F & SF

Health warning: We have known since before Montaigne pointed it out that "Il y a plus affaire à interpreter les interpretations qu'à interpreter les choses, et plus de livres sur les livres que sur autre subject: nous ne faisons que nous entregloser". To the making of genre definitions there is no end. I, too, have posted about this before, and I, too, rise to the bait and talk about it again.

Further disclaimer: I love this stuff, I can't resist this game, and I really haven't time to do it justice. Apologies for ruthless editing: this is going to be quite long enough, whatever I do. And even greater apologies to those friends whose contributions to the debate I haven't read yet - no doubt I would be saying something completely different if I had the benefit of your insights, but that will have to wait until this one comes around again (as it will, never fear!)

( Fantasy and Science Fiction: defining the genres (plus a small spoiler for Robin Hobb's Liveships trilogy) )

Out of time: but next time, ask me about Prester John, Geoffrey of Monmouth and the history of fantasy.