I enjoy reading sci-fi, but I far prefer fantasy. The two genres are frequently paired, but are they more polarized than they appear? Here's a poll (I know, unscientific) to find out.
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Do you prefer sci-fi, fantasy, or both?
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Well, depends if you mean "hard SF" or allow a little of the fantastic and (so-called) "supernatural" to creep into it.
Hard SF strikes me as a little dry and stiff, but I like the facade of science and fact to give it a sense of "reality" and more importantly, make it relevant to our lives.
I am glad to suspend my disbelief, but not over the drooling fanged mouth of some re-hashed elf/unicorn/troll/mystic barbarian warrior epic (well, perhaps "mouth" is giving it too much respect, many are like the OTHER oriface of the digestive tract, hey?)
But most of my favourite SF has at least one fantastic, non-hard SF element, I suppose (telepathy, FTL, TK, souls, some alien voodoo, etc ...)
Personally, I went through my sword & sorcery stage, and nobody's gonna paint a better World O' Orcs or Elves than Tolkien, so* ... I like the SF (but I've heard the aliens=elves before, I'm okay with it. Modern cultures are served by modern techno myths, is all I'm saying! To each their own.)
*So I don't read much of the new Fantasy, and I suppose I'm missing the real genius work of the genre.
Anyone care to suggest three masterpieces of modern FANTASY someone should read ???
Hard SF strikes me as a little dry and stiff, but I like the facade of science and fact to give it a sense of "reality" and more importantly, make it relevant to our lives.
I am glad to suspend my disbelief, but not over the drooling fanged mouth of some re-hashed elf/unicorn/troll/mystic barbarian warrior epic (well, perhaps "mouth" is giving it too much respect, many are like the OTHER oriface of the digestive tract, hey?)
But most of my favourite SF has at least one fantastic, non-hard SF element, I suppose (telepathy, FTL, TK, souls, some alien voodoo, etc ...)
Personally, I went through my sword & sorcery stage, and nobody's gonna paint a better World O' Orcs or Elves than Tolkien, so* ... I like the SF (but I've heard the aliens=elves before, I'm okay with it. Modern cultures are served by modern techno myths, is all I'm saying! To each their own.)
*So I don't read much of the new Fantasy, and I suppose I'm missing the real genius work of the genre.
Anyone care to suggest three masterpieces of modern FANTASY someone should read ???
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The Wizard of Earthsea, Ursala LeGuin. (A true classic, simultaneously simple and deep.)
Annubis Gates, Tim Powers. Or Last Call. Or anything.(More ideas in any one chapter than most writers use in an entire novel)
Perfect Circle, Sean Stewart (an overlooked short and brilliant novel about ghosts, dead people, and the importance and meaning of family.
You could probably get a hundred different suggestions, but these three are each very different aspects of modern fantasy writing (although Earthsea is more of a classic) and also superb novels.
I prefer fantasy for mostly superficial reasons. Dragons, swords, magic, horses, magical creatures and such interest me more than aliens, spaceships, guns, and technology. I preferred studying humanities over sciences when I was in school, and I'm sure there's a relation there too. Fantasy worldbuilding is usually more based on history, mythology, with some geology and stuff worked in. Sci fi worldbuilding involves inventing all the scientific advances that have been made between now and the time of the book. But if the plot and characters and voice are enjoyable, I'll read either.
And I just discovered Tim Powers this year and I must read more.
And I just discovered Tim Powers this year and I must read more.
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I know there are exceptions, but most fantasy worlds are much "bigger." This seems to be the key to fantasy having a greater hold on my imagination.
I even started as a sci-fi writer, but have firmly gravitated towards fantasy. It's very funny how a single fantasy world seems so much larger to me than an entire galaxy when writing a novel.
I even started as a sci-fi writer, but have firmly gravitated towards fantasy. It's very funny how a single fantasy world seems so much larger to me than an entire galaxy when writing a novel.
You bring up a good point (as you always seem to do) that I didn't consider when I started the thread -- reading versus watching. I love movies like Alien or Predator, but I prefer to read fantasy like LOTR, Stephen Donaldson, or George R.R. Martin. In terms of this poll, I should have been more specific. I intended it to be about reading.
I ALMOST voted for "Fantasy's okay, but I much prefer sci-fi" as long ago I was sucked into reading some of Piers Anthony's stuff (and I finised SEVERAL of his fantasy books, so surely I must have enjoyed them...), but Small Axe mentioned "Hard SF" and that's what I REALLY like the most, so I went for "SF all the way."
Exactly - I preferred studying the sciences. I read lots of Asimov in high school, and I preferred his non-fiction to his fiction.
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I used to like fantasy a lot more, but I've recently discovered the Nebula Awards and I think I have my reading list for the next couple of years. I voted in favor of SF, but not at the extreme end of the spectrum.
That's why I love sci-fi a tad more than fantasy-in both writing and reading. I like the magic, swords and sorcery but I gotta have my starry space, technology and spaceships! If both genres can be mixed, I'm just that much happier!
