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- Science fiction is a sub-genre of speculative fiction, which is an umbrella term for all works of fiction that defy the common laws of our reality such as fantasy, superhero stories, etc. Works of science fiction use scientific fact and theory as the basis for their plots, worldbuilding, etc., and this is what separates them from other genres.
bookriot.com › science-fiction-subgenre-primerThe Layer Cake of Science Fiction: A Sub-Genre Primer - BOOK RIOT
In this latter sense, speculative fiction includes fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but also their derivatives, hybrids, and cognate genres like the gothic, dystopia, weird fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, ghost stories, superhero tales, alternate history, steampunk, slipstream, magic realism, fractured fairy tales, and more.
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- A Brief History of Speculative Fiction
- How Does Speculative Fiction Differ from Other Genres?
- Common Misconceptions About Speculative Fiction
- Different Subgenres Under The Umbrella Term “Speculative Fiction”
- Challenges and Limitations For Speculative Fiction Authors
- How to Read Speculative Fiction
- Works of Speculative Fiction Worth Reading Or Watching
- What’s Next For Speculative Fiction?
- Conclusion: Speculative Fiction
Speculative fiction has been around for centuries; one could even consider Homer’s epic poems The Odyssey and The Iliad speculative works. After all, they involve fantastical creatures, like the cyclops, which do not exist. Similarly, William Shakespeare’s AMidsummer Night’s Dreamcould also be considered an early example of speculative fiction. The...
The genre of speculative fiction includes science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian theory (ranging from Gulliver’s Travels to Ayn Rand‘s Anthem) as well as apocalyptic/postapocalyptic work such as Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Alternate histories also fall under speculative ficti...
The most common misconceptions about speculative fiction are that it is simply science fiction or fantasy. The truth is that there are many other subgenres of speculative fiction beyond sci-fi and fantasy. One reason for the spectrum being so broad? Modern definitions of speculative fiction do not include any limitations of what it can be about. Th...
There are almost too many to count. Except, we tried to count them in another article. Go check out our guide to fiction genresfor a more complete list.
Writing speculative fiction is not for the faint of heart; it requires a lot more than coming up with imaginative characters, settings, and encounters. The author must create an alternate world that can stand on its own merits as something believable to their readership Authors need to be mindful of how they depict different cultures in speculative...
The speculative fiction genre is broad and encompassing. So, it’s important to know what you like to enjoy the best of what this category can offer. Two questions that may help: 1. Is there something supernatural happening? 2. Does my imagination run wild with possibilities? If your answer was “yes” to either question, you may be interested in imag...
While by no means an exhaustive list, these works of speculative fiction are standouts. Together, they show off the multifaceted nature of this umbrella genre.
As our world and society continue their advancement, the digital age will only serve as inspiration for speculative fiction. The future of reading, in general, is unknown. Some believe that our culture will be more interactive on screens than with printed books while others see ebooks becoming a thing of the past due to increasing environmental con...
At this point, you should have a sound understanding of speculative fiction. One can summarize speculative fiction as fictional works set outside known reality. Instead, they explore imaginative topics like science fiction, fantasy, horror, and many more. Underneath these broad categories are sub-genres that cover everything from utopian and dystop...
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to SF or sci-fi) is a genre of speculative fiction, which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life.
Speculative fiction is also used as a genre term that combines different ones into a single narrative or fictional world such as "science fiction, horror, fantasy...[and]...mystery". [ 36 ] The Internet Speculative Fiction Database contains a broad list of different subtypes.
Science fiction is a part of the larger umbrella of speculative fiction. Speculative fiction contains several subgenres that feature futuristic, fantastical, or supernatural plot elements; basically, any imagined components that don’t exist in the context of the everyday world.
Feb 3, 2022 · Genres that count as speculative fiction are fantasy, horror and science fiction. These can also be divided into more specific categories, for example stories that entail ghost stories, magic realism, utopian and dystopian or apocalyptic and post apocalyptic elements.
Jan 24, 2020 · Dictionary.com defines speculative fiction as “a broad literary genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural, fantastical, or futuristic elements.” Additionally, the Speculative Literature Foundation describes it as a “catch-all term”:
