sci fi vs. fantasy

[lizzybennet]

John W. Campbell, Jr.
The major distinction between fantasy and science fiction is, simply, that science fiction uses one, or a very, very few new postulates, and develops the rigidly consistent logical consequences of these limited postulates. Fantasy makes its rules as it goes along...The basic nature of fantasy is "The only rule is, make up a new rule any time you need one!" The basic rule of science fiction is "Set up a basic proposition--then develop its consistent, logical consequences."
Introduction, Analog 6, Garden City, New York, 1966

Fredrick Pohl

If anyone were to force me to make a thumbnail description of the differences between SF and fantasy, I think I would say that SF looks towards an imaginary future, while fantasy, by and large, looks towards an imaginary past. Both can be entertaining. Both can possibly be, perhaps sometimes actually are, even inspiring. But as we can't change the past, and can't avoid changing the future, only one of them can be real.
Pohlemic, SFC, May 1992

Brian Stableford

What is authentic about genuine science fiction, is that the science fiction writer should not stop with just saying: Well, the plot needs this to happen, therefore I'll just do it and I'll invent an excuse for it being able to be done. Proper science fiction ought to require people to begin to explore the consequences of what they've invented. And thus, I think that science fiction is, in a real sense, capable of being scientific. Not in the sense that it can foresee the future of science, but it can adopt a kind of variation of the scientific method itself, it does feel compelled to explore the consequences of hypotheses and the way things fit together.
(from an interview on Science in SF, ConFuse 91)

Ray Bradbury
Science fiction is really sociological studies of the future, things that the writer believes are going to happen by putting two and two together.

Isaac Asimov
Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the possible consequences, and the possible solutions.

Comments

[jediwonderboy.livejournal.com]

I thnk I like John campbell's and Asimov's the best.

I wonder what is to be said about science fiction that is written to take place in the past? Like steampunk lit and comics? Just off the top of my had, I see that the main thoughts of science fiction hold true, but "altternate" pasts and histories due to early scientific advancement, do hold a piece of fantasy within them, especially when looking at steampunk tech, and how most of it... well, just wouldn't work.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I'll admit it. I had to google steampunk tech. Once I knew what it was, then I knew that I knew what it was (huh?) Around the World in 80 Days, right?

You're right, though. There is sci fi that takes place in the past. I've often wondered about BSG, when exactly it is suppose to be happening. Like, what if they get to earth and we find out that it is only the year 1013? Dr. Who is always messing around in the past, isn't he? Still, I think it's a bit easier to imagine a whole new future than to try and write about a past and work aspects of sci fi into while still keeping congruent with what "really happened."

[jediwonderboy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think that's why I like of the "reimagining" of past times, with some sort of advanced tech, like steampunk stuff. It's harder to write, but still a lot of fun.