Some publishers are centering their programs on imaginary realm fantasy, full steam ahead. Imaginary realm fantasy took a bit of a dive for a few years, from about 2002-2005, but has since rebounded. That is, it resembles (and sometimes embodies) fairy tales, so even if you put it in a plain brown wrapper disguise that doesn't scream fantasy, prospective non-SFF readers are liikely to get put off by the cover description. But imaginary realm fantasy has long posed a problem for publishers because of its content. Many types of fantasy also are easy to disguise - contemporary and historical fantasy, dark fantasy and horror, and to some extent comic fantasy. Science fiction is very easy for publishers to dress in a plain brown wrapper disguise and publish as mainstream thrillers, for the most part - although right now, they're going half the opposite way there. It's not just that you think the covers are awful, it's that you want to take them away and replace them all.īut this actually brings up something I'm kind of curious about. And it happens also regarding our covers, so I'm used to it, but that doesn't mean that I like the intolerance behind it. So they aren't going to change everything to chintz to please the minority view, at least not right off the bat.Īnd don't you think it's a little imperious to insist that they do? Would you like it if I told you that you should never read any of your favorite authors or listen to your favorite music because I happen to think they are crap, pulp, immature? Of course, this happens all the time to fans of SFF. (Since the 1980's shouder pads and other fashion trends are now back on the runways, I am in fact expecting the 1980's love of gold and silver foil to be returning to book covers en masse at any time.) But the U.S.
Classy, yes, but what if I don't want to be classy? Why are your tastes more important than mine?īut what about the chintz lovers? Don't they have the right to have some art to their tastes? Isn't there room for them? Absolutely, and publishers are scrambling to please them. For older SFF fans, it's like you've been living in a beloved house full of color and comfy chairs and some fine wood pieces, and suddenly a bunch of folk have swarmed the place and ordered you out because they're doing the whole thing over in chintz and mirror glass. They think that people who do like those things are wrong, have poor taste in art, should grow up, and essentially, leave and take their tawdry art with them. Because the people who don't like these things don't simply dislike them.
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