Futuristic fantasy

Sage · Feb 20, 2006

I'm sure there are examples, & I'll be sorry when I find out there are, but can anyone think of any examples of fantasy set in the future?

My current WIP has humans blending magic & technology. My MCs are on another planet, but a majority of the novel is focused on the fantasy element, so while there is background along the lines of sci-fi (just as there are elements of mystery, romance, & teen-angst in it), I consider it fantasy.

triceretops · Feb 20, 2006

I've seen blends of SF and fantasy, and it can work very well. I seem to remember Poul Anderson as doing some wonderful stories in this genre. Good luck with the work.

Tri

loquax · Feb 21, 2006

I can see from your avatar you like anime. Well, there you go. I can name dozens of animes mangas and video games that are future-fantasy, and I'm sure you can, too. They're all acceptable sources for inspiration.

Wesley Smith · Feb 21, 2006

In addition to many different anime and manga (which all seem to have elements of both science fiction and fantasy), there's a specific sub-genre called "Science Fantasy." Here's what SFSite has to say about it:

A hybrid and subset of speculative fiction describing worlds in which either both magic and science work, science is so sophisticated it simulates magic, or characters possess psychic powers so strong they resemble magic. Eric S. Nylund's A Game Of Universe is a science fantasy of the first type (an assassin who can cast spells travels through space in search of the Holy Grail), as is Sheri S. Tepper's The Family Tree (which includes time travel, genetic engineering, and wizards). Anne McCaffrey's Dragonrider series is a science fantasy of the second and third types (genetic engineering on an alien reptile species has created "dragons" that breathe fire and who communicate telepathically with their riders). Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series (concerning the history of a planet whose industry is not based on machines and physical labor, but on the potent psychic powers of the inhabitants) are science fantasies of the third type.

MadScientistMatt · Feb 21, 2006

Another example of the first type in Wesley's post would be C.S. Freidan's Coldfire Trilogy, where spacefaring humans settled on a planet only to find it was already ruled by magic.

Sage · Feb 21, 2006

Although, I love anime/manga, I was looking for more for novels, since anime has already done plenty to influence my writing already

Science fantasy is pretty much what I was looking for, preferably YA. Thanks, guys.

Marcusthefish · Feb 22, 2006

I can think of a couple of books that sort of fit the futuristic fantasy label:

Iron Dragon's Daughter, by Michael Swanwick is a very weird and dark book about a girl who grows up in a dragon factory and escapes to learn magic. It's kind of Dickensian and sort of a coming of age story, and antithetical to traditional (Tolkienesque) fantasy in a lot of ways.

Metropolitan and City on Fire by Walter Jon Williams are science fictionish fantasies that revolve around the idea that the Earth contains a magical energy ("plasm") that can be manipulated by geomancers. The second book is really awful, but I liked the first one.

MTF

Futuristic fantasy

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

triceretops

loquax

I verb nouns adverbly

Wesley Smith

MadScientistMatt

Empirical Storm Trooper

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Marcusthefish