On Thu, 20 Nov 1997, Sean Johnston wrote:
> Vonda,
> Any idea why academic insts. like UW-Seattle are so reluctant to
> deal with writing SF? I'm trying to get into an MFA program, but I'd like
> to not get there under false pretenses, which is what I might feel like I'm
> doing if I submit something that's not really what I write just to get my
> foot in the door.
>
> -Sean
>
Sean,
You addressed this to Vonda, but having run into the situation myself, I
thought I'd respond as well. Partly it's simply prejudice against science
fiction. Although there's a large body of science fiction academics out
there, and at least three professional organizations devoted to its
study, SFRA, IAFA, and the Foundation in Britain, the high powered
English departments still look down on popular literature. Even the
biggest names in the academic criticisim of science fiction still teach
at second or third tier schools. Just about the only exceptions to this
are people like Paul Alkon or Mark Rose or J. Hillis Miller who made their
names in "more serious" literary studies before publishing in our field.
Correspondingly, most of the MFA programs in creative writing at top
flight schools are equally snooty. When my then girl friend P.C. Hodgell
decided to take off a year to write her first novel, Godstalk, she was
roundly criticized by the director of graduate studies and her Ph.D.
advisor for wasting her time. Even the fact that the book sold to a hard
cover publisher and was nominated for awards didn't change their
attitudes. Of course she later got back at the advisor by giving his name
to a ruined, cursed city in her second book, Dark of the Moon.
If you want to get an MFA or MA in creative writing while doing science
fiction, I'd suggest you find out which schools have tenured
English professors who are also working sf writers. John Kessel, for
example, teaches at one of the University of North Carolina campuses.
Jean Lorrah teaches at a university in Kentucky or Tennessee. etc.
By the way, on another thread, strong female characters, has anyone
mentioned P.C. Hodgell's Jame? She's one of the toughest characters ever to
appear in fantasy literature.
Mike Levy
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