this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2023
20 points (100.0% liked)

Science Fiction

173 readers
1 users here now

This magazine is aimed at fans and creators of sci-fi and related media of all kinds. It includes all content related to the sci-fi genre and only content related to the sci-fi genre. The goal is to build a community for everyone who enjoys science fiction and related topics. This includes the obvious books, movies, and TV shows, but also original writing, the discussion of writing SF, futuristic art and designs, and the science and technologies that inspire the sci-fi genre. **Team Top 20**

founded 1 year ago
20
Sci-fi you couldn’t get into? (kbin.social)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to c/scifi@kbin.social
49 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

What’s a piece of SF that you just couldn’t get into, even though you feel like you should?

I tried to watch Babylon 5, for instance, and just couldn’t connect to it. I know it’s popular and people love it, but it never hooked me.

Another is The Three Body Problem. I tried reading it after a friend’s glowing recommendation, but I couldn’t get past the first chapter. I even tried reading it in another language in case it was the translation I couldn’t connect with, but the same thing happened.

Both are things I feel like I should like, but just don’t.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] MayonnaiseArch 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree about the Three Body Problem, I read it but I don't know what I read. Could be the translation but man it really bounced off.

But I couldn't read VanderMeer, that thing that was really popular, like his version of the Zone from Stalker. Couldn't believe all the hype, felt like gaslighting. Maybe I'll try it again, who knows

[–] Remillard@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't think you're alone on the Southern Reach books by Vandermeer. I did read them, but holy moly it was a slog towards the end. It's a trippy slow psychological descent. Without any concrete aspects for the reader to hang their hat on, it's exceedingly difficult (for me at least) to get a picture of what's going on, what's really happening. I think they're well written, but they are not really my thing.

[–] MayonnaiseArch 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I don't mind the lack of concreteness, but the writing felt poor considering the insane praise it got. Still, it's been a while so I have to give them another shot. Maybe I changed in the meantime