Critical Thinking

I don't remember my first exposure to science fiction. I think that between the times (70s) and my family bent (my dad's family gravitated toward SF while my mom was mostly about fantasy), it was probably always around. We stood outside for an hour and a half in blistering heat in 1977 because my uncle told us we had to see this new movie. My mom and my grandad traded Mary Stewart and Tolkien back and forth. But I think I do remember my first exposure outside of presence of my family.

It was in one of those grade school reading books. Most of the stories are a complete blur, but this one stood out. It was Ray Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day". (Go ahead. I kept the rest of the article short so you can read it.)

I was and am a strange thinker. I didn't like "The Cat in the Hat" as a kid because Thing 1 and Thing 2 made a mess and mom's going to be mad and why won't anyone listen to the fish?! In the same way, "All Summer" really got to me. The feeling of claustrophobia, the misunderstanding and cruelty of the other kids...I'm not sure what particular childhood event caused me to relate so deeply with Margot, and I wouldn't go on to understand symbolism and metaphor until high school, but years later, I still remember.

What was your first exposure? What childhood experience sticks out to you?

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Kersley Fitzgerald wishes all who are going a happy Dragon*Con!