Saving science fiction

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Since the 1950s, James Gunn has lived in the future.

Beginning in science fiction's "Golden Age," Gunn has written or edited almost 40 novels, short story collections and histories of the genre and is considered one of its "grand masters," a title he shares with such pioneers as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and Theodore Sturgeon.

"Science fiction is the literature of change," says Gunn, 81. "Occasionally, it's predictive, but that's not its purpose. (Editor) John Campbell used to say, 'Science fiction is practice in a no-practice zone.' "

Gunn is director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, an academic program at the University of Kansas that he started in 1982 as an extension of the writers' workshops he conducted and courses he taught for teachers looking to add science fiction to their lesson plans.

He still looks to tomorrow, but he's not just considering hypothetical worlds and theoretical technology — he's contemplating the future of science fiction itself.

It's hard to tap into any form of pop culture these days without seeing the influence of science fiction. But books are another matter. Science fiction captures less than 8 percent of the $6.5 billion consumer book market, according to publishing research organization R.R. Bowker.

The odds are even worse for young readers who either are too busy to read or, if they do get into science fiction, focus on something they know, such as books spun off from "Star Wars," "Star Trek" or other well-known franchises, says Chris McKitterick, the center's associate director.

"We think it's important to society for science fiction to be read by children because if science fiction has any message, it's that change is inevitable," McKitterick says. " 'Star Wars' is not good science fiction because its message actually is 'change is bad.' "

Gunn worries that the barrage of distractions could keep many youngsters from ever getting interested in science fiction, endangering the genre as it moves into future generations.

"There's a saying that the 'golden age' of science fiction is 12," he says. "That's a time in children's lives when their imaginations get a chance to catch fire and get stimulated, and if you miss that time, you may never get them to think about . . . issues, concepts, ideas, possibilities, in a way that enhances their understanding of the world we live in."