And "speculative" is a projection of reality. Stock speculation, real estate speculation are extensions of what might be not what could never be.
Fantastical fiction are stories that, given our pretty good understanding of reality, are impossible. Magic, FTL, time travel, all fantastic representations of what can never be.
Speculative fiction, contrary to what most call it, must be rooted in reality. We "speculate" about what the future may bring.
I like the impossible/improbable distinction. That's a good way to put it. How would you classify Kafka's "The Metamorphosis"?
Your comment just made me realize something. On the one hand, SF that seemed impossible sometimes comes true. But on the other hand, serious SF predictions of the future often don't come true. I'm thinking of all the space stories I read that thought fax would still be a thing. Yet few thought of personal computing devices that include hi-rez video cameras, GPS, and more. Dick Tracy's wrist communicator came true in spades.
Good point about "speculation". I wonder if that's why I never took to the term.
I admire your endeavor regarding defining scifi. Is there a sciency theme underlying the storyline? Are main characters using physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, geology, astrophysics, etc. to further the plot? If there's romance, horror, war, intrigue, adventure -- great. All science fiction should blend those genres in some proportion. That's civilization. And where would we be without science?
Maybe it's a choice of problem type? If the protagonist is not using science-stuff to get out of trouble--maybe it's not scifi.
An excellent essay. I agree with a lot of your points- the idea of SF as a mode seems to better incapsulate what it is capable of, and respectfully categorizes the subgenres based on content.
Impossible vs improbable.
And "speculative" is a projection of reality. Stock speculation, real estate speculation are extensions of what might be not what could never be.
Fantastical fiction are stories that, given our pretty good understanding of reality, are impossible. Magic, FTL, time travel, all fantastic representations of what can never be.
Speculative fiction, contrary to what most call it, must be rooted in reality. We "speculate" about what the future may bring.
I do like your "mode" concept, though.
I like the impossible/improbable distinction. That's a good way to put it. How would you classify Kafka's "The Metamorphosis"?
Your comment just made me realize something. On the one hand, SF that seemed impossible sometimes comes true. But on the other hand, serious SF predictions of the future often don't come true. I'm thinking of all the space stories I read that thought fax would still be a thing. Yet few thought of personal computing devices that include hi-rez video cameras, GPS, and more. Dick Tracy's wrist communicator came true in spades.
Good point about "speculation". I wonder if that's why I never took to the term.
For my first novel I wrote a speculative fiction, reality projected into the future. What I portrayed *could* happen.
#2 was pure fantasy, Greek gods, monsters and titans brought into the 21 century. High adventure, no science whatsoever.
Sounds like a science fiction novel followed by a fantasy novel. I know a number of authors who’ve done work in both.
I admire your endeavor regarding defining scifi. Is there a sciency theme underlying the storyline? Are main characters using physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, geology, astrophysics, etc. to further the plot? If there's romance, horror, war, intrigue, adventure -- great. All science fiction should blend those genres in some proportion. That's civilization. And where would we be without science?
Maybe it's a choice of problem type? If the protagonist is not using science-stuff to get out of trouble--maybe it's not scifi.
Per my definition, science + imagination, it would be questionable. But the science has to be, at the least, improbable, if not plain impossible.
An excellent essay. I agree with a lot of your points- the idea of SF as a mode seems to better incapsulate what it is capable of, and respectfully categorizes the subgenres based on content.
p.s. And thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Yeah, Sam Spade… or Sam Spade on Mars!
(I mentioned Robert J. Sawyer. His book Red Planet Blues is almost exactly that, Sam Spade on Mars.)