So I have to ask this question….is Speculative Fiction an umbrella term for Fantasy and Paranormal Literature? Or would it be the other way around.
I was recently in a discussion involving this idea and it kind of sat wrong with me. This has nothing to do with the individual I was talking to, because quite honestly, it’s not the first time I’ve come across this idea and it has plagued me. I’m constantly coming across various sites that seem to downplay Fantasy, where it’s not considered a valid form of literature, and it almost seems that they have to have this fancy term in order to think it’s acceptable. Why can’t Fantasy Literature be referred to as Fantasy Literature? That’s what it is. There’s nothing realistic about it except for maybe the landscape in many urban fantasy novels and even that’s changed a little for the story.
The whole term “speculative fiction” just gives me this feeling where people can only like fantasy if it has this snotty uppercrust term, but to call it straight fantasy would be plebeian and crass. Taking the quote from the Wikipedia page on Speculative Fiction, it says:
Speculative fiction is a fiction genre speculating about worlds that are unlike the real world in various important ways. In these contexts, it generally overlaps one or more of the following: science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.
This description doesn’t say that Speculative Fiction is Fantasy Literature, but that it can overlap into that genre, along with a load of others. If you really think about it, all genres could be under the umbrella for Speculative Fiction. Look at Historical Fiction. It’s recounting a time in history, using real historical events, to tell a story. It’s speculating on what has happened. According to the description above, this would fit under Speculative Fiction.
That’s the thing I don’t get. I don’t see there being anything about Fantasy that would be “speculating about worlds” since all the worlds classified as Fantasy Literature aren’t real. They are what they are because they are the creation of the author. There’s no basis for reality in them. Even worlds developed by Urban Fantasy novelists come from the authors mind. There may may use the real world as a blue print, but in the end, their world is vastly different from what we know. How can you speculate on a world, when it doesn’t exist?
There’s nothing wrong with Fantasy Literature. I prefer it over anything else simple because it gives me an outlet to escape reality. I see enough depressing crap in the news, online, in my every day life. I don’t need it when I try to relax and pick up a book. I guess the part that really got me was when I heard that “true fans” consider all Fantasy to be Speculative Fiction and I kind of felt insulted by that. What is wrong with being considered a fan of Fantasy? Why do “true fans” need to call it Speculative Fiction? Am I just being oversensitive or is there a definite difference between the two that I’m missing.
I can see using speculative fiction as an umbrella term, as described here. But honestly? It just sounds like something an academic would say…
Honestly, I think some ‘true fans’ are probably being a little oversensitive, and the speculative fiction label somehow legitimizes fantasy in their eyes.
In the broadest sense, I think that all fiction is speculative. But speculative fiction *to me* has always had a science fiction aspect instead of a paranormal aspect. So my urban fantasy romance wouldn’t be speculative fiction, but my steampunk (essentially alternate history) romance will be.
But that’s my labeling, and I wouldn’t be upset if I was labeled with speculative fiction for all of my work or none of it.
Chris – I can see how the Lost Books article justifies it. But I think you hit it on the head when you said it sounds like something an academic would say. It just sounds snotty to me.
Meljean – I think that’s the part that annoys me the most. That fantasy needs to have a different name in order to be legitimized.
I don’t have anything against Speculative Fiction, but the examples that have been shown to me in the past just don’t sound interesting. They’re sound more like classical literature and academically written than anything I want to spend my time on.
Oye. This is one of those terms that always gives me a headache. I remember when the paranormal romance group was just starting out. They were always getting into discussions about the use of “speculative fiction” and which books were it or not. Since I never quite understood the point of having the term in the first place, I just sort of quietly walked away and hid when those started. Yikes. ;)
Sometimes it really is all about semantics.
And nitpicking. Did I mention nitpicking? :D
Actually, all joking aside, I suspect the problem has more to do with the fact that we’re talking about crossovers of genres here. I’ve noticed that any time “labels” used by one genre are picked up by another one there can be huge problems. Strictly speaking, I’m not sure that’s sematics as much as it is not understanding impact on the original genre the term was used in.
It’s kind of like if another genre’s base started using “alpha hero” on a regular – sure they might be able to apply it to their stories and characters with a true meaning but would it have the same meaning that it does for us in romancelandia? Could it ever have the same meaning?
It’s possible it’s literally about a translation factor between “fandoms” if you will.
