Well worth reading. Rough summary, SF has diverged from “Competence Porn” – the joy of seeing smart and skilled people do smart and skilled things. I agree with the thesis that this has happened, but not his explanations. In fact I probably need to analyze this for awhile before I can coherently state my own theories.
However, I think there’s something here. Maybe it’s just my age, but for me my SF heroes were always, well, competent. Scientists and adventurers with names like Dick Seaton (oh, E.E. Smith . . .), Danny Dunn, Tom Swift, John Carter. Even Luke Skywalker, a bit niave, was a fast learner – but then again *I* mostly wanted to be Han Solo or Obi-Wan, so maybe I don’t care.
Something to think over.
Also I am so using the term “Competence Porn.”
(Edit: I put in the wrong link. Ironic that.)
– Steven Savage