The Dotted Logline

There’s an interesting article in today’s L.A. Times about the speculative fiction collection at UC Riverside. The Eaton collection is the largest library of science fiction, fantasy and horror books in the world, but was apparently considered a joke for most of its existence. It’s only in recent years, with science fiction and fantasy moving towards the mainstream, that the school has been willing to put actual money into the project.

I remember that disconnect very well. For the most part, genre works were igdnored in my undergrad and graduate courses (though you could occasionally get away with fantasy if you referred to it as “magical realism”.  And, of course, 1984 and Brave New World were simply “dystopian”.)  However, all genres were welcome in screenwriting, and I did take two fantastic science fiction literature classes.  The whole “we spit on this or make up a new name for it here, but it’s perfectly fine in the room across the hall” attitude was certainly trying at times.
I’m glad to see academia embracing science fiction and fantasy more and more… one of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed speculative fiction is its ability to examine human issues in a new light or on a larger scale.  Plus, I’d totally love a doctorate in science fiction studies.