Exploring the Author–Reader Relationship in Contemporary Speculative Fiction: The influence of author persona on readers in the era of the online ‘author platform’

Abstract

In the contemporary book-publishing industry, technological change has resulted in changes to the role of the author in book promotion, facilitating a shift in the author–reader relationship. Such developments are especially evident in genres with active online communities, such as the speculative fiction genres. This paper examines the results of an anonymous online survey of 396 speculative fiction readers and authors, composed of a total of 45 questions including both multiple choice and open-ended, long-answer questions. In a time of general uncertainty in the publishing industry, the results provide insight into the field, the author–reader interactions within it, and the influence of various aspects of author persona on readers’ reading and purchasing behaviour. The paper also explores conflict in the contemporary speculative fiction field, utilizing Pierre Bourdieu’s theories regarding hierarchized fields of cultural production and the struggles for various forms of capital inherent to them. Drawing on the results of this survey, this paper argues that, in the current publishing environment, factors such as an author’s persona, online behaviour, political or social views, and role in prominent genre controversies can have significant impacts on readers’ reception of their work, both explicitly and implicitly.