Fantasy or something else?

Persei · 12-13-2012, 08:15 PM

I am not sure either the story I'm planning right now is a Fantasy story or not.

The setting is a fictional world. Basically, a kind called X (didn't think of a name) comitts genocide against the people living in the land they desire. All the Onyxes are wipped off by the X's. Thing is the Onyxes are magical people, who are able to canalize the powers of the gods they believe in by a stone attached to the skin of the back of their hand when they are young.

The X's realize this and simply cut off their arms before killing them in concentration camps. MC #2 is the only Onyx who escaped (with a arm missing, therefore she can't use her magic), because she wasn't as dependent of her magic.

Fast forwarding to the beginning of the story, all the Onyxes are dead for five years and the weather grows colder. MC #1 is a Doctor who is struggling with the beggining of what seems to be a plague. The Xs believe in a god too, and all MC# 1 does is pray for the sick and clean corpses.

The story is basically MC# 1 and MC# 2 meeting and discovering what is the embryo of science in their world. There are no gods, only the power of the stone the Onyxes used. Somewhere in the story MC #1 receives the power of the Onyxes by carving a stone to his arm, btw.

So it is fantasy because of the stone, right? Even though the story revolves around science?

...

S.O.S?

Persei · 12-13-2012, 08:19 PM

Also not sure if "carving" is the right verb. They attach the stone to their flesh by a ritual surgery-like. Just to clarify.

Teinz · 12-13-2012, 08:35 PM

Alternate world, Gods, magic. Sounds like fantasy to me.

Myrealana · 12-13-2012, 08:42 PM

Definitely fantasy.

Buffysquirrel · 12-13-2012, 08:42 PM

Sounds like Fantasy to me too.

lbender · 12-13-2012, 09:31 PM

Agreed - fantasy. Sci fi doesn't have actual magic, other than the sense of 'advanced technology seeming like magic'.

Tezzirax · 12-13-2012, 09:48 PM

Sounds like fantasy to me...I think what really seals the deal is that the characters believe its magic and gods, at least until they begin defining the actual science. Even magic can have a science behind it, and vice versa.

psychling7 · 12-14-2012, 06:04 AM

Erotica.

Just kidding. Fantasy.

jjdebenedictis · 12-14-2012, 10:09 AM

It's fantasy, although you might be able to call it science fantasy, which is a hybrid of science fiction and fantasy. However, it's a better fit to call it just plain ol' fantasy.

Whistle_White · 12-14-2012, 09:16 PM

I'm with jjdebenedictis - you can have both fantasy and science and still lean more toward fantasy.

Think Star Wars! It's perfectly sci-fi with ships and space and light-speed travel... but the basis (at least for the three original ones) is this power that is pretty much magic and unexplained.

Your case sounds similar except with less overt science. SO, if you're introducing it to anyone, I'd definitely say fantasy - if you want to be more specific, science fantasy is a definite conversation starter.

RobertEvert · 12-14-2012, 11:05 PM

I'm say fantasy as well. Sounds interesting. Love to read it.

Buffysquirrel · 12-14-2012, 11:54 PM

Never have the "Star Wars is Science Fantasy" debate with an ardent fan.

jjdebenedictis · 12-15-2012, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffysquirrel

Never have the "Star Wars is Science Fantasy" debate with an ardent fan.

Without getting too specific on who the culprit was, I once saw a talk given by a rather famous science fiction writer who spent about ten minutes arguing that point to the audience, even though no one had asked, and it didn't have anything to do with what his talk was supposed to be about.

And then he went off on a tangent about the superiority of the old Star Trek movies, because the new movie had apparently messed up his pet theory for why Spock's father married Spock's mother. Which was also not what his talk was supposed to be about.

I finally just gave up and snuck out.

veinglory · 12-15-2012, 07:10 AM

If it is correct in your world that there are no gods and the stones work by physical means not metaphysical/magic, it could go either way. AU (fantasy) or alien world (SF).

MattW · 12-15-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffysquirrel

Never have the "Star Wars is Science Fantasy" debate with an ardent fan.

One of the classic blunders.

Also - Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

12-13-2012, 08:42 PM	#4
Myrealana I aim to misbehave Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 829	Definitely fantasy. __________________ -- Myrea "You don't fix faith. Faith fixes you." - Shepherd Book "It's not enough to bash in heads, You've got to bash in minds" - Captain Hammer

12-13-2012, 08:42 PM	#5
Buffysquirrel Possibly not a real squirrel Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Coldest corner of the living room, United Kingdom Posts: 4,702	Sounds like Fantasy to me too. __________________ Writing from a female point of view seems to be generally regarded as something more like writing from the perspective of a deer: you might get points for novelty, but it'd be impossible to get right, and who really wants to hear a deer narrate a story, anyway? Jennifer duBois Damn the prologue, full speed ahead! Laurie McLean, Foreword Literary

