Why This Science Fiction Channel Differs From Others

As the most defiantly unconventional SF Booktuber of these times sees his channel hit the 10,000 subscriber mark, The Outlaw Bookseller reflects on what differentiates his work while Smudge the cat makes a guest appearance....

[@mariusdimache382]

In my opinion this is the most informative and important science fiction books channel, keep up the good work. Please do this for as long as possible. Take good care of you. Thank you!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks- I'll do as much as I can!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks to yourself too!

[@philbc3]

You are the Don of SF book tube simply because no one else can touch your level of knowledge and experience. This is what I watch your channel for (and have taken out membership), and the amount I've learned from watching you is immense. Keep on keeping on!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Honoured to have you as a member, Phil, cheers mate.

[@cowanb65]

Congratulations Stephen. A fine achievement. My ears pricked up when you mentioned the music dimension so looking forward to more of your perceptive appraisal of Stranglers albums.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Watch this space....

[@kylebrian7771]

I really value your insight, without this channel idk how long it would have taken me to read Burroughs or Ballard, I even revisited Gibson and was able to enjoy his writing more than I imagined I could.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I'm pleased. These are key writers that no serious devotee of SF- or Modernism per se- can afford not to read. Thank you.

[@jamesgossweiler1349]

I really appreciate your channel because your many years of reading science fiction have given you the ability to provide insightful and intelligent commentary on a wide range of topics. This depth of understanding sets you apart from younger booktubers, who often lack the same breadth of experience.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

It does take time, dedication and fire- plus a willingness to think outside the box. I hope to get even better!

[@CliveSnowden-fx8fp]

Thanks for this update, Steve. Great to see Smudge here, too. Many congratulations on reaching 10,000 Subs. That's fantastic news. Looking forward to all that's to come. Best wishes from snowy Berlin.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Clive, Smudge has now recovered from the shock- this was unusual, I'm always petting here out of nowhere and usually she ignores it. What can you do?

[@nonautomaton6230]

So glad the channel is seeing a level of success it deserves - There's no better place on KZbin for genuine expertise on SF literature. May the numbers keep going upward!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks very much!

[@camo_for_cocktails]

Congratulations on ten thousand subscribers. Richly deserved and those newcomers are in for a great ride. I wish I could afford the membership, but the exchange rate for Canada is just out of reach at the present. Long may you run!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

No problem, delighted to have you on board.

[@anthonyparkinson4517]

I'm a lo-tech person too - If it works, I leave it alone and don't fiddle with it! No smart phone either. I'll vouchsafe that I'm not alone in immediately clicking when one of your vids pops up - No delayed gratification here. I'll express a pre-emptive hope that you keep the OB project going in some way as you're building a valuable resource, I'd say unparalleled, online that works for both newbies and old-hands alike. I don't know of anyone else that does what you do as well as you do. As you say keeping the content varied is a key component for the channel and on that note I would love to see you do some career overviews of artists/bands and if you wanted to begin with John Foxx so much the better. I designed a vhs cover for his videos back in the day and went for a few drinks with him and others after a gallery talk years back and briefly worked with his designer Barnbrook AND I'm a massive fan going back nearly 50 years so a deep-dive from you would be most welcome. Again, congrats on 10K and thanks for all the great content.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, we'll see about the Foxx thing. I've not seen him for over a year, but I'm sure our paths will cross again- lovely man.

[@broken1394]

I think your production values are great Steve, location vids always come with plenty of nice shots. At home on the ranch, you always do great. Edits are concise, contextual, and thoughtful. The guy doing your music is fabulous and really gives me a good soundtrack, which is very much a part of the watching experience. I hope you have a super rewarding year in all that you do. I'd love a Dalek and somebooks that you have owned. Thank you. 🦉

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Very kind, thanks!

[@vintagesf]

Well deserved 10K! My hope is that our friendship will outlast both our channels. I'm optimistic that some day we will share a few laughs over a pint of beer. For any of your viewers interested in 'The Best of Philip K. Dick' collaboration, my plan is to post it on Monday, January 20th on my channel. Look forward to our conversation in a few days!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Agreed, Richard! I'm very much looking forward to our chat on the 19th. Get over here to England someday and we'll visit Dorset Bob and meet Jules Burt!

[@bartsbookspace]

Congrats on 10k! I don’t think you need to spend money on improving the tech. It’s fine as is and your knowledge is the reason folks tune in. 🙌

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks. Its all gone on books, that money...

[@pontypriddrambler10]

Congrats Steve! Love the channel of course, and the fanzine style! Content wins every time and you set the standards for sure.

