![]() Alternate History – Most alternate history novels are based loosely on actual events by trying to imagine what the world would look like if the outcome had been different, such as if Germany had won World War II.There are many categories within the umbrella term speculative fiction.Ī partial list defined by the book-reviewing platform Goodreads includes: What Are the Types of Speculative Fiction? "(M)ore and more literary writers embrace elements of speculative fiction in their work," he said. Witcover also said that the genres of fiction and speculative fiction are not entirely dissimilar, and this emphasis on realistic fiction seems to be fading over time. "I think that is bad for literature because it tends to push everything other than (realistic) fiction into a lesser category," said Witcover, who is also an editorial board member for The Penmen Review, SNHU's online creative writing journal. This has led to some sentiment that realistic work is artistically superior. In realistic fiction, however, realism takes a more pronounced and important role. In contrast, general fiction tends to be character-driven, exploring human problems and the internal lives of characters in a realistic world.Īccording to Witcover, in speculative fiction realism is simply one craft element among many. "Speculative fiction lives in the space where real life and make-believe converge, allowing for interplanetary travel, time travel and the undead to come out and play."Īs Wood noted, works of speculative fiction tend to be action-driven, featuring large-scale plots complete with world-building. "General fiction is character-driven-these characters are often dealing with real life issues," said Lisa Wood, an instructor at SNHU who writes horror under the name L. In addition to its inclusion of the fantastical, speculative fiction can have different traits than general fiction due to differing narrative styles associated with the genres. Speculative fiction freely explores possibility and impossibility alike. General fiction or realistic fiction is typically bound to reality. "(Then, they) take those questions absolutely seriously and logically in extrapolating answers." What is the Difference Between Fiction and Speculative Fiction? "One of the things that ties these otherwise disparate subgenres together is that they directly or indirectly posit what-if questions that are to one degree or another counterfactual (time-travel, magic, ghosts)," Witcover said. Science fiction author and an associate dean of liberal arts at SNHU, Paul Witcover said the many subgenres of speculative fiction are linked by the questions they pose and attempt to answer in a genuine manner. Kennedy’s assassination in “11/22/63,” or the telekinetic powers of his titular character in “Carrie.” Tolkien created a new world, cultures and languages in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Stephen King writes novels (mostly) set on Earth but with fantastical elements, such as the time-traveling character Jake Epping, who tries to prevent John F. “Something that is recognizable to us in terms of society or a culture or a history but is created within their imagination.”Īuthors such as J.R.R. “It incorporates elements where the author is creating their own history (and) lore,” he said. ![]() What Does Speculative Fiction Mean?Īuthor Derrick Craigie, a senior associate dean who oversees the liberal arts program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), said that speculative fiction takes place in a world that is either not Earth or an Earth reimagined with significant differences in technology, history or natural law. That, in part, illustrates how the fantastical genre of speculative fiction and its subgenres like science fiction (sci-fi), fantasy and horror have become ingrained in popular culture.īut what exactly is speculative fiction? Let's explore the many elements that make up the speculative fiction genre. Tuition & Financial Aid Tuition & Financial AidĮven if you haven’t read and watched the books, TV shows or movies those phrases come from, you’ve likely heard most of them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |