| Who would have thought that the geek in the | | | | Fiction is the improbable made possible." |
| corner reading about aliens attacking the | | | | |
| world in 2080 AD could be holding one of the | | | | "Today, science fiction stories featuring the |
| most lucrative pieces of literature in | | | | consequences of humankind's destruction of |
| today's marketplace? Although many may laugh | | | | the environment or the role of female |
| at fans of science fiction, little do they | | | | military leaders are truly signs of our time. |
| know of the power of science fiction as an | | | | They are a fictional but realistic |
| industry. | | | | extrapolation of issues that impact ours and |
| | | | future generations," says Ringo. |
| John Ringo, respected science fiction | | | | |
| authority and best-selling author, reveals | | | | A winning example of the science fiction |
| the hidden facts that describe the popularity | | | | industry's popularity is the success of the |
| of the industry. "The science fiction genre | | | | numerous conventions or 'cons'. Here |
| is such a wildly popular genre that it | | | | enthusiastic fans travel across the nation, |
| generates over 200 MILLION dollars a year in | | | | or around the world, to attend festivals of |
| book sales. It has 11 sub-genres, all | | | | suspended reality which feature guest |
| generating big numbers consistently. And | | | | appearances by science fiction authors, |
| guess what? In the past two years of | | | | actors and characters. |
| television, the highest rated debuts were for | | | | |
| sci-fi shows. This is just the tip of the | | | | Ringo himself uses these conventions to |
| iceberg." | | | | promote his books, such as his new release |
| | | | "Sister Time" (published by Baen Books). Tens |
| So the question remains: how has science | | | | of thousands of fans show up to enjoy the |
| fiction evolved from the pinnacle of geekdom | | | | festivities. "Some of the cons have grown to |
| to such a booming industry? The answer is | | | | astonishing proportions," says Ringo. "Dragon |
| simple: it predicts the future of today's | | | | Con in Atlanta boasts about 30,000 fans. It's |
| hot-button issues. Before society's view of | | | | gotten enormous. Then there's Comic Con in |
| the future was one of a far off era, but | | | | San Francisco which attracts more than |
| today it seems within reach. A quick glance | | | | 125,000 fans. Last year, the Fire Marshall |
| back to the sci-fi movies of the 80's and | | | | shut down the convention center because there |
| 90's prove that science fiction did have a | | | | were too many people!" |
| pretty realistic grasp on the future (bar the | | | | |
| Terminator of course)! | | | | With growing popularity and huge monetary |
| | | | returns, science fiction continually builds |
| This growing appeal stems from the | | | | its fan base by catering to the desires of |
| realization that stories about the future are | | | | it's fans. This explosive growth has |
| predicated on today's knowledge. Think back | | | | transformed science fiction from the butt of |
| to a popular TV show that first hit the | | | | Star Trek jokes to a market that boasts some |
| airwaves in the late 1950's, "The Twilight | | | | of the most educated and forward-thinking |
| Zone." Rod Serling's ability to put an eerie | | | | consumers. And when it comes to the future, |
| twist on seemingly normal events captivated | | | | who doesn't want to hang with the |
| fans. As Serling described it, "Science | | | | forward-thinking crowd? |