http://www.bookotron.com/agony/audio/2009/2009-interviews/margaret_atwood-2009.mp3

As Rick says “Atwood proved to be immensely charming and, what’s more something of a scholar of science fiction. She wrote a paper on turn-of-the-last-century SF, and was tossing about ‘The Purple Cloud’ and even more obscure titles as we talked. I did ask her directly about science fiction, speculative fiction, space squids and talking cabbages. The bottom line is that Atwood is something of a science fiction fan and actually, kind of an SF geek, in that she knows all sorts of things about the genre that most folks can’t spout off at the tip of a hat. The dry sense of humor you’ll find in her books (you need the right sensibility to do so) is ever more apparent when she speaks. I had an absolute blast talking to her; and I think when you give the interview a listen, it should once and for all crush the idea that she’s a literary elitist who sees herself above the genre. It’s actually rather the opposite, because she clearly respects the knowledge of science required to write what is generally termed as “hard science fiction.” To have your head turned round with regard to the delightful Margaret Atwood,”

I agree with nearly all your other responses, (and I certainly don’t want a comprehensive fiction section either, oi!) but I think you forget: what about mainstream SF books? The assumption that there’s a difference between “mainstream” and science fiction is what’s creating this issue in the first place. We have to acknowledge that a lot of the authors proposed to be moved are, in fact, “mainstream,” at least in that they’re widely read by people who don’t otherwise follow the SF genre. “Time Traveler’s Wife” is a good recent example of that. How do you propose we deal with works that dip into both sides of the pool?

And I have to say, there’s a bit of hypocrisy in your saying you “like being able to find the one” you want, when you intend to move books to places others might not think to look.

Booksellers will be shouted at by morons during an already horrible, anxious time so that you can have a temporary buzz at your own cleverness. Well done.

You’re no better than the wags who stick the Bible in fiction (ho ho ho) or put erotica in the children’s section or hide books by Richard Dawkins. If you have problems with genre classifications, attack the publisher’s work, not the bookseller’s. It isn’t booksellers who get to decide these things, aside from the rare few, dying independent shops, which are quiet enough to catch you doing this, fix it promptly and possibly even ask you to leave.

Your protest is the equivalent of kicking the crossing guard in the leg because you find a new road layout inconvenient. It’s childish and ineffective and it hurts those who deserve it least, most.