[@jramoo]

well deserved! hope to see more author interviews and more neglected books being highlighted.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

There have always been neglected books covered here and there always will be. Not sure if I'll do many more interviews- I hope you've watched the ones already on the channel (Moorcock, Priest x2, M John Harrison, Chris Beckett, Emma Newman, Tom Toner, Nina Allan x2, Stark Holborn, Lauren Beukes and Adrian Tchaikovsky, Gavin Chait...).

[@MrSquireltastic]

Congrats! Love the channel and am looking forward to this year’s content. You’ve greatly inspired and informed my reading and I appreciate all the good work you’re doing here. Best wishes!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

My pleasure.

[@mormengil]

Congratulations again Steve! There is a lot to be said about the commercialization of art, but well said, it is not a competition. And while top X videos can be helpful for the audience seeking to put future reads into priority queues, it is of course totally pointless from a personal perspective, moods change, tastes change, and on any given day if you ask me what my favourite X is, I might give a different answer. But that is not the point of art. We need a broad palate and to be ever seeking to expand it. Trying things, see where it goes. And as for presenting a better vista for viewers, honestly all that is needed is a backdrop of books, and I think you have that covered. Fancying things up is fun and all, but there is something to be said about direct honest content. As for great creators passing away.. the last decade has been brutal, for music, literature, cinema, art in general.. There was a lot of personal loss as well, 2024 was a very very rough year. It is sobering when a lot of creators you have really enjoyed in the past start to depart. Makes you realize that you have to live now, rather than endlessly postponing things, which is something I do all the time and I probably cannot afford to. As for the feline angle, I lived with 5 cats in the house, four remain now (2024...sigh...) and the only way to get lively stunts on camera is to either set them up yourself, or be constantly with a camera in hand following them around. Both are things people do to produce those videos on social media. I resent the lengths some of them would go to to make cat videos to keep themselves in the favour of the algorithm gods. Anyway, here's to a new year with health, progress, and unexpected happiness!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks mate- I'm sorry to hear about personal losses, understand. Your support here has always been a joy and I'm very gratified you continue to enjoy Outlaw Bookseller. I shall go on!

[@rickkearn7100]

Outlaw Bookseller is distinctly different from the channels established by enthusiasts, collectors etc., (all of which are excellent to be sure) in that it has a strong cerebral quality to it with deep dives into not only authors and novels but into philosophy. At least, that is how it seems to me. I see Stephen as a curator and a deep well of genre-related knowledge along with his commentary on the cultural aspect of the SF world, which is fascinating. I hope you continue for a long while yet, OB, and congrats on making the 10K subscriber threshold and then some! Cheers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Many, many thanks, Rick- you were one of my very first key supporters and you inspired me to keep going many times when things seemed fruitless. I'm very gratified that you still watch and continue to enjoy Outlaw Bookseller. I salute you, Dean of Men!

[@rickkearn7100]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal God bless. :)

[@huwprofitt8250]

Well done Stephen, substance over style tends to win on most occasions.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Huw, very kind of you. Will remind you to Dickie next week, should see him then.

[@huwprofitt8250]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal, I'm actually in Wales as of Tuesday the 14th, if you're about.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@huwprofitt8250 I'm there on Monday 13th- doh!- but let me know in advance next time you are coming over and we'll get it together!

[@beastrabban5991]

Congratulations, Outlaw! The fanzine style reminds me of Steve Sneyd's Hilltop press, which specialised in the niche subject of SF poetry. This continued to publish its newsletter in the same style as the 70s fanzines cranked out on the old methylated spirit copiers. I've learned a lot about classic SF from you. Hope the blog continues from strength to strength this year.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers!

[@SciFiFinds]

It's been great to have your perspective on my early videos as a bigger channel and a much more experienced reader. Not all of the bigger channels do that, so I appreciate it (even if you get slightly disappointed in me selling my soul for views with tier lists and whatnot). To the next 10k!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

You'll find that the bigger channels will very rarely mention the competition, I don't know why, they have nothing to be scared of. If tier lists work for you, don't worry about what I think!

[@Mac-ci3py]

Your channel is really good. I hope you get a lot more subscribers :)

[@pastoralgrace]

Kudos Steve. Without doubt You are the Best.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Blushing now!

[@pastoralgrace]

@@outlawbookselleroriginalkeep enlightening the world with your wisdom

[@edmondcristo]

Please don't worry about the technical aspects. Not only is your (always great) content much more important - but at least for myself, I find that when 'simpler' channels 'upgrade' their visuals it feels like something is lost - maybe part of their soul in the pursuit of more shallow viewers. When in doubt, do like a certain Cimmerian and carve your own path ;-)

[@erikpaterson1404]

Fabulous milestone.. I honestly believed you'd hit 10 000 before Christmas. But hey, this is still excellent. Hard work paying off

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Erik. Had I done 4-6 vids in December instead of two, I'd have made it, but being sick and all....

