What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science fiction and speculative fiction? Which is The Man in the High Castle?

What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science fiction and speculative fiction? Which is The Man in the High Castle?

The Speculative Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand includes fantasy, science fiction and horror among the authors and types of literature it includes. Fantasy, science fiction and horror could therefore be described as sub-genres of speculative fiction The online Dictionary.com, defines ‘speculative fiction’ as:

a broad literary genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural, fantastical, or futuristic elements

This would include all three sub-genres above, as well as alternate history like High castle, and stories such as the His Dark Materials series, which explore parallel worlds.

Science fiction usually deals with what could happen under the laws of this universe. Its speculative element is in discoveries or social trends that have not yet happened, or which have not happened on Earth, but have happened on other worlds. Fantasy and horror speculate on what might occur where the laws of nature and supernature are vastly different to those we are familiar with.

Alternate history, which speculates on what could have happened in this world, occupies a middle ground. Under one interpretation of quantum physics, as outlined by Paul Mountfort, any world that obeys the laws of nature is possible, and therefore High castle is science fiction. On a different (and more popular) interpretation of quantum physics High castle speculates on a universe with different laws, and could therefore be better described as fantasy or dystopian horror.

Since the basic premise behind its inclusion (or disqualification) in science fiction is in doubt, then perhaps it is best to include it in a separate speculative fiction sub-genre of Alternative or Parallel History. The science fiction elements in the novel such as space exploration can be therefore considered parts of a different universe, not part of the laws of nature in ours.


Comments

  1. mike johnson3 October 2017 at 13:35

    A well thought out answer. Some historical context here. Science fiction, as a term, came first, but could not adequately describe all the types of fiction included. So we get more sub-genre terms to cover this variety.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Morris17 October 2017 at 14:51

      Interesting that the term 'science fiction' came first, when fantasy has a longer history, in fairy tales etc.

      Delete

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