(Originally posted on The World in the Satin Bag, my other blog)
I want you!
That's right, I'm going through with this idea, but I can't do it alone. I need help from everyone out there. I don't want this to be a project that I do by myself, because I certainly do not have any sort of authority to do such a thing. So, I'm asking for involvement from the community. That means writers, readers, bloggers, etc. If you like SF and F, then you're welcome to include your opinion.
Here's more information:
This is not what it sounds like. No books should be chosen purely on the fact that everyone out there bought it, read it, and loved. At the same time, though, the book has to have had a mark on the public to even be recognized and have influence. A book that is read by five people has just about no influence on the genre. But popularity should be taken with a grain of salt. There are plenty of books that are popular, but are at the same rather lax in literary merit (perhaps the Da Vinci Code would be an example).
The novel or even novella, since we should not exclude works that today would not be considered novels, should have stood the test of time. It has to have had a lasting influence.
It has to be recognized in some way for its importance. This could mean it has won awards or simply has been analyzed or referenced. There may be many novels, particularly older novels, that would not have won awards but still have influence.
Pretty obvious since I've mentioned it already. It has to influence other writing. That influence has to be genre defining, powerful. Not simply that it made people buy books in that genre, but that it actually changed the direction of SF & F literature in some way.
The novel should be at least ten years old unless you can find a compelling reason to suggest a newer book. In reality we can't assume that any books that are popular now will have a lasting effect on the genre.
The book must present some sense of the original. If you recommend a work of fantasy, then it has to at least feel fresh, rather than purely derivative.
This project could take a long while. Developing a canon isn't exactly a piece of cake and there may be a lot of criticism of books. But, this is the start of a good thing.!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
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The Criteria, etc.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
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The short story canon will include one hundred short stories in either genre considered to be groundbreaking works that shaped the short form in speculative fiction.
I hope you will join in on the project, spread the word, and help make this a success.
Thank you.
The Mission
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Canon Project is an attempt to establish with some credibility an acceptable literary canon of those works in speculative fiction that are not only the most influential, but most important to the genre, literature, and society. Involvement from the community is desired simply because one cannot do such a project alone. For that reason, this is a project for anyone to take part in, whether you are a casual reader of speculative fiction, a writer, an editor, or simply a fan of speculative fiction.
This project will set forth to create three separate canons.
- Science Fiction Novels
- Fantasy Novels
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Stories
The short story canon will include one hundred short stories in either genre considered to be groundbreaking works that shaped the short form in speculative fiction.
I hope you will join in on the project, spread the word, and help make this a success.
Thank you.
Monday, October 29, 2007
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The First Post
This is a test, and only a test. I'm trying out a non-blogger template on Blogger and seeing how it works. There will be more information about this project as things get underway. For now, this will suffice.
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