I read an article on science fiction on Ted Gioia’s blog.

I started reading science-fiction books. And lots of them.

This made no sense. The last time I had taken a serious interest in science fiction was in 8th grade. The typical mid-life crisis is an attempt to recapture the magic of your late teens and twenties. And here I was revisiting a passion that had disappeared at age twelve.

I have a similar experience. I did read some science fiction as a child and adolescent, but it generally could only interest me moderately. I read books like 1948 by Orwell, Brave New World by Huxley, and A Clockwork Orange by Burgess, which, although science fiction lists, I consider more like (rather dystopian) novels of the future.

Being firmly in the beta profession, I had many friends who also read science fiction. Somehow, it seemed to me at the time to be something for betas, which doesn’t seem to be correct. Without having researched it, I would venture to say that when betas read books, it is more often science fiction than anything else.

I read a lot anyway, and also things that chafed at science fiction. The Lord of The Rings, by Tolkien, before it became popular, I think with that, but that’s probably not right. I also read The Day of the Triffids, by Wyndham (ok yet core science fiction). I read H.P. Lovecraft (more horror?). But I never really got “hooked” on the genre.

I also think it was because in high school the science fiction genre was dismissed with much disdain.

A few years ago, I started reading more science fiction. I never before read Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury (yes I read his On Writing – a great book). I’m definitely going to catch up on that. I’m also going to read more of Stephen King.