Science fiction depressing trends

selenite wanted me to post my thoughts on this. I'd prefer to wait until I had a nice leisurely time to think them through and word it all nicely - but I'm about to head out for the weekend, and the time is just not going to happen.

I requested Vernor Vinge's Rainbow's End from the library for him, and he recommended I read it after he was done. I wasn't interested at first, and pointed out that I'd really disliked the previous Vinge books he'd given me, but he said this one was different, so I'm trying it. I'm only partway through.

It did inspire a discussion, though. So far I find the book very depressing. He's describing a relatively near future that I see as reasonably plausible (except for the cars. Pity, because that I'd actually like to see), but very depressing. It reminded me of the story Manna, which also described a near term future I found plausible (and there's the ground for a lot of arguments selenite and I have been having) and very depressing.

I've been reading the Vinge book in bits and pieces, and retreating to other, more enjoyable books in between. (Why, yes, I *am* reading five different books just now. What about it?) And this led me to remember an essay I'd read about the erosion of hard science fiction - I think it may have been Spider Robinson's. IIRC he was complaining that hard science fiction was losing its market, and more and more of the "science fiction" market and shelves was going to fantasy, and why was this? What was wrong? IIRC he seemed to be implying it was all the fault of us awful readers who were unwilling to stretch our brains anymore.

Well, I thought, I think I see the problem. A lot more of science fiction used to be about wonderful exciting futures! Possibly more distant futures, where we conquered problems and did exciting new things! (with lots of exclamation points!) Now it seems a much higher proportion of science fiction is about near futures with depressing worlds, where we have lots of fancy gadgets that just seem to create more problems. Who wants to keep reading about that? You read enough of this stuff, if you're a sensitive imaginative type you'll start lining up to slit your wrists.

Science fiction used to be accused of being "escapist" writing. Now I need to go dive into fantasy and romance to escape from the depression of science fiction.

(caveat - why yes, it could just be that selenite hands me depressing books. If you look at his pre-me music collection, he'll point out himself how depressing it is. But fordprfct sent me to read Manna. And yes, it has a "happy" ending - but the turnover point from dystopia to utopia, IMO, is when the book turned from science fiction to fantasy. I can discuss the details of that later, but I'm out of time now.)