Fantasy vs SF; Joy of Cooking

• sartorias on kids preferring fantasy to sf (specifically the YA versions).

Her theory sounds pretty reasonable to me (though there’s a difference between science fiction that focuses on the science and sf that focuses on the story, and I definitely prefer the latter), and also explains why I like fantasy better (though I always liked sf too): science was fascinating, sure, but it was also mundane and normal, the sort of thing that people did for a career – a large proportion of the adults I knew as I kid worked in the space industry, so the idea of people going up in spaceships was not very far-fetched. Magic, on the other hand, was completely exotic.

• The NYTimes reviews the 75th-anniversary edition of the Joy of Cooking, which came out last week (article dated Nov. 1 and hopefully still available):

The bad news is that this new version forces a decision. Which “Joy” do we want? Do we keep our mother’s vintage copy from the ’60s? The reliable and popular version from 1975? The smart, chef-driven 1997 book? Or do we clean house, get with the times and buy the new book, which has much more reference material along with a cloying coat of nostalgia?

[…]

All that being said, the new version is the most complete and current “Joy” you can buy. If I didn’t have my trusty 1975 version, I would shell out $30. But for the number of times I actually dip into “Joy,” the ’75 will suffice. After all, a meringue is a meringue and cuts of beef don’t really change.

Still, cooking is a highly personal thing, and the book that fits best depends on your demographic, your kitchen skill and your existing cookbook collection. Those who want a book that reminds them of their mothers and includes the pecan-laden angel slices they remember from childhood might prefer a vintage edition from the 1950s, or the 1963 revision.

My brother, the best cook in the family and someone who prefers not to mix sentimentality with information, is the kind of cook who would appreciate the smarter tone, multicultural depth and thorough exploration of technique in the 1997 book.

My household is a three-Joy household: My parents gave me the 1997 version (which I use for all my basic recipes) and a two-volume paperback from 1964, which I should investigate more thoroughly. My boyfriend has the 1975 version, which has a better pancake recipe than the 1997. I have annotated my 1997 pancake recipe with the 1975 ingredients.

I was amused that the writer mentioned the tuna casserole recipes in each edition, since I made the 1997 version last weekend. It calls for making a butter/flour/milk/cheese sauce, while the 1975 and 2006 versions use cream of mushroom soup. I’ll stick with my 1997 book, thanks.