talking about speculative fiction. karen burns sw iowa library service area kburns@swilsa.lib.ia.us...

Talking About

SPECULATIVE

FICTION

Karen Burns

SW Iowa Library Service Area

kburns@swilsa.lib.ia.us

Katie Dunneback

East Central Library Services

kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us

Let’s Review

Some Appeal Factors

• Pacing

• Characters

• Setting

• Period

• Tone (humorous, serious,..)

• Plot

• Style/Language

What makes a good “talk”?

• Talk about the appeal factors for that book—character, pacing, time period

• Tell it in your own “voice”

• Choose the right length for the situation and patron

• “Hook: Don’t tell the ending; make them want to read it!

• May include “If you liked…”

“Talking” About Books

• Traditional (in-person)– Groups– One-on-One

• Blogs and mini-blogs

• Podcasts

• Video talks

• Written (in house)

Talking About Speculative Fiction

• Defining “speculative fiction”• Describe characteristics and appeal

factors of the genre that are relevant to preparation of a talk

• Name 5 "sure bets" in the genre for the booktalking repertoire

• Discuss trends in the genre/s• Crossing over into nonfiction• Talk about at least one book in the genre

What is speculative fiction?

• Definition(s)

• Types, with examples– Science fiction– Fantasy– Horror– Supernatural

Appeal Factors

• Common with all genres: Setting, Period, Pacing, Characters, Style

• Additional for speculative:– Supernatural element– Science element (how “true” is the science”?)– World building

Setting

Plot

Period

Pacing

Characters

Style

Tone

Worldbuilding

Supernatural elements

Science

“Type”

All over the place!

Some Speculative Fiction“Sure Bets”

(and appeal factors to “talk” about)• Stephen King & Joe Hill (H)

• China Mieville & Richard K. Morgan

• Jim Butcher

• Gail Carriger & Linnea Sinclair

• John Scalzi

• Chelsea Cain

Your Sure Bets

Trends in Speculative Fiction

• Steampunk and other -punk

• Near Future & Post-Apocalyptic

• Vampires

• Zombies

• Mash-ups

• Rise of YA

• Urban Fantasy

Crossovers

Science (history, technology)

Subgenres like Paranormal Romance

What else?

Resources

• John Scalzi’s Whatever blog (especially the “Big Idea” and “Just Arrived” entries)http://whatever.scalzi.com

• Fantastic Fictionhttp://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

• SciFanhttp://www.scifan.com

• Tor.comhttp://www.tor.com

• MonsterLibrarianhttp://www.monsterlibrarian.com

• Iread wiki iread.pbworks.com

Photo credits

• “Steampunk at Burning Man” by Stuck in Customs - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4989019868/

• “Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame Gift Shop” by Loren Javier - http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenjavier/3832360370/

Let’s Talk: Celebrating Your Talks

Next session:*• Read a non-fiction book• Prepare a “talk”

– Review– Blog post– Podcast– Oral talk

• Come prepared to Celebrate talks!

* For full credit (1 extra)

Non-Fiction 2/17