Random thoughts

[Sheilawisz]

The debate between what makes Fantasy and Science Fiction different to each other has been explored in various ways, and in the end we always come to the conclusion that these literary genres are very similar in some things and very different in others. I celebrate both, and I hope that the world will always love and celebrate them as well.

Some time ago, I read what somebody famous said about it. I do not recall exactly who it was or what were the exact words, but it was something like this: Science Fiction is about things that could happen for real, but maybe we would not want them to happen, while Fantasy is about things that cannot happen but we would like them to be real.

I think that's a good definition, even though the matter can be much deeper than just that.

These days, I have been thinking a lot about all of this because my next story Freya 7 could be a Science Fiction work. At least, that's what I am going to try even though it could turn out to be a Fantasy story after all... It's a story that I look forward to, because it has loads of potential and it's going to be something new for me.

My other idea for a Science Fiction story Seven Heaven is one that I like very much, but I am afraid that my scientific knowledge does not reach far enough to complete a work in that scale.

 

[Ireth]

Some time ago, I read what somebody famous said about it. I do not recall exactly who it was or what were the exact words, but it was something like this: Science Fiction is about things that could happen for real, but maybe we would not want them to happen, while Fantasy is about things that cannot happen but we would like them to be real.

Clearly that person doesn't read dystopian fantasy. XD I don't know if anyone would actually want to live in a world like Panem or wherever the Maze Runner takes place. Or, heck, anyplace grimdark like Westeros.

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Clearly that person doesn't read dystopian fantasy. XD I don't know if anyone would actually want to live in a world like Panem or wherever the Maze Runner takes place. Or, heck, anyplace grimdark like Westeros.

Several of my books are dystopian fantasy, or else the fantastical stuff just really sucks. So...yeah. I don't think I would want to live in any of my worlds above this one.

 

[Russ]

Clearly that person doesn't read dystopian fantasy. XD I don't know if anyone would actually want to live in a world like Panem or wherever the Maze Runner takes place. Or, heck, anyplace grimdark like Westeros.

Arthur C Clarke, many years ago. I don't think he read much fantasy at all. Nor do I think he meant it to be a definitive academic definition.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

I don't like dystopian/cautionary stories. Too many of them come true. I'll stick to fantasy, thank you.

 

[Garren Jacobsen]

I don't think what you mean is "small" extrapolation, I think you mean large or long extrapolation or even extreme extrapolation.

While it may seem a challenge in the abstract, practically speaking I cannot recall reading a book that I had a problem with classifying it as sci fi or not, at the time it was published.

So you're saying by that these genres are like porn and we'll know it when we see it?

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

I don't like dystopian/cautionary stories. Too many of them come true. I'll stick to fantasy, thank you.

Mine isn't a cautionary story...Often people see dystopian as "a future where things have gone bad" when really it's just the inverse of a utopia, the opposite of a perfect/ideal world. A world where society is as BAD as possible. Or, at least, really really really bad. Lord of the Flies is considered a dystopia, but I don't recall that it's futuristic. It explores the worst tendencies of human nature. That's what makes it a dystopia.

Of course, dystopia has a more slippery definition in common usage. It's often seen as a subdivision of sci-fi, which isn't right always. Most people think of it as "future world where the government is oppressive." But a world can be a dystopia regardless of government.

It's...well, a word with a lot of different definitions. But a dystopia isn't necessarily a cautionary tale/futuristic/etc.

In one of mine, the world appears utopian on the surface, but just below the surface it's horrible and dysfunctional. Then, when the characters overthrow the horrible, dysfunctional fake utopia, they discover that what it was protecting them from was arguably worse. It's both dystopian and fantasy.

 

[Russ]

So you're saying by that these genres are like porn and we'll know it when we see it?

Very close.

What I am saying is that while the definition may have some potential imperfections in theory, or in extreme hypotheticals, in practise it is really, really effective.

 

[Russ]

But a dystopia isn't necessarily a cautionary tale/futuristic/etc.

Isn't dystopian fiction a "cautionary tale" virtually by definition? The story you describe is surely a cautionary tale, perhaps two levels deep but a cautionary tale nonetheless.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

Clannad [the anime, not the band] can make starfish, teddy bears, a certain cat, snow, and dumplings seem like the saddest things ever.

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Isn't dystopian fiction a "cautionary tale" virtually by definition? The story you describe is surely a cautionary tale, perhaps two levels deep but a cautionary tale nonetheless.

What do you define as a cautionary tale, then? One that demonstrates an example of a society it wouldn't be nice to live in?

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Clannad [the anime, not the band] can make starfish, teddy bears, a certain cat, snow, and dumplings seem like the saddest things ever.

I'm curious. XD

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

^I suggest setting aside a day or two where nothing too much is going on, and watching all of Clannad Season 1 and 2 on Youtube [in English if you prefer, or in Japanese; I always watch anime in Japanese].

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

^I suggest setting aside a day or two where nothing too much is going on, and watching all of Clannad Season 1 and 2 on Youtube [in English if you prefer, or in Japanese; I always watch anime in Japanese].

I've always wanted to get into anime because many of them seem so weird and cool, but I have really no time for television

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

^Oh well. If you don't mind spoiling the entire series, here's the condensed version of Clannad in this video set to music from the anime.

Spoilers for all plot twists in this video [for anyone else looking at this post]:

 

[Tom]

I always thought Clannad sounded more like an epic set in the Scottish Highlands than an anime...

Anyway, tonight I'm writing my very first paper of the new semester. It's going...interestingly. I'm sick and overtired and it's Monday night. Always a good combination.

 

[Ireth]

I always thought Clannad sounded more like an epic set in the Scottish Highlands than an anime..

It does, doesn't it? XD The word means "family", which I think is what the anime is all about, so in that way it makes sense. (Though why they chose a Gaelic word instead of a Japanese one is beyond me.)

 

[Garren Jacobsen]

[video=youtube_share;zSCOYAJd2PE]https://youtu.be/zSCOYAJd2PE[/video]

Found my theme song for the past 3 months.

 

[Russ]

What do you define as a cautionary tale, then? One that demonstrates an example of a society it wouldn't be nice to live in?

Yup. Something that says...hey be careful, if you are not cautious we could end up in something like this.

Your story seems to have two levels of cautionary messages.

1) Hey this is repressive, we should strive not to live like this.

2) Make sure whatever is underneath the crappy system you are about to remove is not worse. The law of unintended consequences should be respected.

 

[La Volpe]

<snip>

Found my theme song for the past 3 months.

This is a hell of a catchy song.