SF Snark?
Posted on December 5, 2006 Posted by John Scalzi 16 Comments
In the thread talking about Orson Scott Card’s Empire, and why I don’t usually slag SF writers or books here at the Whatever, Theophylact asks in the comment thread:
I’m very fond of your blog, and I’m perfectly happy with your “Boost, Don’t Knock” approach. But where should I go for intelligent, well-informed SF snark?
Anyone have suggestions for Theophylact? Which SF-focused sites or blogs are the snarkiest ones of all? I’m kind of curious myself.
I don’t know if they’re snarky (my guess would be no), but I would recommend David Hartwell’s “New York Review of Science Fiction” for great critical reviews. It’s by subscription, but I think they put some of the old issues online.
James Nicoll often indulges in it, or inspires others to do so.
We definitely need a skiffy counterpart to Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
Heh — I was going to suggest him too, Lucy, as my only thought on the matter.
Dave Langford can be snarky at times.
My wife’s reviews. She pulls no punches. She knows the genre. But you have to *deserve* a snark form her. As in, “have written something bad”.
For snark on the Card, one should specifically visit No More Mister Nice Blog. He has Many Words to say about it, including a fictitious look at Chapter Six.
Many blogs have occasional SF posts, including Nothing New Under the Sun and The Sideshow.
Frameshift (.org) used to be an interesting place for that, it was Gabe Chouinard’s Dead Cities prior to that. It’s not so much snark… just no holds barred speaking one’s mind? I guess, maybe, that’s similar. Depending on context!
For genre snark, as well as all-around intelligent and breaktakingly biting snark in general, I can’t say enough about Nick Mamatas. I can’t say enough, cause he’ll chew me out a new [expletive deleted] if I do.
I’ve always been a little proud of this one.
Funny, I was going to suggest James Nicoll’s blog, too. I have to admit, although he may not know it (actually, I seriously doubt he does, because this is the first time I’ve said it online), his blog is one of my favorite bits of LiveJournal.
I’m with doubt.
Hey Martin, nice review of TAD. While I wouldn’t argue with your characterization of a Bond spoof via South Park and Yes, Minister, to me it had more of a Hitchhiker’s feel to it…
Hey Martin, nice review of TAD. While I wouldn’t argue with your characterization of a Bond spoof via South Park and Yes, Minister, to me it had more of a Hitchhiker’s feel to it…
James Nicoll, for sure. Although the best of his snark is mostly not on his LJ; he’s more circumspect these days on account of his employment.
My favorite from him has to be his review of Mayflower II, although his comments on Baxter’s _Titan_ are also pretty priceless.
((Revised dupe post — fixed html link))
Slightly dated SF snark here. (This is the funniest piece on the site, written by Reason Magazine editor Jesse Walker).
For more contemporary stuff, keep a watch on Paul Di Filippo, who writes snark short stories for F&SF and has a whole collection of them. You can also find Di Filippo at Locus Online and as a replacement for Alan Moore on the brilliant Top Ten comic book. He gets around.