[@strelnikoff1632]

That's great. Shows you are doing it right!!!!

[@jarred.shane10]

Thank you for your content over the years. Last year I read le Tellier’s The Anomaly after having watched your video about 21st century SF. I realized I’m ok with living in a simulation. I have broadened my horizons reading other writers you have discussed. Priest, Shepherd, Ellison, Bester, Kuttner and Moore are my favorites.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

All great stuff, glad you are finding the channel worthwhile!

[@localmo88]

Thanks!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks so much!!!!

[@davidcastillo1683]

Found your channel through Bookpilled and have been grateful ever since. Keep up the inspired work. On the topic of overrated, a name that pops into my head is James Blish. Black Easter is one of my favorite books, but as I get through more of his catalog, he's just so wildly uneven. Even in A Case of Conscience is wildly uneven IMO. I have a ton of respect for him. His writing is some of the most erudite in the genre, and if you want a masterclass in how to write with an authoritative voice, Blish is that guy. But I feel like the density and talent of his writing masks some pretty significant flaws, like pacing, and characterization.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Matt is my man. Will respond re Blish in video.

[@cumbrianrambler7715]

To david castillo: James blish was a good friend of alfie bester. He worked as a PR guy in new york and barely had time to write. Bester said he was an absolute gem of a guy, encouraged him to do more as he also thought he had real talent. Imagine being told you're a great writer by one of the most perceptive, emotionally intelligent writers ever.

[@chocolatemonk]

I love your top 10s. Thanks again for helping reignite my love of reading SF

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, there will be more, but watch the lot as the real meat is elsewhere here.

[@michaelconrad7301]

Congratulations on the 10,000 mark! I always enjoy your content, and yes, it does have the comfortable feel of old-school fanzines, which had such a wide range of discussion outside of science fiction...they were like a slow motion Internet of their time, with conversations ponderously occurring over months and successive issues instead of minutes, probably much like interstellar communications. They were fun, though, and I ran a small one in the 1970s. I had a small bricks-and mortar vintage science fiction bookstore in an antique mall that closed this year, with the inventory diverted to a much larger (and fairly successful) online store. Your influence is felt there - when you discuss a book, my copies of that book quickly sell out! (Same is true of Matt's Bookpill.) Modern titles sell fairly well, but I find most titles published within the last 20 years or so uninteresting and fairly vapid, in terms of what came before, and younger readers discovering the field in their teens or 20s or 30s seem to feel the same way - they hunger for the intellectual heft and wild experimentation of the 1950s through 1980s Tell Smudge I said PsPsPs!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Glad to hear Matt and I are getting people to read the good stuff. Hope your online store continues to do well. Smudge will get your message....

[@geoffstark9817]

Congratulations! Your channel has had an immense impact on my reading and I'm grateful for your work. Thank you!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers Geoff!

[@Downriver4562]

You do differ. Excellent content. Amazing find. Thank you!

[@glockensig]

I'm a big Smudge fan!! Congrats on 10K....Sad that more people haven't discovered you!!

[@VictorAugustus]

that would be rude of them 😂

[@glockensig]

@@VictorAugustus fixed!😂

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Everyone is a big Smudge fan, just wish she was more cooperative. Disconnected me? I hope not, I want them to connect with me!

[@glockensig]

@outlawbookselleroriginal Sorry Andrew! Between auto-spell-guessing and me being temporarily cross-eyed....I flubbed it badly! My mother (aged 93) has been collecting Dell mapbacks for decades. I was going through her chicken-scratch of a list jotted down in a notebook held together by rubber bands.... and transforming it into a nice excel printout ....when I paused to comment! Stay connected, my friend! (You won't have any mapbacks for sale, will you?😅)

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Congrats on 10K!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Many thanks Chris, we must do a collab sometime!

[@reynoldsmathey]

Here's hoping this year's SF offerings give you much to talk about. Cats always increase views. Please do keep on if you feel the urge, for your 10,000 subs really appreciate your insights. Wishing you good health and creative verve in the new year. Let not this channel end like tears, in rain.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thank you.

[@RhysWritings]

Congratulations on 10K! You've been super informative for me to discover some of my favourite Authors so keep up the amazing work! I also love smudgington the face at the end was priceless

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Pleasure. Smudge- a crazy pet!

[@psifiguy]

I'd be sorry to see your channel wrap up. I only found it a few months ago and have enjoyed your videos. Your videos have been very informative and I do enjoy reviews of the earlier SF instead of the new stuff (really was disappointed with Red Rising series to the point I can't accept is as science fiction) I have really enjoyed going back and reading EE Doc Smith, Asimov, Greg Bear, Dan Simmons (especially his non-Hyperion books), Sturgeon, Alfred Bester, Phillip K Dick, etc. All the best to you. Hope you can continue with talks on the SF Books.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks!

