Well, generally it’s more like critics pointing out that the niche cyberpunk used to fill is now empty and that something will inevitably come to fill it. Critics definitely don’t have the power to actually create a genre like that, those come from grassroot sources, but a good critic would be able to realize that there’s a literary void that is waiting to be filled.

The idea that a random person on a message board could inspire someone to write software because someone said they needed a tool is the daftest, most out-of-touch thing I've ever read.

Oh wait, that has happened multiple times.

Granted, a genre is bigger than a tool. But this free-floating hatred for commentators of all stripes literally blinds people to reality.

And it isn't some Critic-On-High making pronouncements and waiting for followers to act. It is observational.

> The idea that a random person on a message board could inspire someone to write software because someone said they needed a tool is the daftest, most out-of-touch thing I've ever read.

A tool already describes a solution to a problem in mind, it's clear cut. If the analogous problem here is "I want new genre fiction", then a) that doesn't describe what's desired, and b) that already exists (qua all the "punk" suffixed derivatives among other things), it's just not as popular, and therefore we can surmise the wrong question is being asked.

Stephenson once had a talk where he suggested that sci-fi writers should effectively return to optimistic stories, but he hasn't done that himself. He could literally solve the problem he described. We want what we want, and write what we want to write.

I've been re-reading "The Hobbit" recently, and this passage struck me as relevant to your comment. From Chapter 3, "A Short Rest":

"Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway."

During the stay in Rivendell, nothing much interesting happens - so Tolkien doesn't bother with telling us about it. The exciting, interesting stuff is when our heroes are in peril or experiencing great trials and tribulations.

Or, you know, times change, new problems arise, thus needing new solutions...

It happens in music all of the time.