Cogitatio longa, vita brevis (Imagination is long, life is short)
What is it that makes one person enthralled with fantasy and science fiction, while another is bored or repulsed by anything beyond the ordinary? Some people cannot seem to make it past sports, shopping or fast cars. Some (gasp) won't even read fiction at all, let alone science fiction. Is there a "wonder" gene or an imagination quotient (IQ) that we inherit from our ancestors? Or is the fascination with the otherworldly a product of our childhood? Or a combination of both?
In searching for the answers to these questions, I suppose one should start with an examination of the lineage. Did your parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles tend to ponder the night sky or wonder what was over the next ridge? Did they seem bored by the mundane, the routine of ordinary life? What kind of books did they read, what type of movies did they watch?
Next, analyze the experiences of childhood, the elements of the early environment. Perhaps the answer lies there. Was the child allowed to wonder, to exercise their imagination? Did they have enough free time to think? Were they exposed to the great works of science fiction and fantasy? Did some friend or relative lead them to the lands beyond? Or was the environment so harsh and unforgiving that it drove them to seek a brief escape from reality?
October 7th, 2009 - 20:06
I often tell my students that people with intellectual curiosity will not only do better in college, they’ll enjoy it more. I was a huge SF and fantasy fan growing up. I can thank my mom for that. She saw me watching a Star Trek rerun around age 7 and pressed a copy of Ray Bradbury’s S is for Space into my hands. That first story, “Chrysalis”–man, it just launched my brain. From there it was Star Wars, J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Stephen Donaldson, Robert J. Sawyer…all part of the life of my mind to this day.
October 8th, 2009 - 12:24
I’ve always loved books and reading, one of lifes great pleasures. This genre has always been close to my heart, I became an avid reader at an early age. A teacher at my elementary school decided to read the Hobbit to us and even at only 8 years old, I was captivated. This Tolkein classic still is one of my favorite reads. I progressed quickly through all the SF and fantasy classics, amazing stories all of them. I was and still am in awe of writing from pure imagination, this is true talent. The Lost Warrior is a classic adventure story above all else and I loved it. Fear Nought feels it a privilege to be able to bring this wonderful story to all of you. Get yourself a copy, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it and eagerly await the next book in the trilogy.