Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 13:27:33 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Atwood, was Re: Book of the year?
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

> bnewton at ashcomp.com 12/31/04 12:35:35 PM >>>
>Interestingly, Michael Walsh said:
>>I think it's great that Time picked as the novel of the year a
>genre
>>novel written by someone who does not have an Atwood-
>like disdain for
>>such
>
>She was the featured guest on a recent NPR program--Studio
>360, I
>believe.  The whole time, the host kept slipping in comments
>and questions
>about science in literature.  It seemed apparent that he'd been
>warned not
>to say "science fiction" in any way, but couldn't resist slipping
>in the
>needle here and there.  I've finally been moved to read Oryx &
>Crake; am
>about 1/3 through.  Y'know what?  It's science fiction.  No ifs,
>ands, or
>buts.

from: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/atwood.htm
Some reviewers labelled the work as science fiction, but Atwood herself
considered it speculative fiction. "Had I written it 20 years ago, I
would have called it science fiction," she said in an interview, "but
now it's speculative fiction, believe me."

Heh.  Same initials: SF.

> I wonder if SFWA could be moved to award her an
>honorary
>membership.

A previous "honorary membership" caused much sturn und drang.
See: http://www.lem.pl/english/faq/faq.htm#sfwa

More can be found if one Googles "Lem affair".

>  Or even a Nebula. . .

I believe one has to suck up to the right people...

mjw