Science Fantasy

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What is Science Fantasy?

As fantasy fiction becomes more focused on contemporary environments, as opposed to medieval and ancient worlds, technology plays an increasingly important role in the stories. This evolution brings more Science Fantasy into the fold, just in time to meet the audience bemoaning a slowing-down of Science Fiction.

Striking sparks between science and fantasy yields some very exciting work that appeal to a wide range of readers both young and old. Many of us find enough magic in science itself to hold our interest; add some fantasy elements to keep it light and entertaining (and resolve some of the frustrating limitations of a real-world discipline), and this could become a major sub-genre that hooks people young and keeps them avidly interested for a long time to come. It doesn't hurt that the form could be a force to correct some of the technology ignorance social critics have been bemoaning recently, if youngsters hooked on this genre expand their field to include science fiction..

The distinction between science fiction and science fantasy is a bit fuzzy, but it's helpful to think of it like this: science fiction has the obligation to explain according to known laws of physics and nature or acceptable extensions of them; science fantasy has no such obligation. A portable “cloaking device” in a science fiction story (not possible at this time, but theoretically possible given certain technological advances) may have its fantasy equivalent in a magic ring turned on the finger three times 'round. So the effect is the same—what's different is the atmosphere evoked: fantasy, not science.

This is not to say science/technology per se don't exist in this fiction—many times they are portrayed in conjunction with or opposition to the power of magic.