[@michaeljdeneen2725]

I’d love to visit and buy books from this Gentleman…

[@steved1135]

Congrats sir. I'm honestly elated to have found your channel. Unlike others, you speak with both passion and knowledge. Yours is the only channel that gives me the same feeling I get when I visit a special bookstore and end up having a great chat about great books. I'm 53 and have been an avid reader since I was a teen. That's continued throughout my life and I therefore have an extensive reading history, but despite this, the list of books I now have to get has grown just from visiting here. Cheers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Very kind. As you intimate, the 'bookshop experience' I offer in the flesh is employed here too. When I bring more to well-read people, that's exceptionally pleasurable. Thanks.

[@zamiadams4343]

Happy 10K subs Stephen!

[@athoszubiaur2144]

congratulations, steve! i agree with all the comments here saying that no other youtuber compares. it makes me sad to think that you might stop putting out content this coming september when you hit the four year mark but i'm here for as long as you are. as for not having more flashy presentation or whatever, it truly is quality over everything else. that's the most important thing. thanks for the update and keep taking care of yourself! i can't think of anyone who i'd consider overrated a the moment. i've spend the last two or three years purging my very modest collection of works that didn't really appeal to me so i'm only left with those whose works i enjoy. however, flipping your request on its head, i'd love see you speak about john crowley or elizabeth hand (the winterlong trilogy in particular). cheers, a p.s. smudge is adorable!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Aramis- Smudge was uncharacteristic in this one. Normally, if I touch her while asleep, she stirs gently...but on camera, different matter!

[@SciFiScavenger]

Congrats again Steve

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks mate, much appreciated, we'll catch up later in year!

[@salty-walt]

100! Woo Hoo! Well this vid looks like it's going over well! Good for you mate! Congratulations. I'm kind of surprised you haven't done more music and non SF content. Not scolding; I know the time it takes to think it through, and prepare remarks (even if you're going into a flow State, you think about it) are all still work, but it seems like they would be the intermezzo's that excite you for what comes next. I mean, if you ate nothing but fudge frosting for the past three and a half years you'd be really sick of it too. I mean, I've spotted a few glasses of milk, maybe a root beer float, maybe some french fries here and there. And the Stranglers. I wandered too far from the point and it's going to take too many words to get me back there. Noises of support.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Walt!

[@thekeywitness]

Glad to see you back at it and looking forward to more insightful content.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

My pleasure chum, always a delight to see you comment!

[@ScienceFictionRetroactivis-j1w]

Congratulations on your subscriptions! I think I will stay out of trouble, regarding overratings.🙂

[@keriford54]

Only just discovered your channel and while, weirdly, your opinions don't exactly match mine yours has as high a quality content as I have come across. I think it looks good visually and your sound is clear and easy to hear and your delivery is good. No technical upgrade is needed.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks!

[@localmo88]

Great channel, love the video style and your insights.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I do what I can!

[@jimbomacroth3400]

Congrats on achieving 10k. You definitely earned it! I still consider myself a student of true SF, so wouldn't feel comfortable declaring a book or writer as overrated.......yet Looking forward to more videos discussing music. It's sure to be a fascinating addition

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers!

[@SlowDazzle11]

What makes your channel different? I think you've answered with your description of your channel as fan-like, home-grown. Also, you've got the professional experience, you provide mature and insightful reviews, and you do have good critical judgement. I also like the way you show the links between SF and Literary fiction. Also, like me you're a music fan and know the links between SF and rock music, jazz. Congratulations on reaching 10,000 Steve.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks mate, your support has been invaluable!

[@danieldelvalle5004]

Absolutely. Zeroing in on my own final library with Barry N Malzberg, and getting rid of some books, moving on, near the end of my journey. Cheers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

It has to be done, Dan, yeah.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

Without a doubt my favourite channel on KZbin!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

You're a Star, as ever!

[@GypsyRoSesx]

@@outlawbookselleroriginalhi Steve, what is the intro track called?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@GypsyRoSesx That's "Libraries of the Ancient World2 by Simon Hemmings, an old bookselling friend of mine, who worked for me for around 4 years some 20 years ago. Lovely guy. I got back into Science Fiction when we worked together as he was a newbie and his enthusiasm reinvigorated me. He may appear on the channel in February and he has his own YT channel.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal thank you, I love it. I love all the music you use on the channel. It adds an extra dimension.

[@gerrade71278]

Congrats. It's been a plesure to follow your channel. On top of your fantastic reviews, some highlights for me were your shopping trips and trip to Paris. Most impressive though was your Keith Roberts trip. Look forward to more in 2025!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Delighted that you like the travel shoots, I enjoy making these the most.

