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I'm starting all kinds of new topics lately, but I'm really enjoying reading everyone's responses, so here's another line of thoughts...
One of my favorite things to do when I write it to combine Science Fiction and Fantasy. That's what I first started writing back when I was 11 and that's still pretty much what I write. I recently ran accross some sources that suggested this was a no no. Ouch.
Then I began to think about it. This is something that has been done, from time to time. C.S. Friedman is an author I read recently who did this, Piers Anthony did it, Tad Williams does it...others?
So, what do you think? Combining sci/fi and fantasy...a new direction for literature or a bid mistake? And even if you like it, is it publishable?
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What used to magic turned out to be unexplained science…
I personally think it’s a go, and personally I would probably like reading it. I’m fond of other works that walk a close line between fantasy and science fiction.
The sticking point is would a publisher go for something that is too difficult to categorize from an unknown author? I’m no expert, but marketing folk seem to like clear labels. On the other hand, that bit of different might really make someone take notice. I don’t really have any good experience to say.
I think an important thing to keep in mind though is that this mix is what interests you and is the way you think. That’s something that will be important to your enjoyment of the writing process in the long run.
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Although this is light reading, the Shadowrun series does this. It's deemed 'cyberpunk' but it combines fantasy and sci-fi elements by using fairytale characters using guns and magic both along with 'normal' humans and technology.
Anne McCaffrey combines both later on in her Dragon Riders of pern series by introducing the origins of the people and some of the creatures on the planet.
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Dagummit, Christine, now you've gone and made me dig up one of my favorite old ideas again.
I think there's a great potential for science vs magic stories. In the back of my mind, I think they could even be used to teach kids (and adults) lessons in science and math. Now I'm gonna be thinking about it all night!
There is a "marketing category" for the kind of story you're talking about, Christine. It's called "science fantasy."
OSC has said that he doesn't write science fiction, he writes fantasy with science as the magic, and I've seen lots of other science fiction writers who do the same thing (whether they will admit it or not).
Clarke's Law (as in Arthur C. Clarke) goes something like this: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
So go for it.
(Hmm. Maybe I'll start a topic for discussing the various "laws" that are attributed to famous SF (and other) writers.)
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This is great! I am co-authoring a book with a cousin and it fits perfectly into this category. Yesterday, we were discussing the official genre and couldn't make up our mind. At first it was a debate of whether or not it was Sci-fi, or if it was fantasy. It contains scientific and fantastic elements. I recall he mentioned it was "fantasy fiction" I didn't like that particlular description because we can assume that fantasy IS fiction. So i changed it to "Speculative Fantasy" and then a moment later ammeded it to "Science Fantasy"
So when I read the above post I had a good laugh.
[This message has been edited by Alias (edited June 23, 2003).]
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The next story I start will probably be something like this. Its actually a science fiction story really, but it is set in (and told from the perspective of) an iron age society undergoing a particularly severe religious change (from a primitive nature-worshipping religion to a modern monotheistic one). The POV character will start out with no knowledge of science, so will view certain events as magic, but will gradually come to understand how what he is seeing is actually merely the ordinary forces of nature harnessed by men.
Posts: 626 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
I'm no expert, Jules, but I think your story would qualify as science fiction entirely. The reader might find it has the feel of fantasy at first due to your POV character, but whill quickly realize what you are trying to show, which is something like Assimov's famous saying about any sufficiiently advanced science is magic. (A good idea, in any case.)
When I think of science fantasy I think of a true combination of the two. (true science and true magic ) For example, hidden in a science fiction universe I have created for my story is one clearly magical/theological element.
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