“Neil Gaiman is doing it… we need books that can have that kind of depth and characters and storytelling values. He’s [Gaiman] proving you can do it all [in a sf/f escape context].”
- Beth Meacham, Tor Books Editor, “Locus Magazine” April 2005

She comments that sf/f must offer more than an escape. The books must find footing in the real world, so that the reader can relate. S-F needs to stick to age-old values of deep characters that are real (whether alien, elf or human).

She comments on run-away prose that is beautiful, but leaves the author better off writing poetry, because not enough attention was given to the plot.

Another good comment was about sci-fi fantasy finding the middle path: There are the novels that are total escapism, and techie/wizardry mazes; and then there others that are basically mainstream fiction with a few science/fantasy elements. She seems to be saying they want the balance of the two.

Also Meacham makes potent comments about novels that become so “deep” that you have to work hard as a reader to understand what the heck is going on. I think Ray Bradbury said that the secret is entertaining them, and then later when the metaphor takes form in their own lives.

She comments that she isn’t saying every story should be this way, but more so that there isn't enough of this type or quality. I thought these proved valuable insights and wanted to pass on the highlights.

If you don’t receive Locus, the web-site might have this article posted.

In creativity rising,

John
 

I hope they keep their policy of accepting unagented submissions long enough for me to reach that point.
 

Yep, as a reader, this rings very true.

I went through a period where I read Baxter, but then when I encountered a book where the characters are beings that live on a neutron star, I had a hard time with it. While neutron stars are fasinating, viewpoint characters that inhabit them were not.