Speculative fiction

INRTODUCTION
Speculative fiction is a broad genre encompassing fiction with certain elements that do
not exist in the real world, often in the context of supernatural, futuristic or other
imaginative themes.[1] This includes, but is not limited to, science
fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, utopian and dystopian fiction, supernatural
fiction as well as combinations thereof (e.g. science fantasy).[2]

Speculative fiction differs from other types of fiction such as slice of life and from non-
fiction.

The use of "speculative fiction" in the sense of expressing dissatisfaction with

traditional or establishment science fiction was popularized in the 1960s and
early 1970s by Judith Merril and other writers and editors, in connection with the
New Wave movement. It fell into disuse around the mid-1970s.

What is speculative fiction examples?

Speculative fiction encompasses science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as more specific
genres such as alternate history, post-apocalyptic, superhero, supernatural, utopian and
dystopian. ... Some magazines indicate on their submissions page that they are only looking for
a specific type of speculative fiction.

What are the types of speculative fiction?

In this latter sense, speculative fiction includes fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but also
their derivatives, hybrids, and cognate genres like the gothic, dystopia, weirdfiction, post-
apocalyptic fiction, ghost stories, superhero tales, alternate history, steampunk, slipstream,
magic realism, fractured fairy ...

What does speculative fiction do?

Speculative fiction. Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre encompassing fictionwith certain

elements that do not exist in the real world, often in the context of supernatural, futuristic or
other imaginative themes.

What makes a fictional piece speculative?

Today, speculative fiction is a blanket term for the stories that take place beyond our known
world. Margaret Atwood defines speculative fiction as literature that deals with possibilities in
a society which have not yet been enacted but are latent.
“Speculative fiction” is a broad term used to describe genres and sub-genres of literature (and
film) that incorporate some form of the fantastic. It emerged as a concept around the 1960s
and was coined as a term by Judith Merril, a British editor of science fiction and one of many
individuals in the writing industry who felt that traditional labels such as “science fiction” and
“fantasy” were too restrictive on writers.

Speculative fiction encompasses science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as more specific
genres such as alternate history, post-apocalyptic, superhero, supernatural, utopian and
dystopian. In essence, the term refers to any story that does not take place in the real
world and does not incorporate only real-world elements.

The following is a list of examples from prose fiction that illustrates the broad nature of
speculative fiction:

The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Kraken by China Mieville

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King

John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin

Island in the Sea of Time by S.M. Stirling

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Passage by Justin Cronin

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Jumper by Steven Gould

Note that the definition of speculative fiction also applies to movies, television series and other
forms of media. Movies such as Event Horizon, V for Vendetta, Dawn of the Dead and Willow, or
television series such as Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Lost and Heroes are all examples of
pop-culture speculative fiction. The limits of speculative fiction are in many ways defined by the
writers’ imaginations.

Having a firm understanding of speculative fiction is important for writers because magazines
and publishers can be very specific in what they want. Some magazines indicate on their
submissions page that they are only looking for a specific type of speculative fiction. The editors
for Redstone Science Fiction, for example, state that they will consider science fiction in any
form, but specifically will not consider fantasy or horror. For this magazine, a writer with an
excellent superhero-based story (which could be considered urban fantasy) might want to
contact the editors before submitting the piece to determine if it fits the magazine’s criteria.
Other magazines that will accept fantasy, horror or science fiction are basically indicating that
they are interested in any form of speculative fiction.

The Harry Potter series consider as Speculative fiction because it is mixture of horror, science
fiction, fantasy and historical elements. Harry Potter series is full with fantasy elements by
showing the magical world Hogwarts and Magic Mistry. In actually there is nothing such things
like Wizardry which is shown in Harry Potter. There is numbers of magical things which we
never seen like, philosopher’s stone, Snitch, Wand, Broom stick, Invisible Cloak, Time mover,
magical purse, trees, food, moving images and lot many things…Even each character have their
own different identity like Animagos and Warewolf.

Distinguishing science fiction from other speculative fiction"Speculative fiction" is

sometimes abbreviated "spec-fic", "specfic",[26] "S-F", "SF" or "sf".[27] However, the last three
abbreviations are ambiguous as they have long been used to refer to science fiction (which lies
within this general range of literature[28]) and in several other contexts.

The term has been used by some critics and writers dissatisfied with what they consider to be a
limitation of science fiction: the need for the story to hold to scientific principles. They argue
that "speculative fiction" better defines an expanded, open, imaginative type of fiction than
does "genre fiction", and the categories of "fantasy", "mystery", "horror" and "science
fiction".[29] Harlan Ellison used the term to avoid being pigeonholed as a writer. Ellison, a
fervent proponent of writers embracing more literary and modernist directions,[30][31] broke out
of genre conventions to push the boundaries of "Speculative Fiction."
 The term "suppositional fiction" is sometimes used as a sub-category designating fiction in
which characters and stories are constrained by an internally consistent world, but not
necessarily one defined by any particular genre.

Speculative fiction genres

Speculative fiction may include elements of one or more of the following genres

Name Description Examples

Includes elements and beings originating from

or inspired by traditional stories, such The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of
Fantasy as mythical Narnia, Harry Potter, A Song of Ice and
creatures (dragons, elves, dwarves and fairies, Fire
for example), magic, witchcraft, potions, etc.

Features technologies and other elements that

do not exist in real life but may be supposed to
The Time Machine, I, Robot, Dune, Star
be created or discovered in the future through
Science Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of
fiction (sci-fi)
scientific advancement, such as advanced
the Apes, The Left Hand of Darkness, Star
robots, interstellar travel, aliens, time
Wars, Blade Runner, Jurassic Park
travel, mutants and cyborgs. Many sci-fi stories
are set in the future.

Focuses on terrifying stories that incite fear.

Villains may be either supernatural, such
The Exorcist, A Nightmare on Elm
as monsters, vampires, ghosts and demons, or
Horror Street, Books of Blood, The Hellbound
mundane people, such as psychopathic and
Heart
cruel murderers. Often features violence and
death.

Takes place in a highly desirable society, often

Utopian presented as advanced, happy, intelligent or Island, Ecotopia, 17776
even perfect or problem-free.
 Name Description Examples

Takes place in a highly undesirable society,

often plagued with strict control, violence, Brave New World, 1984, Brazil, The
Dystopian
chaos, brainwashing or other negative Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger Games
elements.

Focuses on historical events as if they
Alternate
happened in a different way, and their
history
implications in the present.
The Man in the High Castle, The Last
Starship from Earth, The Tales of Alvin
Maker, The Guns of the South, Fatherland

Takes place before and during a massive,

worldwide catastrophe, typically a climatic On the Beach, Threads, The Day After
Apocalyptic
or pandemic natural disaster of extremely large Tomorrow, 2012
scale or a nuclear holocaust.

Post- Focuses on groups of survivors after similar The Stand, Mad

apocalyptic massive, worldwide disasters. Max, Waterworld, Fallout, Metro 2033

Centers on superheroes (i.e., heroes with

extraordinary abilities or powers) and their fight
DC Universe, Marvel Universe, Kamen
against evil forces such as supervillains.
Superhero Rider, Super Sentai, Metal Heroes, Power
Typically incorporates elements of science
Rangers
fiction or fantasy, and may be a subgenre of
them.

Similar to horror, it exploits or requires as plot

The Castle of
devices or themes some contradictions of the
Supernatural Otranto, Weaveworld, Imajica, Paranormal
commonplace natural
Activity, Fallen
world and materialist assumptions about it.
References[edit]

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