You've got fantasy on my science fiction

[pbray]

A number of discussions in LJ and other blogsplots on defining the genres. I'm more of a seat of the pants person-- "I know it when I see it," but aireon shared a definition that I really like.

A science fiction universe is one in which the universe is finite, that is, it is assumed that all things can, in the end, eventually, even if not within the time frame of the story, be understood (measured, quantified, etc).

A fantasy universe is one in which the universe is infinite; there will always be things that can't be understood.

Comments

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

I once went to a talk by Robert Sawyer, and it was on how to get anyone to read sci fi or fantasy.

He explained that sci fi were stories, that given a probable change in the given universe, could be true. The change could be in technology; religion; economy: historical events, etc.

Fantasy are settings in completely made-up universes that can never be true.

This might not be 100% perfect, but I have found it has served me well, as both a librarian and bookseller.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting. Glad you found a definition that works for you.

Personally I'm not sure I agree with the statement "Fantasy are settings in completely made-up universes that can never be true." That sounds oversimplistic to me, reminding me of the people who tell me that writing fantasy must be easy since I never have to do any research because I just "make it all up."

[janni.livejournal.com]

So Star Trek and Star Wars aren't science fiction? (This can be argued, actually.)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

My formal scientific training stopped with freshman physics in college, but I think many scientists would agree that stories built around instanteous communication across galactic distances, and FTL ships that allow characters to skip from one end of their universe to another as easily as ships traverse our oceans, have more in common with fantasy than with science.

And that's even setting aside the pesky questions of "The Force" as magic or why Vulcan mind-powers are any more scientifically plausible than a so-called urban fantasy revolving around a psychic human heroine....

That's why the definition based on open versus closed universes appealed to me on a visceral level. I think this is one of those underlying beliefs that inform an author's works, even if she doesn't consciously recognize it while she's writing.

Speaking of which, enough LJ procrastination. Back to the story!

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

ST and SW are sci fi - they could be true, given a sudden advance in technology.

Eh, as pbray pointed out my definition is very simplistic, but it was given to a group of people who recommend what to read, and not write it!