Bars Quote by Anonymous
“Science fiction is a dialogue, a tennis match, in which the Idea is volleyed from one side of the net to the other. Ridiculous to say that someone 'stole' an idea: no, no, a thousand times no. The point is the volley, and how it's carried, and what statement is made by the answering 'statement.' In other words — if Burroughs initiates a time-gate and says it works randomly, and then Norton has time gates confounded with the Perilous Seat, the Siege Perilous of the Round Table, and locates it in a bar on a rainy night — do you see both the humor and the volley in the tennis match?”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Discussion on science fiction dialogue, author unknown
The quote likens creative exchange in sci‑fi to a tennis rally, emphasizing idea volley over ownership and highlighting humor in reinterpretation.
In simple terms: Ideas in sci‑fi are shared and reshaped like a tennis rally.
Key Takeaway
Focus on the collaborative exchange of concepts.
Themes
creativity
collaboration
humor
Mood
playful
reflective
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- collaborative projects
- genre analysis
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
intertextuality
genre dialogue
Questions to Reflect On
- How does collaboration change the original idea?
- What role does humor play in creative reinterpretation?
A Different Perspective
May overlook individual contribution and intellectual property concerns.
![“[Science fiction is] the attempt to deal rationally with alternate possibilities in a manner which will be entertaining.” quote by Lester del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aad/lester-del-rey-102848_deals_science-fiction-is-the-attempt-to-deal-r_1099534.jpg)
