thread: 2005-05-02 : Person vs. Protagonist
On 2005-05-04, Gordon wrote:
I highly recommend reading Ursula K. Le Guin's essay "A Citizen of Mondath" for insights on this topic. Here's a brie passae - replace "science fiction" with RPGs for maximum effect:
"That is a real danger, when you write science fiction. There is so little real criticism, that despite the very delightful and heartening feedback from and connection with the fans, the writer is almost his only critic. If he produces second-rate stuff, it will be bought just as fast, maybe faster sometimes, by the publishers, and the fans will buy it because it is science fiction. Only his own conscience remains to insist that he try not to be second-rate. Nobody else seems much to care.
"Of course this is basically true of the practice of all writing, and all art; but it is exagerrated in science fiction."
Lasersharking/superpowers/not normal people are bad to the degree that they contribute to this effect, usually irrelevant if they do not, and occassionaly, when used well by a skilled practioner, a weapon to be used in combating it.
gordonclandis@yahoo.com
