Fantastic Fictionhttp://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
• SciFanhttp://www.scifan.com
• Tor.comhttp://www.tor.com
• MonsterLibrarianhttp://www.monsterlibrarian.com
• Iread wiki iread.pbworks.com
Photo credits
• “Steampunk at Burning Man” by Stuck in Customs - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4989019868/
• “Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame Gift Shop” by Loren Javier - http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenjavier/3832360370/
Let’s Talk: Celebrating Your Talks
Next session:*• Read a non-fiction book• Prepare a “talk”
– Review– Blog post– Podcast– Oral talk
• Come prepared to Celebrate talks!
* For full credit (1 extra)
Non-Fiction 2/17