Really? REALLY? I mean, REALLY?

[jackwabbit]

Ok, so some of you know about the whole Barnes and Noble 'thing' that I've been a little, um, irritated about (until recently, at any rate), but today I heard this little tidbit about Borders, and really...

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

I mean...seriously, check this out:

"For any author, getting a book sold at a major chain is an important way to attract new readers and move copies. But it's especially important to scifi writers, who often get little exposure in book review sections. Now Borders, one of the two major bookstore chains in the U.S., has stopped stocking many new scifi titles, closing their shelves to some honored authors in the process. What's the damage, and can something be done?"

From: http://io9.com/5065839/should-sf-writers-boycott-borders.
 
The article under the first link is interesting, if biased, as well.

For my defense, I borrow from a friend:

"The mere thought that science fiction could be dead injures such a vital part of me that I will not let it go without a fight. Science fiction calls to writers like no other genre. We write not because we feel inclined to do so, but because we have to. Burdened with the task of looking into the mirror and recording what we see, science fiction writers deliver a unique, and brutally honest, critique of the human condition. We expose our darkest fears and our deepest wishes; wishes for a world that can make us feel insignificant at times.

Science fiction gives sustenance to our imaginations. It provides refuge for those who feel like strangers in this strange land, and it lets us peek into our future, empowering us to change it, if need be.

I shudder to think of a world without science fiction."

-PJ Haarsma

Yup, pretty much.
 

Comments

[lfvoy.livejournal.com]

Whiskey-tango-foxtrot? Science fiction is "dead"?

[shadow2serenity.livejournal.com]

Whaaaateeeeeveeerrr....[/Dr. Horrible]

Just because Stargate is over, Star Trek is on its last leg and Star Wars is dying a slow, horrible and painful death at the hands of its own creator doesn't mean all sci-fi is going south. We'll always have Serenity.

[sgteam14283.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could survive a world without sci-fi. o.O

At least that explains the Borders in my area hasn't restocked their Doctor Who/Torchwood section.

I'm undecided about boycotting Borders 'cause that's where I get my books from (since Barnes&Noble don't really carry DW/TW books)

[ncb1.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that a boycott would work either. And the tone of the comments seem to indicate that Borders is in a bind financially and may go under any way.

As for me, I usually go to the nearest B&N and browse and if I see something interesting I go home and order it from Amazon.

Oh, and a raised glass of orange juice and champagne (it's morning)to all Browncoats, all the BDH's, Joss, P.J. Haarsma and all sci fi writers.

[ncb1.livejournal.com]

I actually bought 2 books (3 if you count Kelly's manga)at B&N today! One was the new Serenity RPG supplement, "Adventures" It's way cool and has lots and lots of ideas. SF at least lives at B&N for now.

[lemonpiefirefly.livejournal.com]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.......
BRAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIINSSSSSSSSSS.........!

uh, ehem...

I mean...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSS!

[elspeff.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link here, jakwabbit. Anyhoo, while it grates that Waterstones has become the only big high-street booksellers left (I still mourn the venerable John Smith's of St. Vincent Street, Glasgow - first booksellers in Glasgow, and probably Scotland, to have a cafe) they still have a substantial sci-fi section. Thank God.