On the lack of YA science fiction and science fiction readers

[nancylebov]

http://sartorias.livejournal.com/180716.html

I've been wondering why, while there's plenty of YA fantasy, some of it excellent, there doesn't seem to be much YA science fiction. sartorius has a substantial discussion, with some unnerving bits. Much as I love science fiction, I think that young people seeing nothing interesting or exhilerating about the future is even more serious than a print science fiction shortage. I hope they're getting their hope for the future from other media, but I'm not counting on it.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

Some time ago I raised a related point on the decline of science fiction relative to fantasy, and got thoroughly flamed for being so exclusionary. But that post says something which is true -- science doesn't excite young people the way it once did, and that reflects a loss in our culture.

one example

[(Anonymous)]

One such book that I strongly recommend is _Zahrah the Windseeker_ by Nnedimma Okorafor-Mbachu.

David Bellamy

[avram]

I dunno. My reaction is something that's also being brought up by some of the commenters in that thread -- kids have always liked SF that was about distant planets and weird aliens and cool starship battles. SF that's actually about science has always been a minority taste, especially among kids.