I find it difficult to define the line between science fiction and fantasy. I mean, sometimes it's easy to say a story is one or the other, but if the mysterious, big-eyed humanoid creatures messing with people are fairies, it's fantasy, and if they're aliens, it's science fiction. There's a David Brin story where they're both, or possibly neither. Is it sci-fi or fantasy?
It's the progenitor of
Lost.
Seriously, I agree. I don't think I've heard the term "speculative fiction" before. At least, it hasn't stuck with me.
Andromeda on the other hand, that's a different kettle of fish.
"The Unconquerable Man" was great TV.
I don't think I've heard the term "speculative fiction" before. At least, it hasn't stuck with me.
The first paragraph at Wikipedia describes how I've usually seen it used, though I know there is some history of people taking, and causing, offense with "SF" versus "sci-fi," and whatever else people find to fight about. I just find it a more useful term than sci-fi.
Yes, it seems to be more useful, because an awful lot of people mean Sci-Fi + Fantasy, when they just say "Sci-fi". I don't like to refer to it as
genre,
because there are all sorts of genres, and it confuses me.
Is the taking and causing offense due to the bat-shit crazy fandom genre?
But, you know, romance readers and writers are as batshit as the best of 'em. The batshit is found in all walks of life. (And can be cleaned off with the Hose of Reality.)
I don't like to refer to it as genre, because there are all sorts of genres, and it confuses me.
Me, too, Cindy.
I do like the term "speculative fiction." That seems to encompass what I think of when I think "sci-fi." Which, of course, is more than just sci-fi in my own little brain.
While I'm not opposed to the term "speculative fiction," I don't see how it's any narrower than "genre," really. All fiction is speculative, that's why it's fiction.
It's the same reason DH despises the term "character actor"--all parts are characters and actors are portraying them.
You need some term for "person who isn't usually the hero" -- people like Denholm Elliott or Helen Broderick that you're always pleased to see but who are never the star.
That's what I tell him, Betsy--but he just says that it's just a way of saying "ugly actor."
