I've been reading a few of the threads on here, mostly because I'm trying to get a feel for what 'science-fiction' is. I kind of strayed away from the sci-fi genre when I was younger, mostly because I didn't like it, wasn't so much into science as I was discovering new (and completely different) worlds. But now, I think I may have stumbled into writing a science fiction novel...only, I'm not entirely sure if I have.
See, one idea I've been toying with for years is the concept of 'Gifted' individuals, kind of like that TV show Heroes. I admit, I've only watched two episodes of the thing, and I can safely say that there is more 'science' in my novel idea. By that I mean there are two-wheeled cars and instant identification devices in stores and such places that only have to scan your face to give you access to your personal accounts and such, artificially intelligent weapon/trackers that mimic real life and take the form of just about anything to get them close to their targets, and things like that. There's also a technogenius who is sort of 'one' with technology, so having a bit more science is a given.
but is that all that matters to categorize this as science fiction?
additionally, I should add that that wasn't the story I had in mind when I began this thread. That one is a bit more science fiction than anything else, really. No, the story I had in mind concerns a sort of futuristic version of earth after an apocalypse or like event, in which humans like in technology-infused nature dwellings (caves, giant trees, that sort of thing) with voice activated appliances (well, not appliances, really, because for some reason they refuse to be written into this story) and whatnot, but in which they've eschewed (always wanted to use that word) cars and cement and iron buildings, telephones and such. Also, there are dragons. I'm still thrown as to whether or not these dragons are a result of genetic experimentation that is somehow linked to the apocalyptic event that changed everything, or if they just, like, appeared from some sort of evolutionary fluke. And I don't believe in evolution, so I don't have a clue as to how I'd explain that angle. There's also a bit of magic in there, in the way that the dragons choose their riders, but thats really the only instance. I'm on the fence on whether or not these dragons can communicate with their humans, mostly because I like the idea of each animal having a voice, but I have also seen How To Train Your Dragon about thirty times, and don't laugh, but it's shown me a whole different dimension of communication between man and beast.
What I want to know (and if you've read this far you are an amazing, AMAZING person who should be showered with all the desires of your sweet tooth) is does the magic, as little as it is, disqualify this story from the science-fiction genre? I figure if it did, then it'd just be science-fiction/fantasy, but I really want to see people's opinions, and I like making threads, and its 11:07 here and I can't sleep, and this questions has somehow wormed its way into my muse, and shriveled it into almost nothing, and i want to see if getting an answer will bring it back to life.
See, one idea I've been toying with for years is the concept of 'Gifted' individuals, kind of like that TV show Heroes. I admit, I've only watched two episodes of the thing, and I can safely say that there is more 'science' in my novel idea. By that I mean there are two-wheeled cars and instant identification devices in stores and such places that only have to scan your face to give you access to your personal accounts and such, artificially intelligent weapon/trackers that mimic real life and take the form of just about anything to get them close to their targets, and things like that. There's also a technogenius who is sort of 'one' with technology, so having a bit more science is a given.
but is that all that matters to categorize this as science fiction?
additionally, I should add that that wasn't the story I had in mind when I began this thread. That one is a bit more science fiction than anything else, really. No, the story I had in mind concerns a sort of futuristic version of earth after an apocalypse or like event, in which humans like in technology-infused nature dwellings (caves, giant trees, that sort of thing) with voice activated appliances (well, not appliances, really, because for some reason they refuse to be written into this story) and whatnot, but in which they've eschewed (always wanted to use that word) cars and cement and iron buildings, telephones and such. Also, there are dragons. I'm still thrown as to whether or not these dragons are a result of genetic experimentation that is somehow linked to the apocalyptic event that changed everything, or if they just, like, appeared from some sort of evolutionary fluke. And I don't believe in evolution, so I don't have a clue as to how I'd explain that angle. There's also a bit of magic in there, in the way that the dragons choose their riders, but thats really the only instance. I'm on the fence on whether or not these dragons can communicate with their humans, mostly because I like the idea of each animal having a voice, but I have also seen How To Train Your Dragon about thirty times, and don't laugh, but it's shown me a whole different dimension of communication between man and beast.
What I want to know (and if you've read this far you are an amazing, AMAZING person who should be showered with all the desires of your sweet tooth) is does the magic, as little as it is, disqualify this story from the science-fiction genre? I figure if it did, then it'd just be science-fiction/fantasy, but I really want to see people's opinions, and I like making threads, and its 11:07 here and I can't sleep, and this questions has somehow wormed its way into my muse, and shriveled it into almost nothing, and i want to see if getting an answer will bring it back to life.
