• Activity
  • Votes
  • Comments
  • New
  • All activity
    • Showing only topics with the tag "trends". Back to normal view

    2. Scifi trends over the decades

      ~books Ask
      I've just finished The Sirens of Titan from 1959 (after seeing it recommended here, actually) and something struck me compared to more recent books. A lot of the more technical stuff is kind of...

      I've just finished The Sirens of Titan from 1959 (after seeing it recommended here, actually) and something struck me compared to more recent books. A lot of the more technical stuff is kind of hand-waved away. It's not a criticism, just something that stuck out as I was reading. Is this a trend? Do readers demand more details these days? I've read a bunch of sci fi from the 60s until the present day, but I've only really gotten back into it more recently with Sirens.

      Perhaps I've read too much Neal Stephenson, who has likely never hand-waved anything away! The Martian also springs to mind, but that's very deliberately focused on the details and keeping it realistic, IIRC.

      Spoilers

      I'm mostly thinking about the radio-controlling of the Martian army beyond "there is a little box in their pocket" and most of the atmospheric questions beyond how they breathe.

      13 votes

    35. So what's up with the Toto - Africa craze? Are we in another 80's music revival?

      ~music Ask (survey)
      My personal theory is that this is similar to the phenomenon of "Don't Stop Believin'" having a surge in popularity in the late 2000's. I know that was commonly attributed to the song's use in the...

      My personal theory is that this is similar to the phenomenon of "Don't Stop Believin'" having a surge in popularity in the late 2000's. I know that was commonly attributed to the song's use in the finale of The Sopranos, is there a similar usage of "Africa" that triggered its sudden prevalence in popular culture? What did I miss?

      (Not a complaint, it's reminded me of how great 80's music is and I'm listening to an 80's station right now).

      10 votes