DelActivisto
WARG!
This conversation cropped up in the writing forum, but I thought I'd bring it over here because F&SF readers will be well versed in this as well.
Essentially, do the two genres need to be so distinct? If they do need to be so, it starts to feel a bit like dogma. But of course, there are things people like and things people don't like. People like fantasy. People don't like Tru - never mind. My opinion is that people need something new, and constantly reading about the medieval magic world can get old sometimes. For me, I flop between fantasy and science fiction constantly.
Fantasy tends to be an exploration of medieval times. But sometimes a futuristic twist is included. Also, Star Wars is often sent to the fantasy genre because of the storyline - not because of the futuristic trappings, which would make it science fiction.
And when we think of science fiction, we think of Star Trek, which is often more cerebral than Star Wars. But each brings it's own human quagmire to the Parabolic Table.
In other words, do you feel like they need to remain distinct? If so, why? I have a story, myself, and I'm trying to figure out what balance of technology and fantasy is right. So your responses might help shape a book! More likely I'll ignore everyone and do what I was going to do anyways.
The magic in my story is explained by science and technology. That said, there's plenty of fantasy elements, and it will almost certainly get classified as fantasy. The main story follows of medieval friends around as they learn to use magic and battle an evil warlord who's back from the dead (not actually undead; I can't stand the zombie cliche). But the technology is advancing rapidly, and the era in the book is swiftly leaving the medieval era behind and entering the industrial/enlightenment era. Further, there are scenes that are very technological and deal with the issue of high far is too far, with respect to science and technology.
Essentially, do the two genres need to be so distinct? If they do need to be so, it starts to feel a bit like dogma. But of course, there are things people like and things people don't like. People like fantasy. People don't like Tru - never mind. My opinion is that people need something new, and constantly reading about the medieval magic world can get old sometimes. For me, I flop between fantasy and science fiction constantly.
Fantasy tends to be an exploration of medieval times. But sometimes a futuristic twist is included. Also, Star Wars is often sent to the fantasy genre because of the storyline - not because of the futuristic trappings, which would make it science fiction.
And when we think of science fiction, we think of Star Trek, which is often more cerebral than Star Wars. But each brings it's own human quagmire to the Parabolic Table.
In other words, do you feel like they need to remain distinct? If so, why? I have a story, myself, and I'm trying to figure out what balance of technology and fantasy is right. So your responses might help shape a book! More likely I'll ignore everyone and do what I was going to do anyways.
The magic in my story is explained by science and technology. That said, there's plenty of fantasy elements, and it will almost certainly get classified as fantasy. The main story follows of medieval friends around as they learn to use magic and battle an evil warlord who's back from the dead (not actually undead; I can't stand the zombie cliche). But the technology is advancing rapidly, and the era in the book is swiftly leaving the medieval era behind and entering the industrial/enlightenment era. Further, there are scenes that are very technological and deal with the issue of high far is too far, with respect to science and technology.
