posted
Somewhere I read, I dont actually recall were, that Ben Bova was one of OSC favourite writers, and was his best friend. I wondered if you read any of his books? If you compare f.e. Ender's Game and f.e Mars you will see greatest possible difference between two novels within the same type- Sience Fiction. I wondered for a long time if Enders saga is actually a science fiction. Many friends told me it aint. I read some comments by famous writers- some thought that too. But, I thought to myself, what is Sci-fi? Is it supposed to predict future or focus on a non-realistic new-created world, like the star wars? Ben Bova's books look as if they were based on a true story- I would have no difficulties in believing in it as a "prophecy". I liked those books, but... Enders Game is very different. No device is scientifically explained. Neither ansibl nor artificial gravity and... nobody cares. It is even better.
What do you think? Which sci-fi is better, if any, which do you prefer? (little of you, I guess, is going to criticise OSC sci-fi )
Posts: 723 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Not all "science fiction" is "hard science fiction" (sci-fi with an emphasis on the science as much as (or more than) the characters.) That said, a lot that is popularly lumped in as "sci-fi" is actually fantasy. Star Wars, to me is mainly fantasy, though it borrows many of the trappings of sci-fi.
Enders Game to me is sci-fi, though not really "hard sci-fi".
Other Card works, like Songmaster for instance, would be fantasy, even though they deal with futuristic cities and space travel.
In reality, though, the lines can and do get blurrred.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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quote: Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology upon society and persons as individuals.
The definition I use includes this caveat: If you can take away the futuristic stuff and the story still works, it's not sci-fi.
We've had the discussion here about whether or not Star Wars is sci-fi. Sounds like a no brainer, but if you transplant the characters into the old west everything still works. The force introduces an element of fantasy, but none of technology demands the story be set in space.
OSC said that his story Tinker (from the Worthing stuff) was rejected by Analog because Bova thought it was fantasy. And looking at it as a stand alone story he was right. OSC didn't say in that story that the telepathy was caused by controlled evolution or whatever; it could just as easily have been magic that gave the Tinker his power.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
On the other hand, what difference does it make what category a book is in? It doesn't make the story better or worse. If you like the story, and you care about the characters, who cares what section of the bookstore you find it in. The categorizations are for bookstores and publishing houses.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
OK, but am I supposed to look for Card's books in fantasy section or science fiction? (please dont say they're usually together )
Posts: 723 | Registered: Dec 2004
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What bookstore have you been in that have a separate section for fantasy and s.f. I wanna go there!
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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There are differences between every writers writing. Even though on some it seems that all they do is change the name on the cover. I read both Card and Bova. Like the writing of both.
Posts: 2208 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I prefer Card's to Bova's, but not because of the subject matter so much. I just like Card's characters better. (Except Novinha. Argh!)
Posts: 1877 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:What bookstore have you been in that have a separate section for fantasy and s.f. I wanna go there!
My local Ottawa Chapters and the Indigo near me in Toronto divides the sections of "science fiction" and "fantasy". You can find OSC in both sections, depending on which book/series (i.e. Alvin Maker in fantasy, Ender in Science Fiction). I'm fairly sure all Indigos and Chapters do that.
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