Postby MrsEclipse » 12 years ago
Personally, I tend to think of science fiction and fantasy as falling under the same umbrella, and I've been very lenient with that umbrella. So I don't see the impossible elements of Astro Boy as any less believable than a legendary wish-granting triangle. And the Legend of Zelda is pretty much the best game franchise I can think of. I don't believe in mermaids or shoes that punish children for their vanity, but Hans Christian Anderson is one of my favorite authors.
And sure, the greatest sci-fi authors that defined the genre and wrote the timeless works wrote about things that could very well happen, but beneath that the real defining aspect of sci-fi as a genre is the exploration of the human condition and the speculation about where that will bring us as a species. For example, Jules Verne did write about submarines and spaceships before they happened, but what people remember most about his work was the adventure, the passion for exploration that was depicted. People are all about exploration and discovering wonders an' stuff. Anyway, Astro Boy has that exploration of the human condition thing in spades. I don't need to tell you. You could tell me better than I could tell any of you.
Try this. Next time you start thinking, "It'll never happen," stick a post-it note on the side of your screen of choice that says, "But wouldn't it be wonderful if it did?" It might be enough to see an external sign of optimism to counter the internal cynicism, even if it's one you made yourself. It might also help to focus on the reactions of the people rather than the technology of the robots. Reactions is what makes or breaks believably even-- nay, especially-- if we don't notice.
Or you might be stuck in what I call a "fandom rut." When the fandom starts stagnating, because there isn't anything new and official, you've gone through all the old, a lot of the stuff is unavailable to you, and new membership and activities is at a low, you can start to lose interest. It manifests itself in a variety of ways, like a sudden attack of cynicism. Sadly I know of no cure for it, but if you find that to be the case I'm sure the lovely people here can put together a think tank to find a way to re-ignite your passion. A way to see it through new eyes.
Baby, don't let it slip, it's a once in a lifetime ship and it's never gonna come again...