It is surprising, however, that specialists in children's literature have been hesitant in acknowledging her importance, for Norton does have impressive credentials as an author of children's fiction. Having written many "juvenile" science fiction and fantasy novels, she enjoys a wide following among young readers, and along with Robert Heinlein she played a major role during the 1950s in establishing science fiction as a viable category of mainstream children's literature. Yet, in spite of these credentials Norton has never been the recipient of any of the awards that single out for special praise writers of children's books.
There are two explanations why specialists in children's literature hesitate to endorse the praise Norton has received elsewhere. One is the uneasiness some specialists feel in the presence of science fiction or space fantasy. Apparently they still think of the latter as escapist reading in the manner of the Tom Swift books, consisting of quick-moving, incident-packed, poorly written stories which contain pasteboard, stereotypic characters and featuring implausible futuristic technology and gadgetry. Frankly, there is little chance of Norton's ever being universally acclaimed an important author of children's fiction as long as there are those who cling to a bias against science fiction and refuse to consider it a valid subgenre of children's literature.
This is a free page. This page contains 196 words. This
biography contains 5,977 words (approx. 20 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Biography with our Andre Norton Access Pass.
