Posted by The Professor on April 18, 1998 at 22:30:59:
I wonder if any of you share my sad results trying to get people who have never read SF to read one of my favorite SF books.
Younger people (10- 18 or so) to whom I recommend books often end up liking it and end up asking for additional recommendations. I started reading SF at age 10 or 11 and have never stopped (I am currently 52 yrs old).
Those over 30 (sometimes quite a bit older) often have very negative attitudes about SF (based perhaps on so called SF movies and TV shows) without having read any SF books to speak of. After I explain that good SF books are very different from the SF pop culture as illustrated by movies and TV, they sometimes are willing to read a book on my recommendation. I often recommend Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness because it de-emphasizes technology and deals with relationships (biology, sociology, politics), has a minimum of violence, and has a deserved reputation for literary merit).
Inevitably they do not like Left Hand.. or some other recommended SF book, citing mostly the lack of character development, and literary deficiencies. They are completely uninterested in the "what if" aspects of what they read. They do not appear to be "thrilled and transported by the wonder of it all", nor do they appear to see any connection to or extrapolation from our current human condition. They make no mention of having enjoyed either the "atmosphere" or the author's imaginative "world building".
These are intelligent, educated, well read, individuals who are fun to talk to about most things except SF which does not interest them.
Anecdotally, I find that people who are interested in science, (scientists in particular, perhaps engineers as well, computer enthusisasts) are more likely to read and enjoye SF. Men, in general, appear to comprise a higher percentage of dedicated SF enthusiasts than women, but this may be changing.
What are your experiences and thoughts?