Megan McArdle is telling men how to get their wives into watching science fiction. I was struck by this:

You just have to explain it right.

If by “explain it right,” you mean “tell them they get to watch Nathan Fillion.” Include fantasy in there, and “explain it right” means “tell them they get to watch Nathan Fillion, Tom Welling and David Boreanaz.” Include Tony Head if they get all swoony over seasoned British men. David Duchovny. Michael Vartan. Matthew Fox. That guy that plays Sawyer. Oh, and mention the guns and crossbows. And the fact that sci-fi (I refuse to call it SF, so deal with it) has much smarter and wittier banter than your average drama and chick flicks/shows/books.

Megan continues…

Those of you who pitch science fiction to wives and girlfriends who do not enjoy it are probably saying something along the following lines: “Space ships! Alien monsters! Men in tights!”

I’m hooked. Set up a series recording!

Instead, for women who find that sort of thing distasteful, talk about it as a fairy tale–only a fairy tale with science instead of magic. The basic emotional space it taps is the same.

Actually, some of it has magic. But the point is that if your woman needs it to be framed as a fairy tale, she may be a little shallow and a little dull-witted for sci-fi and fantasy. I’m not saying she is for sure, but it takes someone with an IQ over 90 to appreciate the dialog of Firefly, Buffy, and Angel. Maybe not so much LOST, because on that show, it’s not the dialog that makes your head spin — it’s the “what the heck is a ship’s wheel doing controlling the location of a whole island?” thing.

You might also try to ease her into something with a little more human emotion and a little less space opera–I’m very fond of George R. R. Martin’s current gigantic series. As far as television goes, start with Firefly, then maybe BSG, and then slowly work your way up to Dr. Who.

Yes, I have been wanting to work my way up to Dr. Who, but a certain husband of mine is intimidated by its being in season 470. Re: Firefly: Make sure and tell them it’s based on a true story. That’s what we have to tell my father-in-law, who doesn’t like sci-fi (due to the “fi” part). After “Shindig,” you can tell your ladies that oh, by the way, it’s a space western. A freaking awesome one.

Do not, under any circumstances, unveil Sliders until you’re sure she can handle it. Same with movies: Gattica before Blade Runner. Graphic novels: Sandman, not V for Vendetta. You get the idea.

What Megan meant to say is, “Do not ever ever ever subject her to V for Vendetta. EVER.” I know I didn’t read the graphic novel, but if the movie is any indication, I wouldn’t make it through without soiling every other page with my voluminous vomit. See what I did? I said two words that start with a v, right in sequence! I must be a genius! It’s borderline criminal the way that movie ended. It was You’ve Got Mail (which I hated so so very much), except with bombs and stupid rhyming guys in gay little masks. “What? It was you? You tortured me all this time? Why, that just makes me love you even more. I heart torture! What can I do for you? Cup of tea? Scone? Help you blow yourself and some government property up? No problem, Schmoopy!” Blerg.

Anyway, get her into sci-fi and fantasy TV and movies long before you ease her into books and graphic novels. Except Harry Potter. Chicks tend to dig the Harry Potter books, so those are safe from the beginning. Unless she’s a snob.

I assume this also goes for women paired with SF hating men. But I feel like that’s a rather rarer combination.

Agh! The horror. I know “sci-fi lover” wasn’t exactly on my list of things I just *had* to have in a man, but if I’d really sat down and thought about it, it probably would have ranked as high as #3 on the list of What the Perfect Man is Made Of(TM) (forgive my preposition-endiness). Religious, hilarious, conservative, loyal and faithful, sci-fi lover… Ok, #5. It’d be #5.