[@OluoB]

Congrats on 10k. Well deserved. The other thing that this channel is different when compared to others is that it is the 1st ever channel I bought a membership for... (Well, it is not actually that important, I just wanted to boast after doing it...)

[@OluoB]

As for overrated/underrated authors - I can't really tell yet, since I got into reading more SF last year, which is also thanks to you for the most part. I'm enjoying reading books that you are discussing on this channel, but I still have a ton to get through.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, we ALL have a ton to get through! Thanks for your fealty.

[@patrickt6642]

Your a cat person that gets a thumbs up from me.I would like to see and you bookpilled have a discussion on sci-fi.You 2 are my favorite sci-fi reviewers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Matt gave me my first shout out and we correspond and times and he has picked up on number of writers from me- he liked my book which mentions writers like Compton and Malzberg who he later fell in love with. Maybe we will collab one day- he's a lovely guy and gifts have been exchanged in book form!

[@cumbrianrambler7715]

To david castillo: James blish was a good friend of alfie bester. He worked as a PR guy in new york and barely had time to write. Bester said he was an absolute gem of a guy, and encouraged him to do more as he also thought he had real talent. Imagine being told you're a great writer by one if the most perceptive, emotionally intelligent writers ever.

[@nickolasschachtsick595]

I like your perspective on ranking books. In recent days I noticed I would say "X is one of my favorite books" if I liked X book. Having watched your video, I realize I don't really have a favorite book.

[@sylvanyoung]

Happy New Year Steven . Congrats on the 10k subs. Underrated authors ?( My opinion ? ) Truth be told some times I feel like the kid who sees the emperor naked,but doubt my sight, so I agree with the " smarter " mass and remark " brilliant, well done ". All the whole thinking , am I missing something ? This should be interesting . To be honest I don't " get " Hamilton, Heinlein or Herbert .( My bias opinion) Mayhaps I have not read the right book yet . Any advice . Thank you Steven .

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Sylvan- I don't get the 3 H's much of the time either.....

[@chriswright9096]

I love the idea of discussing overrated works or authors. Much as I love the SF genre, I think its valuable to acknowledge that there is a great deal of garbage out there, and success is somewhat decoupled from excellence. That's why you, and a couple of others, are vital in introducing younger readers (raised on Weir or Liu) to the great masterworks of the past.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

The 'overrated' video will follow in February. Why not post here the names of writers you feel are overrated besides the two you mention? Cheers.

[@joelstainer65]

Wait, were you not just at like 3k subs last week. My how they grow up! Congrats!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers Joel.

[@Vitaly3548]

10:35, I have noticed that relationship in regards to many authors and songwriters, where each use the other medium for inspiration in their own work. PKD and William GIbson inspired Sonic Youth's work, among others, and william gibson himself was inspired by punk. Hawkwind and Moorcock have collaborated. I would assume genres of fiction are paired up, spirtually and aesthetically, to their own genres of music. I would love to hear your take on this!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

You will hear much on this as the channel is going to focus on music more this year, but if you look at my backlist videos on music, you will see Ioften compare music and books.

[@cumbrianrambler7715]

Your surreal trips to that 'artificially' bright and clean italian island helped me fall for your hand-crafted content. Just so odd and so fun. I feel like i'm in your bookshop with your regular vids, so friendly and reassuring. Give me low rez bad reflections, grumpy well-informed chat all day long. Hand crafts, stuff with human defects we can comprehend, stuff we can trust, will become so important as this ball of misinformation and paid-for 'advertorial' content grows into a weird monster for the younger generation to fight. Well done on 10k. Not remotely interested in films or music stuff - It's been major and minor scales from day 1, no change there, and someone expecting me to listen to their choice of muzak over a cannibalised book script can do one. Same with 'art' genres and 'photography' - give me real, live workaday art of simon davis in 2000ad, not irrelevant gimmicks of banksy and co. - art for folk who don't understand or like art. Art created to be deliberately exclusive (ie most well known 'artists') is also a waste of my time. I'm more interested in nature than any form of human 'art' - our own bodies and a simple leaf hold more intrigue than every dull, predictable self-indulgent punk song ever written. My tip:spend your last 10 enjoying nature.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Very with you on the nature thing, I grew up in the country. Banksy? Only popular because he does graffiti- a real one trick pony, that guy. Thanks!

[@spencerburke]

Completely agree re Song of Kali. Excellent novel. Gets a lot of criticism for its perceived orientalism etc, but I have never read a more intelligent novel that is classified as horror. It's much more of an examination of pain and loss than anything else. And it's superbly done. Some debut.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Absolutely. I included it in my book '100 Must Read Books For Men' because of what it says about fatherhood and family.

[@Drforbin941]

All the old timers are passing! The real sadness is the question! Who is taking their place?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

No-one is the short but true answer. There are good Genre SF writers over 50, but under......

