Can someone tell me what’s the difference between Fantasy and Sci-Fic, please?
Can someone tell me what’s the difference between Fantasy and Sci-Fic, please ?
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Can someone tell me what’s the difference between Fantasy and Sci-Fic, please ?
Science fiction can be technological, space age or futuristic. Fantasy tends to be swords, magic, dragons, mystical creatures, elves & fairies etc.
Basically the only true difference is that sci fi is about science and technology while fantasy is about magic and the supernatural.
To quote my brother: “sci-fi has aliens, fantasy has dragons” ??
Space and dragons!
It used to be simpler, Sa Ra. Now many writers like to mix sci-fi with fantasy, so the line between the two is getting blurred.
Fantasy is set in an entirely made up world, modeled after medieval Europe, with no technology and unique magical systems.
Science fiction is based in our world—but in the future, sometimes near future, or far, including other planets, galaxies etc.
Then there’s Urban Fantasy (our world with supernatural elements) Steampunk, combinations of all, etc
These days they seem to be regarded as one and the same, but science fiction (IMO) is actually science-based. The setting can be on the moon or on Mars or somewhere in a galaxy far, far away. 😀 But it has to have some scientific basis. Some of the best authors in that genre include Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Ursula K. LeGuin, Larry Niven (who created this hilarious race of cowards called Puppeteers, who look a bit like an old cartoon character named Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent, although each Puppeteer has two heads), Robert Silverberg, and many others.
Anything involving unicorns, witches, wizards, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and so on is fantasy, as there is no scientific basis for any of those. ‘Sword and sorcery’ books are also fantasy. The list of SF authors I was looking at includes the late great Terry Pratchett, which I thought was odd … but then again, I haven’t read all of his works. So far I’ve read (and re-read and re-read …) his Discworld novels, which are most definitely fantasy.
Ray Bradbury seems to be a bit of a crossover, IMO. Some of his works, like “The Martian Chronicles,” *are* set on Mars (obviously, duh!) but they almost feel more like fantasy than science fiction … I think because of the almost poetic way his prose sounds. His dystopian novel “Fahrenheit 451” is another “WTF is it??” type of book … it deals with a future in which “firemen” don’t put out fires, they burn books. Is it science fiction or fantasy? It first appeared in 1953 and as far as I can tell, people are still debating that question. 😀
Technology vs magic