SF squids
February 4, 2008 7:02 PM Subscribe
Talking Squids in Outer Space : The Pinnacle of Science Fiction
This is, of course, all down to Margaret Atwood saying that science fiction is all "talking squids in outer space", and of course nothing like her stories of bioengineering and/or radical social change set in the future.
I think it annoyed some people.
posted by Artw at 7:43 PM on February 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think it annoyed some people.
posted by Artw at 7:43 PM on February 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
The site's from scifi writer Vonda McIntyre, btw. And here's more about Atwood vs. SciFi.
posted by mediareport at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by mediareport at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2008
The squidliography omits Accelerando by Charlie Stross.
posted by ursus_comiter at 8:10 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by ursus_comiter at 8:10 PM on February 4, 2008
Dave Langfords Ansible kind of picked up the talking squids thing and ran with it.
posted by Artw at 8:13 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by Artw at 8:13 PM on February 4, 2008
I couldn't find references in the site to the most famous/popular space cephalopods in Pop Culture today... Kang and Kodos.
posted by wendell at 8:23 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by wendell at 8:23 PM on February 4, 2008
The site does have a link to "Space Squid Magazine", a collection of intentionally bad SciFi, which, in addition to an intentionally sexist cover, contains a feature that ties in with another recent MeFi thread: The Octopus With Enormous Breasts.
Please don't shoot the messenger.
posted by wendell at 8:32 PM on February 4, 2008
Please don't shoot the messenger.
posted by wendell at 8:32 PM on February 4, 2008
I wonder if you could trace all this back to Lovecraft?
posted by well_balanced at 8:38 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by well_balanced at 8:38 PM on February 4, 2008
Funny enough, I'm right in the middle of Baxter's Manifold: Time right now.
posted by griphus at 9:04 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by griphus at 9:04 PM on February 4, 2008
Wow! Plus the pinnacle of web design, in the same package!
posted by XMLicious at 9:06 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by XMLicious at 9:06 PM on February 4, 2008
Cthulhu is not a squid, he's a thing beyond all comprehension who just happens to have tentacles when viewed by primitive human perceptual systems. And he doesn't talk - he shatters minds.
Honestly, this is exactly the kind of thing that made Blair Reynolds freak the hell out. Have some respect.
posted by Artw at 9:57 PM on February 4, 2008
Honestly, this is exactly the kind of thing that made Blair Reynolds freak the hell out. Have some respect.
posted by Artw at 9:57 PM on February 4, 2008
When I saw the title i just knew this was going to reference the Baxter Manifold series.
(Ultra-depressing, all three volumes are)
posted by sourwookie at 10:08 PM on February 4, 2008
(Ultra-depressing, all three volumes are)
posted by sourwookie at 10:08 PM on February 4, 2008
That octopus with enormous breasts is not without appeal, only I'm a bit concerned as to the location of her beak.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:12 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:12 PM on February 4, 2008
Must remember to lock library door. Someone has scanned all my first edition covers.
posted by skippyhacker at 10:52 PM on February 4, 2008
posted by skippyhacker at 10:52 PM on February 4, 2008
I'm a sucker for this sort of thing (sorry)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:15 AM on February 5, 2008
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:15 AM on February 5, 2008
I'll take your talking cosmic squids and raise you one hyperdimensional superbeing nostalgic for a wee nip of history at the end of time.
posted by CheeseburgerBrown at 4:26 AM on February 5, 2008
posted by CheeseburgerBrown at 4:26 AM on February 5, 2008
Can anyone tell me the source of that Margaret Atwood quote?
posted by hermitosis at 2:21 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by hermitosis at 2:21 PM on February 5, 2008
admiral ackbar, as opposed to stephen baxter?
fwiw, on a google search, apparently it's from a 'BBC1 Breakfast News' interview...
oh and also noticed this:
posted by kliuless at 6:55 PM on February 5, 2008
fwiw, on a google search, apparently it's from a 'BBC1 Breakfast News' interview...
oh and also noticed this:
London, 17 June 2005, The Guardian: "Aliens have taken the place of angels - Margaret Atwood on why we need science fiction", includes the line "I have written two works of science fiction or, if you prefer, speculative fiction." [cf.]btw, for me (hope :) the pinnacle of science fiction; it's been six years... may '08!
posted by kliuless at 6:55 PM on February 5, 2008
I don't know if he originated the idea but Carl Sagan did a very thorough analysis of ETs having replaced angels and demons in The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark (nonfiction).
posted by XMLicious at 2:33 AM on February 6, 2008
posted by XMLicious at 2:33 AM on February 6, 2008
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