[@Drforbin941]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal Yeah. the entire society both here and in Europe seems to be entering some kind of dark ages. I use to love SCI FI. Now I hate it. Your channel is the Sci Fi I was in love with.

[@drewproductions1358]

Congratulations!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Very kind.

[@picturepainter]

Congratulations on the 10 000 subscribers. I only have one subscriber, which is odd, because in all the years I've been on KZbin I've never made a single video. 😕

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers!

[@psychonaut56]

Scalzi's Red Shirts. Card's Enders Game. Those two are probably the most overappreciated books I've ever read. Always was bored to death by Douglas Adams too. Tolkien, the definition of second rate. I look back on the early days of 2022, when I discovered your channel , with the same gladness with which I look back on the days I discovered PKD or JG Ballard, or any valuable body of artistic work...a great journey was begun, something to really sink my teeth into. I only wish I was at the beginning.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers, response will come in vid.

[@cumbrianrambler7715]

Have you done an Easy Reads vid, Stephen? I believe we could attract many more readers with 10 easy reads, possibly choosing books that are widely available and cheap-ish. Crossover books even, that wander into sci-fi from more mainstream themes?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

No, not done that. As I say, I'm not big on clickbait, but we will see!

[@Drforbin941]

It's different because your different. I mean that as a compliment!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

got it!

[@spiraldaddy]

You are the maverick/renegade/outlaw/Northwest Smith/the Ayatollah of RocknRolla of SF. If you want the straight dope - its here. No weak sauce on this channel.

[@jimflannery9563]

Smudge! There are few things more soothing to the unquiet soul than watching a cat sleep, she certainly earned her per-diem. If we were to reflect on fanzines past, you've niched pretty well here as the Richard Geis of the West Country. Just don't start sending out newsletters about the Gold Standard and the imminent collapse of the world economy 😁

[@keithreynolds]

My guess is that most of your subscribers are interested in what you have to say and the agendas that you set rather than whether it’s 4k HD or whatever… as long as we can see what your showing us and hear what you are saying… it’s what we want. In our weird online minds you are a friend with whom we share interests and past experience. Really hope that I can get excited about new SF.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks as ever, Keith. As for getting excited about new SF, there is so little being published now finding it is the first problem....

[@sams5963]

Congrats on the 10K subscribers. With the exception of the few booktube presenters I subscribe to, I am over the best of worst of lists and book hauls. I also tend to ignore these people who read 80 books in a month. What could they possibly retain from all that? Another note: I recently DNFed The This by Bob Shaw. I got to the chapter where the Old Country Squire was buggering the young servant boy and I thought what the hell does this have to do with the premise of this book and put it down. I didn't get it Stephen.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I think you mean 'The This' by Adam Roberts. I can't recall that section. so I can't offer a suggestion on that. Glad you are enjoying the channel, though. I agree I don't think all these people claiming to have read over 10-12 books a month properly are actually doing so- I think they're skip reading and it often shows in their reviews.

[@sams5963]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal yeah you're right I did meet Adam Roberts the chapter was called the Golden Penny

[@paradigmshift7907]

New commenter, glad I found your channel! I would say Suzanne Collin’s is overrated if she’s even SF. I like the first novel but not really sure how the series blew up. I think a lot of dystopian novels need to be separated from SF. I was also wondering your opinion on Michael Crichton? I feel like at least he was trying to do different things in the 90s and 2000s compared to the space operas of the time

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Glad you are enjoying the channel. I'll address your Suzanne Collins point when I do the 'overrated' video in February, but will point out for now that she was working from a very established model, the 'kill game' trope, which Robert Sheckley was the finest exponent of back in the 1950s and 1960s. As for Dystopia, it is indivisible from SF, as it is the background condition of 90% of Genre Science Fiction since the early 1950s and is one of the two foundational pillars of Proto SF alongside the traveller's tall tale, being as old as Plato's 'coverage' of Atlantis and his 'The Republic'. Dystopia is not a genre as it is so founded in SF. Re Crichton- Crichton began his career in the 1960s and Space Opera is a century old, so comparing the two in a 1990s context is a little non-contextual if you see what I mean. I get you, however, as Crichton is generally regarded as the instigator of the Technothriller and Space Opera began to resurge in the late 1980s. Thanks for yr comment!