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Higgins
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I agree
The problem with Sci Fi is that the McGuffin gets in the way. In fantasy there is a lot more lee-way (warning nautical term?)....
Scifi is okey but I like much more Fantasy.
The problem with Sci Fi is that the McGuffin gets in the way. In fantasy there is a lot more lee-way (warning nautical term?)....
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I prefer science fiction over fantasy. I enjoy the soft sciences better than hard science. If it's hard science it better be a good story. I don't do well with math.
Here's conundrum....I enjoy reading fantasy manga over science fiction and my current WIP is a fantasy romance. So go figure.
Maybe it's just the whole fairies and elves fantasy I don't like. I don't like vampires either. Parallel universes and transformations (just not vampires) I enjoy reading.
Here's conundrum....I enjoy reading fantasy manga over science fiction and my current WIP is a fantasy romance. So go figure.
Maybe it's just the whole fairies and elves fantasy I don't like. I don't like vampires either. Parallel universes and transformations (just not vampires) I enjoy reading.
After 36 votes, it's 17-11 in favor of fantasy, if you cast out the 8 "equal" votes. So sci-fi is only a TD and an extra point from taking the lead! (Can you tell I love football?)
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I mostly read Fantasy and Sci-Fi in about an equal mix, but sometimes I have to take a few months off and cleanse the palette with some Horror or Modern Fiction or anything that doesn't require learning a whole new set of planets, species, castes, etc. I'm getting too old to deal with names like D'Arnathialla and Xumlljinx and the like.
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I voted "like them equally"... which isn't entirely the truth – but it's the selection that's closest to it.
The reality is that my tastes tend to cycle. I go through phases where I lean for one over the other, get my fill, then lean the other way. This moment, right now, as I type, is one the few times that I equally... wait, nevermind. Leaning SF again.
Ironically, while I practically bathe in writing genre fiction, I don't read much of it anymore. Harry Potter has been the rare exception. Most of the time, I'm reading current events (politics/tech/science) and either predicting where it will lead in the future or how similar may have happened a dozen times in history (or would project into a fantasy setting).
I know I'm missing some pure genius out there, but there's only 27 hours in a day, ya know?
The reality is that my tastes tend to cycle. I go through phases where I lean for one over the other, get my fill, then lean the other way. This moment, right now, as I type, is one the few times that I equally... wait, nevermind. Leaning SF again.
Ironically, while I practically bathe in writing genre fiction, I don't read much of it anymore. Harry Potter has been the rare exception. Most of the time, I'm reading current events (politics/tech/science) and either predicting where it will lead in the future or how similar may have happened a dozen times in history (or would project into a fantasy setting).
I know I'm missing some pure genius out there, but there's only 27 hours in a day, ya know?
I prefer space operas and soft SF to fantasy. The exception would be Michael Moorcock, whose fantasy doesn't seem like just fantasy to me.
I like steampunk type stuff, but I'm not sure if that's fantasy or SF anymore. Fantasy that's not about big warriors and elves and royalty is good, but I don't see much of it around.
Not big on hard SF anymore because it's more often than not an exposition of the author's pet interest and lacks story. When they do try to add a story to it, it seems tacked on, like the whole rape thing in Robert Sawyer's Hominids. And I don't find the "science" interesting anymore, mainly because contrary to what they'd have us believe, nearly all of it is complete hogwash and will never happen.
I like steampunk type stuff, but I'm not sure if that's fantasy or SF anymore. Fantasy that's not about big warriors and elves and royalty is good, but I don't see much of it around.
Not big on hard SF anymore because it's more often than not an exposition of the author's pet interest and lacks story. When they do try to add a story to it, it seems tacked on, like the whole rape thing in Robert Sawyer's Hominids. And I don't find the "science" interesting anymore, mainly because contrary to what they'd have us believe, nearly all of it is complete hogwash and will never happen.
I've been diehard SF for most of my life. I've just recently discovered urban fantasy, and that has morphed into paranormal thriller. My love will always be SF but I've come to the realization that the market share is too small and competitive. Thus, I've whored myself out to the other genres.
What I really would love to do is create a whole new genre that was typical of the stories that appeared in One Step Beyond, Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits. But not shorts--full-length treatments.
Tri
What I really would love to do is create a whole new genre that was typical of the stories that appeared in One Step Beyond, Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits. But not shorts--full-length treatments.
Tri
Higgins
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Ring
A ring is just a ring. We don't have to have its circularity explained to us nor does it have to "iris open" so that we can grasp its spurious novelty.
A McGuffin should be functional, and the drama of the story should have nothing to do with how cleverly the author manages to shove some "science" (that usually makes no more sense than a magic ring anyway) into the tale.
A ring is just a ring. We don't have to have its circularity explained to us nor does it have to "iris open" so that we can grasp its spurious novelty.
A McGuffin should be functional, and the drama of the story should have nothing to do with how cleverly the author manages to shove some "science" (that usually makes no more sense than a magic ring anyway) into the tale.
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