12-13-2012, 09:48 PM	#7
Tezzirax practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 363	Sounds like fantasy to me...I think what really seals the deal is that the characters believe its magic and gods, at least until they begin defining the actual science. Even magic can have a science behind it, and vice versa. __________________ My Blog: Thomas Cardin My books, The Final Warden, City of Thunder, Lord of Vengeance WIP: The Fire of Falraan

12-14-2012, 10:09 AM	#9
jjdebenedictis is watching you via her avatar Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,222	It's fantasy, although you might be able to call it science fantasy, which is a hybrid of science fiction and fantasy. However, it's a better fit to call it just plain ol' fantasy. __________________ Twitter: jjdebenedictis GoodReads: jj-debenedictis

12-14-2012, 11:05 PM	#11
RobertEvert practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ivory Tower Posts: 454	I'm say fantasy as well. Sounds interesting. Love to read it. __________________ *********************** "In this world, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me." -Elwood P. Dowd AUTHOR OF "RIDDLE IN STONE" NOW AVAILABLE!!! The first chapter is available here My Blog:Neurotic Novelists of the World Unite! Facebook New friends always welcome!

12-13-2012, 08:15 PM	#1
Persei Mother of the Dragons Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Brazil Posts: 381	Fantasy or something else? I am not sure either the story I'm planning right now is a Fantasy story or not. The setting is a fictional world. Basically, a kind called X (didn't think of a name) comitts genocide against the people living in the land they desire. All the Onyxes are wipped off by the X's. Thing is the Onyxes are magical people, who are able to canalize the powers of the gods they believe in by a stone attached to the skin of the back of their hand when they are young. The X's realize this and simply cut off their arms before killing them in concentration camps. MC #2 is the only Onyx who escaped (with a arm missing, therefore she can't use her magic), because she wasn't as dependent of her magic. Fast forwarding to the beginning of the story, all the Onyxes are dead for five years and the weather grows colder. MC #1 is a Doctor who is struggling with the beggining of what seems to be a plague. The Xs believe in a god too, and all MC# 1 does is pray for the sick and clean corpses. The story is basically MC# 1 and MC# 2 meeting and discovering what is the embryo of science in their world. There are no gods, only the power of the stone the Onyxes used. Somewhere in the story MC #1 receives the power of the Onyxes by carving a stone to his arm, btw. So it is fantasy because of the stone, right? Even though the story revolves around science? ... S.O.S? __________________ Sci-fi novel: The Iron Lady Fourth draft ~ 28,948 /100,000 - 70,000 ish UF novel: Tales of the Reaper Early plotting stages

12-13-2012, 08:19 PM	#2
Persei Mother of the Dragons Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Brazil Posts: 381	Also not sure if "carving" is the right verb. They attach the stone to their flesh by a ritual surgery-like. Just to clarify. __________________ Sci-fi novel: The Iron Lady Fourth draft ~ 28,948 /100,000 - 70,000 ish UF novel: Tales of the Reaper Early plotting stages

12-13-2012, 08:35 PM	#3
Teinz Loves it when a plan comes together Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,330	Alternate world, Gods, magic. Sounds like fantasy to me.

12-13-2012, 09:31 PM	#6
lbender practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 810	Agreed - fantasy. Sci fi doesn't have actual magic, other than the sense of 'advanced technology seeming like magic'.

12-14-2012, 06:04 AM	#8
psychling7 figuring it all out Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 70	Erotica. Just kidding. Fantasy.

12-14-2012, 09:16 PM	#10
Whistle_White Young folk Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Here, There and Everywhere Posts: 67	I'm with jjdebenedictis - you can have both fantasy and science and still lean more toward fantasy. Think Star Wars! It's perfectly sci-fi with ships and space and light-speed travel... but the basis (at least for the three original ones) is this power that is pretty much magic and unexplained. Your case sounds similar except with less overt science. SO, if you're introducing it to anyone, I'd definitely say fantasy - if you want to be more specific, science fantasy is a definite conversation starter.

12-14-2012, 11:54 PM	#12
Buffysquirrel Possibly not a real squirrel Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Coldest corner of the living room, United Kingdom Posts: 4,702	Never have the "Star Wars is Science Fantasy" debate with an ardent fan. __________________ Writing from a female point of view seems to be generally regarded as something more like writing from the perspective of a deer: you might get points for novelty, but it'd be impossible to get right, and who really wants to hear a deer narrate a story, anyway? Jennifer duBois Damn the prologue, full speed ahead! Laurie McLean, Foreword Literary

12-15-2012, 07:10 AM	#14
veinglory volitare nequeo AW Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: right here Posts: 23,441	If it is correct in your world that there are no gods and the stones work by physical means not metaphysical/magic, it could go either way. AU (fantasy) or alien world (SF). __________________ Coming Soon: Taniwha in the Cleis Press anthology 'Beach Bums' *[pre order now!]* New Release: Broken Sword via Amazon Kindle

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