[@paradigmshift7907]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal Interesting, I knew Collins wasn't the orginal "kill game" author, but I thought it was Stephen King with The Running Man. Good to know. I understand what you're saying about the Dystopia on a fundemental level. I guess what I meant was I think its ridiculous when I ask a kid what is their favorite SF novel and they say The Hunger Games. With Crichton, more of his early stuff other than the Andromeda Strain and maybe Terminal Man wasn't really SF. When I was growing up and reading his stuff from the 80s and 90s it just felt different compared to most SF on the shelves. Thanks for the response!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@paradigmshift7907 King himself owes his career- in my view- to the influence of Richard Matheson, whose ability at bringing out the Horror in SF, at pure Supernatural, crime, western and other forms (not to mention his prose style, which King is close to) shone out in the 1950s with books like 'I Am Legend', 'The Shrinking Man', 'Hell House', 'Stir of Echoes' and many more. Agree it is ridiculous re Hunger Games, but that simply reveals the 'now is what's important' focus of younger trend-driven readers. Re Crichton, while those early books are SF, his dubbing as master of the 'technothriller' is misleading at times, since that subgenre relies on existing tech. He did this sometimes, but was most firmly SF- just his marketing/book jacketing didn't scream that. Thanks for your posts!

[@arekkrolak6320]

Dan Simmons is a great author in general. I havent yet read Hyperion :)

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

He is a man of talent, surely.

[@mattj2118]

This channel is a diamond in the rough. There are young people out there who just started their bookTube channels who have many more subscribers. People that have just started reading and started their channel for fun… that’s fine. But what does it say when there’s no value placed in experience?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I feel you and then some. Thanks.

[@captainmission]

Andy Weir is overrated. I think Simons is fantastic as he plays with genre and changes lanes from Horror to Science Fiction to Historical Thriller. Flashback is a great read. I'm very happy you hit the 10k mark, it's your knowledge that people respect and you have great taste in music as well.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks very much. Will respond re Weir in an upcoming video.

[@Hand-DrawnOnPaper]

I can’t really compare with other channels, but there is nothing lacking in the technical/visual front here, as far as I’m concerned. A lot of production flourishes seem to add to a decrease of genuineness and a lack of substance. At the same time, it’s pretty clear you care about how you present and organize things, as a natural form of respect for your audience.

[@northernlights6459]

💯

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks very much!

[@piynubbunyip]

This channel has a great signal to noise ratio, I a don't need any fancy stuff, jast the facts and opinions.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers- and thanks for your continued support.

[@OmnivorousReader]

Hopefully, you do keep going, this channel does stand out in a very good way and I enjoy it. Tech is just tech, experience, background and knowledge though - you can't buy those at your local J.B. HiFi. In pursuit of supporting the channel, as requested, my list of SF I consider overrated (controversial, I suspect). Solaris - Couldn't stand it, only skim reading got me to %70. DNF. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus - Not terrible, for a first novel by a teenager, not great. The Three Body Problem - DNF around %50. I want those minutes of my life back, please. A Canticle for Leibowitz - It is ok, for what it is, for it's era, but I don't see it as the GOAT. I think Asimov did a lot of really good short stories and was a top notch ideas man, but the Foundation novels were pretty dry and have not aged well, I have not dared to re-visit the Robot books yet, I want to preserve the memories of teenage awe for as long as I can... I hope this does not result in the youtube equivalent of my house being firebombed. I don't say anyone is wrong to enjoy them, I just didn't.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks, will respond to these when I do the video.

[@michaelschneider8656]

I'm listening to Hyperion right now on Audible does the first chapter ever end lol??

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Read it instead, different and better experience.

[@michaelschneider8656]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal it's on the TBR. Just started Foundation's Edge, it hooks 🪝 into the plot quickly (seemingly more quickly than the previous three in the series from my perspective).

[@waltera13]

I don't think that there are any surprises in my banal rant. You can probably guess my annoyances for Over Hyping. Some are intrinsically bad, and some are just fine but undeserving accolade. There's the Immeasurable boredom of Chakraborty and her lack of editing. There's the dated, stakes free after school specials of St. John Mandel. There is the SF Serial writing being forced to masquerade as a book (sadly by inserting an artificially constructed James Bond climax for a pre-denouement denouement) with some cool ideas but WAY more acclaim than it deserves from Cixin Liu. Going back some years I am reminded of a time when EVERYONE said you *had to* read the "Incarnations of Immortality" and "Xanth"; and they were wrong. In the past few years I've also gone through an evolution about some of the "Greats" of the genre. Even through their flawed writing I can see that they had something to offer the great majority of the consumers of SF at one time, and their ideas and the awkward way they worked them out through sock puppet arguments on shadow puppet stages affected/ defined the headspace of what SF *was* so that they should hold onto their canonization. Working through some Asimov, it was fascinating to see how *his* Galactic Empire was an inspiration for George Lucas', and was the essential concept against which Herbert foiled the Galactic Empire of Dune. You might think me damning by faint praise, but these later works *so* exist in dialogue with their predecessors it has really informed their value and reinvigorated the text for me (even if by recontextualizing it.) It's likewise effected my buying and TBR. When I was first re-approaching SF, I wondered who the "new" Big Names were & why ; I wanted to see where the field was going. My experiences since are SO consistently marked by people's lack of basic literacy, and sense of aesthetics that I hesitate to approach the books by "New Voices" I so eagerly bought. Is there *really* enough time for Jemisin or Tchaikovsky? What is to be gained from Haig, or Tidhar, or Newitz, or Chambers, or Okorafor, or Solomon and so many others I cannot dig up the names: Are they just this decade's Anne Rice being fueled by the suburbs need for novelty and lack of memory? I thought I was looking for new perspectives, new voices but what I've gotten so far is warmed over hash, watered down and served luke warm for gruel.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

