The nature of
science fiction poetry is the subject of
vigorous debate even among its own practitioners. Nonetheless, it has its own annual awards, the
Rhyslings. What wins? The first victor in 1978 was Gene Wolfe's
The Computer Iterates the Greater Trumps, while Tim Pratt's
Soul Searching was the most recent winner.
Bruce Boston,
Robert Frazier, and
Andrew Joron are generally considered the masters of the field. Many more poems
here, as well as an
in-depth bibliography, and, of course, the
periodic table of science fiction haikus about the elements. Don't like science fiction?
Cowboy poetry is also a
thriving genre.
posted by blahblahblah
on Apr 19, 2006 -
17 comments
We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. When soldiers take their oath they are given a coin, an asimi stamped with the profile of the Autarch. Their acceptance of that coin is their acceptance of the special duties and burdens of military life--they are soldiers from that moment, though they may know nothing of the management of arms. I did not know that then, but it is a profound mistake to believe that we must know of such things to be influenced by them, and in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic. The would-be sorcerer alone has faith in the efficacy of pure knowledge; rational people know that things act of themselves or not at all.Gene Wolfe -
Now step within Father Inire's mirrors....
posted by y2karl
on Jan 15, 2004 -
25 comments
