Speculative fiction rocks! After I’ve read just about every PNR and UF I came across, I wondered what happened in books which I couldn’t quite categorize on my GR shelves. What the hell happened when science fiction met fantasy? Someone had to have named it right? Turns out Star Wars are already out, not to mention several movies inspired by King’s books. Even Star Trek has its Q.
But what is Science Fantasy?
“Science fantasy is a mixed genre within the umbrella of speculative fiction which simultaneously draws upon and/or combines tropes and elements from both science fiction and fantasy. It also sometimes incorporates elements of horror fiction.” Wiki
Who writes Science Fantasy?
- Ilona Andrews – yes, yes they do. Kate Daniels world is dystopia and dystopia is a sub genre of science fiction. Magic created the dystopia and we are in Atlanta but that doesn’t mean it’s urban Atlanta. There’s very little urban about Atlanta. When reading post-shift Atlanta, I get so lost in that world that one time Kate ate a hot dog at the vendor and I clearly remember being taken aback with the normalcy of that small scene. A subtle reminder I was still on Earth. =D Then of course, there is Innkeeper Chronicles. No brainer that’s Science Fantasy and it’s awesome.
- Nalini Singh – Psy/Changeling anyone? Futuristic world with telekineticks and other special mental powers. A lot of science in that one. There are shifters, Hawke mainly and other people running around him. They help with the PNR label. Again, there is Hawke so…=D
So why not call it Science Fantasy?
Because most read what they like and most like Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Science Fantasy, sadly, doesn’t really exist as a genre and if the book is marketed as SF, it needs to come with an explanation. It’s much easier to market str8up PNR or UF because it fits anyway. Perhaps one day SF will become a category. Perhaps I could request one from Amazon and see what they say. Maybe, don’t know.
Either way, if you find a book which fits both or neither, maybe you have read Science Fantasy. Personally, I love the genre, so I wrote the Mediator.
See ya next time!