Sheesh. Next time I’ll try to edit before I post. ;)
Wow! Too intellectual for me! But, I agree, why can’t they just call Fantasy what it is – Fantasy! If someone needs to use another term for it to impress someone else that’s their problem.
Interesting discussion. I tend to think of speculative fiction (when I think of the term at all) as anything different/cutting edge. So it’s a moving target. Steampunk might be speculative fiction at the moment, but given the call by editors for it, and the likelihood of having A LOT of it available a year or so from now, it will cease being what I consider speculative at that point.
I’m with Meljean, it wouldn’t bother me to have one of my stories (Ghostland in particular since it’s a blend of genres–urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and erotic romance) labeled as speculative fiction. I see the label as basically asking: Is it too different? Will it find an audience? Will it prove to be viable financially from a publisher’s POV?
While I don’t care for the term “speculative fiction” I can’t think of something that encompasses all the genres the Wikipedia article mentions. These genres do all have something in common–just as thrillers, mysteries, adventures, and horrors all have something in common (and what’s an umbrella term for them?). I agree that “speculative” isn’t the best term, as what fiction isn’t, but it might be necessary to have an umbrella term, especially because a lot of these genres collide more and more often.
One more note: is Magical Realism included? And, as discussed in a recent #litchat, what is considered mystical?
I think it’s meant to be a broader umbrella term that includes both fantasy and science fiction. But the snobbery you mention can certainly be a real thing too.
While I don’t care for the term “speculative fiction” I can’t think of something that encompasses all the genres the Wikipedia article mentions.
Um, I can. If you go back to the dictionary Merriam Webster definition of romance:
“a medieval tale based on legend, chivalric love and adventure, or the supernatural; a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious; a love story especially in the form of a novel; a class of such literature”
What do any of you think that “remote in time or place” means except exactly what they’re talking about with regards to those worlds that are unlike the real world in various important ways? They’re trying to talk about the original, classic meaning of Romance without actually mentioning the word because that would bring in comparisons to our current genre and they certainly don’t want that. So they give it a different label. ;)
Speculative fiction has had an interesting evolution. It started, I think, with Heinlein, who used it as an alternate for “science fiction,” but eventually was changed to reflect all those genres mentioned above (SF, fantasy, etc.). In the last twenty years a lot of people have been trying to use it as a “literary” term, meaning as a way to isolate themselves from SF/F so as not to be “debased” by what those terms represent. It’s a stupid thing to do, but that’s what has happened, unfortunately.
I tend to consider specfic as an umbrella term for all forms of fantastic literature (whether SF or F, or even some horror). It makes more sense that way.
Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Sure.
But the entire Marketing industry puts to rest the idea that a name/label/brand doesn’t matter; or that the label means the same thing to everyone.
I don’t think its snobbery for a person to prefer ‘Speculative Fiction’ over ‘Fantasy’ or vice versa.
It’s a fact of the Information Age that ‘tagging’ or ‘labeling’ info/items identifies them to potential users/consumers. If calling a Brier Rose “Rosa Foetida” makes it more palatable to a consumer segment, WTF?
Personally, I like what I like – I don’t much care how it’s labeled. But I suspect that there are some people who do care. (E.g. Romance vs. Chick Porn.)
I’m intrigued that ‘Speculative Fiction’ could be used as an umbrella term for fiction sub-genres. (For example: SciFi where the speculation/’whatif’ is the impact of science on society, Paranormal fiction where the ‘whatif’ is paranormal, Steampunk where the ‘whatif’ is the fictional technological inventions & fantasy elements, etc.)
And I agree with previous Posters that the term ‘Speculative Fiction’ casts a wide net that encompasses many of the multi-genre books I’m reading today. I have to admit I don’t hate it in that context.
I’ve always taken speculative fiction to mean a broader term to science fiction. Stories that wouldn’t have to deal with any kind of science per se, but deal with an alternative view of the world while still steeped in something close to reality. Nothing fantasy or supernatural about it. I have been wrong many a time, though.
I personally use this term as a collective for all the genres that deal with outside reality as opposed to listing everything. I know it’s lazy and probably not accurate to use, but feels more comfortable with me rather than to start with: I read Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Paranormal Romance, Horror, UF, Steampunk etc. etc. I find it quite annoying how genres can be stretchy terms and people can use them as they like. You won’t believe how many distinctions between UF and PR I have heard and still think they are different genres.