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Readers for near-future fiction are found among the general readership for
action-adventure, SF&F, and other categories such as mystery and occult. The
genre is not a limited phenomenon like some SF&F, but is a response to the
real world's uncertain future, a topic that has continued potential.
Both action-adventure and SF&F readers bring to near-future fiction an
acceptance of series. The various subgenres of SF&F
such as space operas (E. C. Tubb, Perry Rhodan, E. E. Doe
Smith, etc.) have built up loyal followings through ongoing series. There are
over four million of John Norman's GOR books in print. Action-adventure also
has its tradition of long-standing series, and therefore successful space
actioners such as
Hammer's Slammers become series as swiftly as successful mercenary-hero books.
David Hartwell, founding editor of Pocket Books' Timescape imprint, confirms
the conclusions above:
The one direction science fiction is moving in is toward adventure fantasy.
Publishers Weekly
The growth in new kinds of readers for SF&F was accepted as inevitable by the
attendees of our science fiction focus tests in
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1981:
Readers of SF are extremely receptive to mixed genre books whose growing
popularity springs from mass audience interest in
Star Wars, 2001, Star Trek etc.
The new breed of mass-market science-fiction readers come to this category of
books because they are interested in science fiction renditions of themes that
are used in other types of books.
 PI Market Research Report:
SF Focus Groups
Tom Doherty, president and publisher of Tor Books, gives a similar explanation
for the new breed of SF&F reader:
Our steady sales growth in SF&F since I started Tor in April
1981 (103% sales increase, 1983 over 1982) can be explained in part by the
increasing number of SF&F novels that have begun to hit the national
bestseller lists.
Magazine & Bestsellers, September 1983
There is no doubt that SF&F is looting other genres and readership groups for
themes and for sales. Ace/Berkley is launching its six-figure SF promotion
campaign for 1985 by advertising in military magazines. Retailers report that
the
SF&F market is growing because of the dual nature of the new readership
(women, as well as men) and the crossover between young and mature readers
(David Thorson of B. Dalton, 1984).
Waldenbooks increased their SF&F shelf space by 150% in
1983-84. George Fisher, marketing manager of Warner Books, reports a
sell-through of 60%-70% in SF&F.
These observations of the marketplace suggest the following:
" SF&F is a continually developing category. (Representative sample: Harry
Harrison's
Star World
"
Action adventure is a continually developing category.
(Representative sample: Jerry Ahern's
The Survivalist
.
" The near-future-fiction genre is where the new generation of
SF&F and action-adventure readers meet.
" There is strong potential in near-future fiction for selling series to a
wider readership than pure SF&F or pure action adventure.
" In order to develop Gold Eagle's potential in action adventure, as well as
to explore the SF&F category as it connects most obviously with action
adventure, Gold Eagle should enter the field of near-future fiction.
The Concept of Deathlands
Introduction
The editorial quality that observers identify as most responsible for widening
the appeal of SF&F is depth of character. At one time, science fiction was
mainly about the technology of the future. In order to satisfy more general
readers, publishers have opened the genre to more human concerns.
In adventure fantasy the characters tend to be very developed, unlike
hard-core science fiction which focuses on hardware& and presents undimensional
people.
(PI Market Research Report;
SF Focus Groups 1981)
Another useful finding from the 1981 focus tests was that in
SF&F, "the storyline must be reflected in the title. Titles help categorize
the type of book and determine its desirability."
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We have responded to these points in developing
Deathlands
.
The human dimension is the one aspect of an author's art that is difficult to
convey in a concept outline. Please be advised that the requirements for
general popularity of the near-future fiction genre, such as character
motivation, emotional complexity, sex and action developments, are all vital
parts of the
Deathlands package even though it is not possible to do them justice in these
story outlines. The title of the series,
Deathlands
, sends a clear and intriguing message to the potential buyer.
The Author's Conception [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]