A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Speculative fiction
Definitions of Speculative Fiction
-
an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres #
- science fiction; fiction which includes science-fictional elements but which is perceived to
fall outside that genre%
- a catch-all term meant to inclusively span the breadth of fantastic literature, encompassing
literature ranging from hard science fiction to epic fantasy to ghost stories to horror to folk
and fairy tales to slipstream to magical realism to modern myth-making -- and more^
Term is often attributed to Robert A. Heinlein. In an issue of The Saturday Evening Post from Feb. 8,
1947 he used it specifically as a synonym for "science fiction". #
Has been used to express dissatisfaction with what some people consider the limitations of science fiction,
or otherwise to designate fiction that falls under readily stereotypical genres so that it can be pigeonholed
within categorical limits. Use was popularized in the 1960s and early 1970s in connection with the New
Wave movement. After falling into disuse in the mid-1970s, came back in the 2000s with a wider use as a
collective term for a set of genres. #
Speculative Fiction includes all stories that take place in a setting contrary to known reality. This
includes: +
1. All stories set in the future, because the future can’t be known. Out-of-date futures, like that
depicted in the novel 1984, simply shift from the “future” category to:
2. All stories set in the historical past that contradict known facts of history or “alternate world”
stories.
3. All stories set on other worlds, because we’ve never gone there. Whether “future humans” take
part in the story or not, if it isn’t Earth, it belongs to fantasy and science fiction.
4. All stories supposedly set on Earth, but before recorded history and contradicting the known
archaeological record–stories about visits from ancient aliens, or ancient civilizations that left no
trace, or, “lost kingdoms” surviving into modern times.
5. All stories that contradict some known or supposed law of nature. Obviously, fantasy that uses
magic falls into this category, but so does much science fiction: time travel stories, for instance,
or invisible-man stories.
6. In short, science fiction and fantasy stories are those that take place in worlds that have never
existed or are not yet known.
Definitions & examples of genres & subgenres of Spec-Fic

Alternate History: poses questions about different outcomes to historic events, and how that
would alter our known world. * Harry Turtledove - The Guns of the South+

Apocalypse/Holocaust: set in a reality where The World As We Know It ends or has ended. *
Wylie, Philip - The Disappearance+
Marcia Allen, Emilyn Linden, and Janene Hill – Manhattan Public Library; KLA, April 12, 2012
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
Coming of Age (as a species): redefine what it means to be human when we make an evolutionary
leap as a species. * David R. Palmer - Emergence+

Cyberpunk: one of the more likely SF genres, with virtual reality & technology inundating every
level of society, most of which still have a low quality of life. * William Gibson - Neuromancer+

Dystopian: set in dysfunctional utopias. * Lowis Lowry – The Giver+

Fairy Tales: tell a lesson story via human-like beings (fairies, elves), animals with human traits
(goblins, trolls), and enchantments and charms, set in a rustic setting. *

Fantasy
o Dark: see Horror
o Traditional: set in medieval or low technology environments with strong dependence on
magic and other supernatural elements. * Terry Brooks - The Sword of Shannara; Stephen
R. Donaldson - The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever+
o Contemporary: has a realistic modern world setting with elements of supernatural forces
such as magic or mythological deities occurring through access to another world, realm, or
plane. * Charles de Lint - The Little Country+
o Urban Fantasy
o Light Fantasy Terry Pratchett - The Discworld Series+

First Contact: about how we react as a species when confronted with other intelligent life for the
first time. * Ursula K. Le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness+

Genetic Engineering Kate Wilhelm - Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang+

Horror: develops from supernatural evil or human evil/mental disorder encroaching on ordinary
people's lives. * Anne Rice - Interview with the Vampire+

Magical Realism: set in a realistic modern world with the addition of magical elements.

Movie/TV tie-in: Star Trek, Star Wars, Aliens, etc: +

Post-Apocalyptic/Post-Holocaust: Walter Tevis - Mockingbird+

Science Fiction: explores potential (far) future developments in technology, space exploration, and
human evolution. *
o Light SF: Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy+
o Hard SF: Dan Simmons - Hyperion & The Fall of . . . +
o Military SF: David Drake - Hammer’s Slammers Series+
o Social SF: Ken Grimwood - Replay+

Slipstream: set in our world ~ almost. There are slight, uneasy making distortions in our reality or
else the protagonist has fallen out of the consensual reality but is not insane in any way. *

Space Opera E. E. “Doc” Smith - Lensmen Series+

Steampunk: gives the Victorian era modern technology. *
* ©JaNell Golden www.squidoo.com/speculativefiction, www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/JaZilla, or
www.zazzle.com/jazilla
+
What Is Speculative Fiction? by D. D. Shade (www.lostbooks.org)
#
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction)
%
Science Fiction Citations (www.jessesword.com/sf/view/438)
^
Speculative Literature Foundation * (www.speculativeliterature.org/SLF_faq.php)
Marcia Allen, Emilyn Linden, and Janene Hill – Manhattan Public Library; KLA, April 12, 2012
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