A week or two ago it was announced that a group of authors and industry insiders were coming together to form the Science Fiction and Fantasy Ethics Group. It took shape after Eastercon and is headed up by novelist Andy Remic: a collaborative blog, with the goal of getting the genre away from the negativity and in-fighting that they feel has become common. Blogger Alastair Stuart interviewed Remic last week, and here they discuss the online group's goals and ambitions:

The SFF Ethics Group - Accentuating the Positive

It's difficult, sometimes, not to think we live in a culture of 'meh'. The default response so many have to so much is to either criticise it, declaim at great length what they'd do differently or decide that because they don't like something it's the worst story ever told and the people behind it should be murdered because the episode that played in someone's head isn't the episode that played on their TV.

This has to change and now a group of the best and brightest in English genre fiction have banded together as the Science Fiction And Fantasy Ethics Group to do just that. The site has had an incredibly fast turn around, from the initial idea at Eastercon this year to the official launch at the start of June. I talked to Andy Remic, the Editor of the SFFE to find out what they had planned.

Remic's view of what makes the SFFE stand out is simple: 'I think the SFFE is unique in that so many writers have joined the platform and will contribute to things like collaborative stories and viewpoint articles. Just think about that for a minute. A collaborative story by thirty five different authors, all adding their own unique strand of narrative… I'm not sure if it's been done before, but I think it's a cool approach. Experimental! Or maybe just mental. We'll be the Pink Floyd of the Blogosphere. Or something! Or maybe it won't work, but it's worth a shot.'

He's also very aware that they're flying in the accepted wisdom of internet criticism and has some thoughts as to why things online have turned so dour. 'It's probably down to the internet and the way it allows everybody to have a voice,' he says. 'I'm not saying that this is a bad thing – it's just changed the way the world works. Personally, I'd rather celebrate what's good. I'd rather build, than destroy. I'd rather create and be happy. Maybe I'm just a closet hippy wrapped up in the shell of a chainsaw-wielding maniac. I thought people involved in the genres were passionate and positive about their first love – if there's so much hate and negativity, why not become involved in something you do enjoy rather than slagging off something you don't? But then, everyone has the right to moan; we just won't be doing it on the SFFE.'

Remic's unashamedly enthusiastic about his field, in particular the welcome return of one particular genre. He continues: 'I was (and am) a big horror fan, and it was with dismay I watched the genre sink. I also love the influx of new authors onto the circuit, and I'm ecstatic about new publishing ventures such as Solaris and Angry Robot – both of which seek to bring original and fresh writing to mass-market audiences, and importantly, give new writers a chance. I still remember my pile of rejection slips. I still have them. They are there to remind me not to get an ego imp.'

The ego imp wouldn't stand a chance anyway, as Remic is not only open to new authors joining the site but has big plans about what they'll be working on as a group. 'Any author who wishes to be involved can blog separately if they wish, but the real exciting stuff will be collaborative works, either in new fiction, or in writer's guides for new authors, that sort of thing. I think a collaborative review would also be fun – maybe on blockbuster movies, that sort of thing, but keeping it all positive might be like trying to juggle spaghetti. Anyway joint stories are a cool idea… I know I have a few collaborations in the pipeline, and this is probably my personal obsession brought about by the early Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett Good Omens project, of which I was a big fan.'

Unsurprisingly given the Spectrum computer game he produced to tie in with his novel Biohell, Remic is open to different media ideas as well. 'One of my publishers, Angry Robot, is moving into print on demand,' he reveals. 'With regards podcasting, two of my earlier novels Spiral and War Machine are halfway through their podcasting publications, and can be found for free at www.podiobooks.com. This was a lot of fun for me, because I also collaborated with indie rock band th3 m1ss1ng who did all the intro, outro and background music. For a while there, I felt like a mini-Mike Moorcock doing his Hawkwind vibe! And talking of Mr Moorcock, I'm just waiting to hear from him now - I'd love him to be involved with this project, as I see him as such a positive Godfather figure in the industry.'

He continues: 'It would be fun to have a collaborative Spectrum game too, where you could play any of the authors involved on a quest to find the God of SF. Or something. Or maybe not. Hey, any indie-game developers out there who want to have a stab, get in touch!!'

For all this though, the site remains driven by one single ideal. 'A lack of negativity. It's that simple. Which is why I am trying to retain tight editorial control,' explains Remic. 'It's not ego, it's a love of the genres which makes me want to do something positive. Sharon Ring of Dark Fiction Review is the Deputy Editor, and she's also got full access to the site and suggestions from writers.'

This willingness to celebrate the good instead of glorying in the bad is what lies at the heart of the site and the ethos of the authors working there. It also, Remic believes, will make for happier readers and viewers: 'I think it's important to focus on what you like because it's probably better for your own health. I certainly hope this platform will promote goodness in SF, fantasy and horror – that is the aim, to celebrate the stuff which makes people enjoy. That's entertainment, right?'

The SFFE blog is live now and their roster includes some of phenomenal names all offering their work for free. So go over, take a look and prepare to accentuate the positive.

Thanks Andy for taking part, and to blogger Alastair Stuart for conducting the interview. Your thoughts on this venture are welcome as always, in the comment thread below.

Note that the SFFE group blog moved to Wordpress so this is the correct URL, not what shows up at the top of a Google search: http://sffethics.wordpress.com.