Interesting SFF article. . .

Thanks to Ken for bringing this to our attention!

Here's a sample of Gabriel Morgan's article:

Describe a subgenre of mimetic fiction, and there are speculative authors doing similar work. Do you prefer fiction that is heavily character-centered? Fiction that explores the human condition, that asks the big questions? Fiction that displays a sense of history, that draws connections between important things? How about fiction that explores what it means to be an American in the 21st century? Speculative authors are writing about all of these things. They, like Pablo Picasso, have every single one of the tools that a "naturalist" (read: mimeticist) has to work with; but they, like Picasso, also have the freedom to abandon the appearance of reality when it suits their vision.

There are other virtues of speculative fiction that are particular to the genre. Truly fine science fiction can teach us about the world we live in, and the worlds we might live in, while satisfying the reader in the traditional ways. Great fabulism can have us reeling from the scope and power of the human imagination. Horror can shine a light on our collective nightmares.

But speculative fiction is, in the end, fiction. It struggles with the same issues, has many of the same goals, grants many of the same rewards. It can be funny, exhilarating, poignant, beautiful. The best of speculative fiction is, like the best of fiction, exactly why you read.

[...]

It is my hope that this column, in the coming weeks, will be a guidepost of sorts, allowing readers to separate the chaff from the wheat more easily. I only ask that you approach speculative fiction with an open mind. There are wonders within, if you've the patience and the courage to look.

If you want to read the entire piece, check it out here.

It will be interesting to read Morgan's column in the near future. . .