SF Signal has an interesting article on “science fiction for people who hate science fiction,” and mentions an anthology published in 1968 which was designed to be accessible. Is short fiction the way to lure new readers, or is it better to hit them with a really good novel? And if so, which novel should it be?
Also, hasn’t there been anything written more recently than 1968 which might lure readers to the genre? Or do the “classics”–which tend to be a little light on the nitty-gritty details of technology–still work just as well today?
(There was a sale on question marks, so I picked up a bushel. Can you tell?)
One response to “Gateway SF”
I have that anthology. (Gee, what a surprise to those that know me)
For non-fen SF first-reads, I like pointing people to stuff like Brave New World, 1984, The Lottery, et al. They are forced to admit that they a) have already read SF and b) they enjoyed it.
They’ll accept just about anything after that little mindspank.