I recently found this channel where the guy does really compelling reviews and explanations of books.
https://www.youtube.com/@QuinnsIdeas
I admit I’m a little ashamed how much I’m enjoying it because part of me is saying “Why are you listening to some dude talk about books instead of reading the books?” But I’m old and kinda lazy and lost interest in character development arcs and relationships and just want to know about the cool high-concept sci-fi ideas and storylines. This guy does a great job of giving me all the sci-fi I’m jonesing for in a short, and visually interesting format.
I heard so much about the Three Body Problem series but just don’t have the time to invest in book series’ the way I used to. But I found his channel and in about 4 20-30m videos got a really good impression of the series’ ideas and stories and just really enjoyed watching. Dude has a great voice for this too and is just a great ambassador of nerddom in general.
If you’ve fallen behind in your reading and don’t expect to have time to catch up- you should check this guys channel out.
You know my favorite part of the Dune books was the glossary. I’ve always most enjoyed what I describe as ‘non-narrative’ sci-fi. I’ve read libraries of sci-fi and I found what I really like about it is the big technological and philosophical ideas. The conceptual meat-and-potatoes without all the relationships and personalities.
I get to enjoy sci-fi literature however I want and tbh it ‘irks’ me a bit to encounter literary snobbery over my choice in how to enjoy sci-fi. If you do that to a younger person it may turn them off to the genre just because they might not enjoy the same aspects as you do. So for their sake I’d advise keeping what ‘irks’ you about how other people enjoy sci-fi to yourself in the future.
Jeez, okay. You could’ve just said that after the “irk”. It’s not like you were interested in my explanation.
The fact that I don’t accept your explanation as a valid reason to judge other people’s media enjoyment doesn’t mean I wasn’t interested, that’s why I asked.
But also I don’t think you really read my post because I said explicitly I “lost interest in character development arcs and relationships and just want to know about the cool high-concept sci-fi ideas and storylines.” Your ‘explanation’ basically just says that’s not okay, so it’s not even an ‘explanation’, just a judgement.
I also said that I see the appeal even if it bothers me but fine have it your way.
“Crack smoking bothers me but I see the appeal.”
Weird to juxtapose your thing with crack but okay. And never say never, right? I just might.
Demonstrating that ‘seeing the appeal’ of something doesn’t cancel out your condescending judgement.
Well sorry about that. I thought I presented it more as me problem than you but obviously I wasn’t clear enough (or probably should’ve just said nothing).
@GunnarRunnar to be fair, the OP is not the one that asked for an explanation.
They did in another comment.
@GunnarRunnar oh then yeah, don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.
Thanks for that. I know I’m being a bit of an asshat. This just wounds my inner writer (who I’m trying to assure that it’s not that big of a deal even in my own comment).
That’s a manifestation of creative insecurity. I’m a writer but I don’t think it’s my place to dictate how anyone enjoys my work.
Well good for you, but this feels like you’re insecure about people judging you for not reading a book. I don’t know why else you’d be so up in my ass.
I explained this already:
Honestly, most writers probably feel the way you feel.
But having read hundreds, if not thousands, of writers…no one is particularly special, except maybe to a specific person for their own reasons.
If the story isn’t good, no amount of technical wizardry can save it. And if you can’t write so that 95% of it just slides by the eye, then it doesn’t matter how good the story is.
Cheers. I know that in my heart, having put down more books than I’ve finished.