All this meat will be tackled in the 'overrated' video to come, thanks Walter!

[@waltera13]

@outlawbookselleroriginal oh yes. But you did ask for this feedback in this video right? (I'm rather pleased with how this came out.)

[@quantok]

There's music in that voice.

[@drcarnage83]

Congratulations on the 10k! Overrated books in my opinion would be Foundation, Dune, Three Body Problem, and anything by Heinlein. I know know the first two are beloved by lots of SF readers, but for me it they're over hyped, and when that happens I'm bound to be let down.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks- will cover your overateds in a future vid!

[@spencerburke]

Congratulations on the 10,000. Here's wishing you a speedy 20k. As others have said, the tech and production isn't an issue. Content is all. No need for a media show. Plato and Socrates made do with wax tablets and the like : ) Overrated writers? John Scalzi. I just dont get what people see in his books. Yes, he has a light, fluid pace. But his characters, dialogue, and language - puerile. Maybe I'm just grumpy. Or too post-adolescent...

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers. Scalzi will get a mention in the upcoming 'overrated' video....

[@StrayGator]

Daft question, but couldn't you buy 4gb of RAM?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I already have 2 external hard drives jacked in to help with storage and processing, but remember you are talking to someone who wouldn't know how to include another 4gb of RAM.

[@new_memeplex]

Congrats!!! Yes, I thought recently that YT channels are like the new fanzine. Overrated: William Gibson is flat for me outside the initial trilogy + Pattern Recognition. Not SF but Terry Pratchett is overrated!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks. Will cover your 'overateds' in a future vid.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Congrats on 10,000 subs Outlaw! Overrated ~ Anything by Philip K. Dick. It might be a me thing, but I just don't get PKD.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Raises eyebrow! Will address yr PKD issue in upcoming vid. Thanks for the congrats!

[@isoundinfo]

My overrated list includes: Blindsight, The Three Body Problem, Children of Time and Dhalgren come to mind. I know, sacrilege lol!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks, will reply in a vide next month, good choices!

[@joelstainer65]

Blindsight and Dhalgren are both on my list as well.

[@isoundinfo]

@@joelstainer65 That makes two of us lol!

[@sams5963]

I agree about Blindsight. I liked it but the vampire was silly. The Human race that can build a Starship to travel out far enough to make first Contact would not resurrect the predator species that feeds only on humans it makes no sense. They could have built an autonomous AI with the same Threat Level and achieve the same results.

[@PeculiarNotions]

Congratulations on 10,000+ subscribers. As far as good but overrated books, I'm going to say Dune.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thank you. Dune duly noted!

[@ralphmarrone3130]

My partial list of overrated books: Dune: I liked it but… Three Body Problem: Hated this. More Than Human: It was ok. Hyperion: Biggest disappointment. The Sparrow: One of the worst books I’ve read. A Case of Conscience: It didn’t work for me.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Will respond in video, thanks.

[@ralphmarrone3130]

@@outlawbookselleroriginalI want to add one more: The Book of the New Sun. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two volumes but really struggled the the last two. I prefer Wolfe’s Soldier books.

[@exit_libris]

I, Robot is completely overrated. I understand it is historically important but it is nearly unreadable as a contemporary adult. The writing is horrible and the ideas are depressingly simple. One of my least favorite books I read last year.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Will reply in the video I make, thanks.

[@exit_libris]

⁠@@outlawbookselleroriginal and congrats on hitting the milestone! 🎉

[@expressoric]

"Dune" is definitely overrated. I think it's a great pudding of a novel with very little nutrition. It's tedious and wearisome. I never did get it. An even longer novel, "Dhalgren", is also overrated. Roger Zelazny's novels "This Immortal", "The Dream Master" and "Lord of Light", have have been praised for their literariness and won awards, but I think they're overhyped.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Will respond in february's 'overated' video!

[@ballardian-n7l]

Congratulations :) Overrated? Iain M Banks, unreadable space opera, which, rightly or wrongly, I don't even consider it SF.

[@user-mc9sg9fw3w]

Congratulations!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers!