Sci-Fi/Fantasy - Sci-Fi or Fantasy? - Page 2

~Tinga~ · 01-27-2003, 03:00 PM

I think Fantasy is more creative.

aqua · 01-27-2003, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Impatient:


The thing is, It is the same place... There is a magical "veil" that separates the two worlds. However, everyone in Proton has an "alternate" in Phaze. The chapters alternate between the two realities of this world, and togeher, they make the whole story... There are seven books, starting with Blue Adept and ending in Phaze Doubt.

If it's a magical veil, then ultimately the most powerful force is magic...I guess, unless Proton had a scientific excuse for the veil? [img]smilies/look.gif[/img]

Mr. Impatient · 01-29-2003, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PassionWagon:


If it's a magical veil, then ultimately the most powerful force is magic...I guess, unless Proton had a scientific excuse for the veil? [img]smilies/look.gif[/img]

I dunno... It never came up the books... At least, not that I can think of... But, the thing is... It's the same world... There is a counterpart for everyone on each side of the veil... So, maybe there is really no veil at all... Who knows?

I just know it is a great series, and one that I really like.

The series by Piers Anthony with the puns is Xanth...

**ROCKSTAR** · 01-29-2003, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Little_Fella:
I think Fantasy is more creative.

The nature of the material allows Fantasy to go farther. While SciFi still needs a link to reality to work.

Actually I can't decide. I love both, I enjoy both.

Wild Pikachu · 01-29-2003, 07:44 PM

Science Fiction. Fantasy is a relatively late interest, and while I can appreciate it, I don't go out of my way to look for it.

thescoobygang · 01-29-2003, 10:33 PM

If we are talking movies...then I would say Sci-Fi and Fantasy are equally entertaining for me. The fantasy genre in movies has only recently made a comeback after lagging behind sci-fi for the last few decades. But as far as books go, I find Fantasy more interesting.

It really depends on what you are in the mood for. Sci-Fi tends to be more mentally challenging, thought-provoking and technically inclined. Fantasy leans more towards being imaginative, atmospheric and emotionally driven.

tSG~

Soz · 01-29-2003, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thescoobygang:
It really depends on what you are in the mood for. Sci-Fi tends to be more mentally challenging, thought-provoking and technically inclined. Fantasy leans more towards being imaginative, atmospheric and emotionally driven.
tSG~

In regards to books, a lot of that is the stereotype of what the two genres are about. I've read a lot of fantasy that challenges the mind and a lot of emotionally involved SF. It really depends on the author, not the genre itself.

I don't find science fiction any less creative or imaginative than fantasy. The essential question one asks with both genres is "what if?" and it's just the way one goes about answering that question that makes them separate genres. Magic and technology can both solve the same problems and it's facinating to read a book in which one takes the place of the other. Fancher's Dance of the Rings comes to mind. Instead of using electricity to power and heat homes, they use a magical substance called Leythium.

I love both genres and can't make a choice between them. Both genres have a lot of freedom to examine issues like race, politics, gender, the environment, war, etc. That's what I look for in speculative fiction more than just which genre is on the spine label. I just tend to read more of one or the other at a given time due to what kind of mood I'm in.

thescoobygang · 01-30-2003, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soz:

In regards to books, a lot of that is the stereotype of what the two genres are about. I've read a lot of fantasy that challenges the mind and a lot of emotionally involved SF. It really depends on the author, not the genre itself.

True, today's authors do tend to be more flexible within the genre itself. I should have clarified that my second point was more in reference towards film than books, since most Hollywood SF/F movies (eg. 2001, A.I, Lord of the Rings etc...). are still based on the more traditional concepts of the genre.

As for the comparison on creativity.... well the opinions will always vary from person to person. For me, I find fantasy more imaginative because the artist in me relates to the idea of working with a blank canvas...of having to invent an entire world or reality and then deciding what rules of physics, logic, magic or perception will apply. Rod Serling's Twilight Zone is a perfect example of the innovations of fantasy----having created memorable alternate realities for half hour blocks of time. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

AlexEvans · 01-31-2003, 10:55 PM

It depends what I'm in the mood for. I love both.

A few writers are even good at both. CJ Cherryh is brilliant at writing both genres (separately). Jack L Chalker has written some good books that are both.

[img]smilies/read.gif[/img]

Ladeia · 02-06-2003, 02:48 PM

Usually I prefer Sci-fi... but it just depends on how it's done. I've seen some pretty crappy scifi and then again I've seen some excellent fantasy. Just depends on my mood and how the story is told.

***Raonaild*** · 02-06-2003, 04:10 PM

I like both, but I find the line between the two getting very blurry these days.

Most people differentiate the two by calling anything that takes place in space sci-fi, and anything that has magic/swords/dragons etc. fantasy. Well, what does that make Star Wars then? It takes place in space, but it's essentially a fantasy story. I find a lot of what people call "sci-fi" these days to fall into the same category - sure, there's a lot of technology involved, but it doesn't necessarily have the solid science foundation that I used to think of when I called something sci-fi.

Not that there's anything wrong with this ... I like a lot of stuff these days that falls into that middle category. Hard core sci-fi doesn't hold the same appeal for me it once did.

[ 02-06-2003: Message edited Raonaild ]

Soz · 02-06-2003, 07:35 PM

Star Wars and Doyle and Macdonald's Mageworlds series are both great examples of a fusion of science fiction and fantasy. They are space opera epics with magic.

I've been thinking about the definitions of SF and fantasy for a while now and questioning how exactly to draw the line. I think everyone has their own definition of which is which. If the science is inaccurate and the author just makes it up to go along with the story, then I find more and more that I consider the book to be at least partially fantasy. It usually doesn't distract from my reading enjoyment because of suspension of disbelief, but occasionally it can be a real problem for me.

Mr. Impatient · 03-21-2003, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Timeo:
Oooh, this Apprentice Adept series sounds very cool and creative. I think i'll be looking for it next time I go to a bookstore...

Okay, I know this may seem a bit strange (well, it is being posted by me), but hopefully it will make sense in the end...

This is an excerpt of the Author's Note from Unicorn Point, which is the sixth book in Piers Anthony's Apprentice Adept series:

Quote:

...for those interested in structure, yes, it is true: There are eighteen different viewpoints in this novel, one for each chapter. They move rythmically across the three generations: elder, middle, younger, so that every third chapter relates to the same generation. Also, the odd chapters relate to Phaze, and the even ones to Proton, except for Chapter 6 when Nepe breaks the rule.

Just to give you some idea of what's in store for the series...

(Oh, and he ended it after the seventh book!! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] )

LolaRuns · 04-13-2003, 04:57 AM

I'm generally more Sci-Fi. Especially when it comes to books. There are really very few Fantasy books that manage to hold my interst.

As far as movies go it's pretty even. I like a lot of the more recent Fantasy movies (Lord of the Ring and so on). Also Fantasy seems to be more publically acceptable nowadays (thanks to movies like LoTR or Harry Potter), while Sci-Fi is still considered geek territory.

Timeo · 04-15-2003, 11:25 PM

Exactly. Actually, there was this article in Time magazine that discussed the rise of Fantasy in mainstream culture and the "dying out" or at least the fading of science fiction. It was kind of an interesting article, and I remember at the time vehemently disagreeing with the moron who had written it, but it was fun food for thought. I'll try finding it at school tomorrow...