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From: erkyrath@netcom.com (Andrew Plotkin)
Subject: Re: Do IF writers write?
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Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 16:44:02 GMT
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Den of Iniquity (dmss100@york.ac.uk) wrote:
> In reply to what, on 20 Aug 1996, Christopher Schweda wrote...

> >Me >>> but the word 'static' just gives me the creeps.
> >Greg>> Perhaps "classic fiction" or "traditional fiction"...
> >Chris> Er, how about just "fiction?"

> Spot on. When the term 'science fiction' was first coined, nobody felt any
> sudden urge to give a new name to absolutely everything else. Can we all
> say just 'fiction' and leave it like that? I don't think there can be any
> real ambiguity in any clearly written text in which i-f and fiction are
> discussed. 'Static fiction' is a horribly contrived phrase. 

Fiffle, and no.

When I post to rec.arts.sf.written, I sometimes want to distinguish 
between science fiction and fiction which is not science fiction. I 
refuse to type "fiction which is not science fiction" or convolute my 
sentences to avoid the horribly contrived, but perfectly understandable, 
terms "mainstream fiction" (or "non-genre fiction.")

The same goes for this newsgroup, IF, and static fiction.

--Z

-- 

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the
borogoves..."
