Mystery or Science Fiction? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T08:20:29Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/mystery-or-science-fiction?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A272027&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSounds an intriguing concept.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-16:537324:Comment:2720272011-02-16T08:39:22.959ZJohn Doddshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnDodds
Sounds an intriguing concept. I love genre crossing work. Remember, too, though, that Isaac Asimov wrote science fiction mystery stories. As have a number of other science fiction writers. Agents are interested only in stuff they know will sell, and since yours is an unknown quantity, Donna Andrews notwithstanding, they may just be being cautious.
Sounds an intriguing concept. I love genre crossing work. Remember, too, though, that Isaac Asimov wrote science fiction mystery stories. As have a number of other science fiction writers. Agents are interested only in stuff they know will sell, and since yours is an unknown quantity, Donna Andrews notwithstanding, they may just be being cautious. I appreciate your openmindedn…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-14:537324:Comment:2715862011-02-14T23:06:32.722ZJohn Edward Mullenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnEdwardMullen
I appreciate your openmindedness. I hope I can write my story well enough to make it worth your reading.
I appreciate your openmindedness. I hope I can write my story well enough to make it worth your reading. Human beings are still more i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-14:537324:Comment:2715262011-02-14T22:06:16.312ZCaroline Trippehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolineTrippe
<p>Human beings are still more interesting to me than robots. Having said that, though, I have to admit that the subject of AI is a fascinating one in so many ways, and fiction does love to play with it. Data was my favorite Star Trek character---I adored him, because he tried so hard to be a perfect human, and had in fact become human without actually realizing it. It's just that if I'm looking for a mystery to read, I might want a real human detective. But wait....is any fictional…</p>
<p>Human beings are still more interesting to me than robots. Having said that, though, I have to admit that the subject of AI is a fascinating one in so many ways, and fiction does love to play with it. Data was my favorite Star Trek character---I adored him, because he tried so hard to be a perfect human, and had in fact become human without actually realizing it. It's just that if I'm looking for a mystery to read, I might want a real human detective. But wait....is any fictional detective really "real?" :)</p>
<p>The contemporary detective (fictional AND real) now relies very heavily indeed on the computer: to analyze all sorts of data, from profiling to forensics. There's always someone clicking away at a computer to map out a killer's territory, or run a check on similar crimes. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, if it's well done, why couldn't an AI detective be a break-through sort of thing? One might even argue that Sherlock Holmes, with his lack of social skills and chilly objectivity, could almost be said to be a precursor to an "AI" character!, as much as he was to forensics in detective fiction.</p>
<p>And the much-lauded Lisbeth Salander was pretty damn close to an AI character---superhuman in so many ways, including awesome brain power and physical prowess, the ability to survive, but with ZERO social/relationship skills. You just need the right agent.</p>
Readers want suspense, and a way to "get into" the mind of a killer...maybe the total objectivity of an AI would be refreshing. If the writing is really good....I'd read it!<br/> Thanks for the tip about Kate…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-09:537324:Comment:2691452011-02-09T00:28:19.698ZJohn Edward Mullenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnEdwardMullen
Thanks for the tip about Kate Wilhelm's books.
Thanks for the tip about Kate Wilhelm's books. It seems to me that there are…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-08:537324:Comment:2691562011-02-08T23:48:15.656ZRyan M. Welchhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/RyanMWelch
It seems to me that there are quite a few scifi/mystery books. I still remember reading Smart House: A Charlie and Constance Mystery by Kate Wilhelm. I also write in both genres, but when it came to writing one I did put it out as a science fiction book rather than a mystery. I might not be typical in reading across the genres, but if the protagonist is engaging and interesting then I'd read it.
It seems to me that there are quite a few scifi/mystery books. I still remember reading Smart House: A Charlie and Constance Mystery by Kate Wilhelm. I also write in both genres, but when it came to writing one I did put it out as a science fiction book rather than a mystery. I might not be typical in reading across the genres, but if the protagonist is engaging and interesting then I'd read it. Thanks. I will check out her…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-05:537324:Comment:2675462011-02-05T23:28:46.462ZJohn Edward Mullenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnEdwardMullen
Thanks. I will check out her books.
Thanks. I will check out her books. JD Robb (Nora Roberts) has be…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-05:537324:Comment:2674882011-02-05T20:32:32.025ZChristine Duncanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ChristineDuncan
<p>JD Robb (Nora Roberts) has been doing a mystery series set in the future (so S/F) for some years now and enjoyed a lot of sucess.</p>
<p> Of course, she <em>is</em> Nora Roberts but even she started somewhere. Go for it.</p>
<p>JD Robb (Nora Roberts) has been doing a mystery series set in the future (so S/F) for some years now and enjoyed a lot of sucess.</p>
<p> Of course, she <em>is</em> Nora Roberts but even she started somewhere. Go for it.</p> Thanks for the suggestion. I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-04:537324:Comment:2672352011-02-04T18:21:33.758ZJohn Edward Mullenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnEdwardMullen
Thanks for the suggestion. I had planned to ask the Mysterious Galaxy staff about sci-fi/mystery novels, but it hadn't occurred to me to ask one of them to take a look at my book.
Thanks for the suggestion. I had planned to ask the Mysterious Galaxy staff about sci-fi/mystery novels, but it hadn't occurred to me to ask one of them to take a look at my book. While elements of my AI prota…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-04:537324:Comment:2672342011-02-04T18:01:44.614ZJohn Edward Mullenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnEdwardMullen
While elements of my AI protagonist's technology are integral to the story, my novel is not "tech heavy." Still, it looks like you may be right, that I have a sci-fi/mystery.
While elements of my AI protagonist's technology are integral to the story, my novel is not "tech heavy." Still, it looks like you may be right, that I have a sci-fi/mystery. O.P.
From your description of…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-04:537324:Comment:2672292011-02-04T17:45:21.224ZPercy Blokhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PercyBlok
<p>O.P.</p>
<p>From your description of your novel, it's actually hard to determine whether it would be mystery or sf.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I read and enjoy a lot of different things. I do not box myself into a select genre because of certain expectations per se. I might read a book or story along the lines of something you have described here. Now, what I will say is that your own description of your work has to be better. Presentation means a lot and right now you're not presenting properly to…</p>
<p>O.P.</p>
<p>From your description of your novel, it's actually hard to determine whether it would be mystery or sf.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I read and enjoy a lot of different things. I do not box myself into a select genre because of certain expectations per se. I might read a book or story along the lines of something you have described here. Now, what I will say is that your own description of your work has to be better. Presentation means a lot and right now you're not presenting properly to appeal to either my sf interests and my mystery side... I would suggest that any issue with your novel efforts might be more in your presentation and pitch, not the actual content. It also seems you're trying to sell more of the gimmick than story.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>SF writers I enjoy reading:</p>
<p>Dick, Gibson, Simmons</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just my .02</p>