John Plotz interviews Samuel R. Delany, a living legend of science fiction and fantasy. They discuss the artistic potential of different genres, the classification of writers, the influence of Levi Strauss, the challenges faced within the science fiction community, their admiration for Gertrude Stein, and gratitude for the opportunity to record at Wellesley College.
Science fiction as a genre introduces possibilities beyond those found in other forms of literature, utilizing language with open literal meanings and realized metaphors.
The use of poetry in writing, specifically in science fiction, allows for unique combinations of words to create literal meanings and unconventional expressions.
Deep dives
The Power of Science Fiction as a Genre
In this podcast episode, the speaker engages in a conversation with Samuel Delany, a prominent science fiction and fantasy writer, exploring the distinguishing characteristics of science fiction as a genre. They touch upon the concept of 'parallel literature' which denotes genres like science fiction, westerns, mysteries, comic books, and pornography, that were once considered outside the realm of literature. Delany argues that while some writers in these genres may evolve to produce high art, they remain 'parallel-literary' rather than earning the title of 'literary writers.' They discuss the importance of language in science fiction, where literal meanings are open and metaphors are often realized. Furthermore, they delve into the significance of science fiction as a genre that introduces possibilities beyond those found in other forms of literature.
The Role of Poetry in Writing
Another topic explored in the podcast is the role of poetry in writing. The conversation highlights that poetry is always interesting and can be used in various ways. Delany shares his fondness for poetry and mentions that he has read a lot of poetry throughout his life. They discuss how poetry can be incorporated into novels and the importance of language and sentence structure in writing. Delany emphasizes that sentences and paragraphs are crucial units in writing, and science fiction specifically allows unique combinations of words to create literal meanings and unconventional expressions. The discussion touches upon the use of poetry in Delany's own writing, including verses found in his Naverian series.
Evolution of Perspectives on Race, Sexuality, and Gender
The conversation also delves into the changing perspectives on race, sexuality, and gender over the decades. Delany reflects on the lack of acceptance and understanding towards homosexuality within the science fiction community during his early years as a writer, mentioning the experience of winning awards while facing racial discrimination. They discuss the impact of societal changes and how it shaped Delany's writing. Delany's novels, such as Triton, are highlighted for their exploration of gender identity and the representation of various gender categories. The conversation explores the intersectionality of these categories and their evolving portrayal in science fiction literature.
John Plotz talked with Samuel Delany, living legend of science fiction and fantasy back in 2019. You probably know him best for breakthrough novels like Dhalgren and Trouble on Triton, which went beyond “New Wave” SF to introduce an intense and utterly idiosyncratic form of theory-rich and avant-garde stylistics to the genre. Reading him means leaving Earth, but also returning to the heady days when Greenwich Village was as caught up in the arrival of Levi-Strauss and Derrida to America as it was in a gender and sexuality revolution.
Recall This Book loves him especially for his mind-bending Neveryon series: did you know that many consider his 1984 novella from that series, “The Tale of Plagues and Carnivals,” (set both inside the world of Neveryon and along Bleecker Street in NY) the first piece of fiction about AIDS in America?
He came to Wellesley’s Newhouse Center for the Humanities to talk about Afrofuturism, but also carved out two little chunks of time for this conversation.