Over at SF Signal, I was part of another Mind Meld, this one asking Q: What are, in your opinion, the themes and subjects which science fiction never have delved into properly but should have? (sex, politics, religion, sports may be part of this list – or not) Is there an author or story in particular which you feel has treated said subject in the right way and could be an example to be followed among new writers?
I listed three seeming taboos. Amazingly, one of them was edited out from my published response. Which I suppose proves my point. My third point was:
Finally, the biggest taboo has nothing to do with content, but rather than form. The very notion that there is such a thing as good writing and bad writing, rather than just stuff some people like and others don't, is looked at with a lot of skepticism in SF circles. It's a taboo to valorize quality writing, or to claim that there is such a thing as a good reader, and a poor reader.
ETA: The quoted bit above was just the victim of a sloppy cut-paste. SF Signal restored it.
I listed three seeming taboos. Amazingly, one of them was edited out from my published response. Which I suppose proves my point. My third point was:
Finally, the biggest taboo has nothing to do with content, but rather than form. The very notion that there is such a thing as good writing and bad writing, rather than just stuff some people like and others don't, is looked at with a lot of skepticism in SF circles. It's a taboo to valorize quality writing, or to claim that there is such a thing as a good reader, and a poor reader.
ETA: The quoted bit above was just the victim of a sloppy cut-paste. SF Signal restored it.