What’s the difference between science fiction and fantasy?
The typical genre writer believes science fiction is fiction using technology, fiction about something that might possibly happen in the future. And most of them believe that fantasy fiction is fiction based in magic and the supernatural, something that is impossible, something that will probably never happen. I’m a little different on that. For me the definition is the other way around.
As a pragmatist, I simply think there never will be travel at the speed of light. There won’t be travels to the far end of the universe, there won’t be alien wars – or even first contact with aliens from out of space. Perhaps aliens from inner space, aliens from earth, demonic entities and the like. But not from beyond earth.
For me, fantasy is often a story that might very well be true. That’s the Christian part of me. In Pentecostal churches, one often hears stories about demons, missionary battles with witch doctors, etc. Wind Follower, for me, has the feel of a story that not only could have happened but which probably has happened countless times. Sounds odd, I know. It’s fantasy, but it’s fantasy that is part of my religious tradition, and my Jamaican folklore tradition. When I write supernatural stories I ask myself, “am I writing a fantasy that in my opinion could happen? Or am I writing a fantasy that is creative and unrealistic, a fantasy that probably will not happen?” Right now I’m working on two paranormal novels. One of them, Father Gorgeous, is about a very intellectual priest who slowly begins to return to the supernatural roots of his Christian faith when he encounters a demon. He has encountered something so utterly evil and paranormal that he has to accept the fact that the spiritual world does exist and that Christianity is a religion with supernatural power. I think that could happen in this reality. In some ways, Father Gorgeous is very much like Wind Follower because both main characters have spiritual crises that challenge their way of thinking. Father Gorgeous, however, has a contemporary setting.
My other novel, the Daughters of Men, is utterly creative. It’s about cloning, evolved male humans, chimeric biologically-engineered humans, and standard issue humans. It’s more Science Fiction. Which means it’s something I think will never ever happen. Not in my lifetime, and not in anyone’s lifetime. I’m cynical about human scientific research and am pretty doubtful that we humans will have the time or the sanity to advance to such great scientific discoveries. We live in a world where it’s often warfare and greed that drive science and technology. We might discover how to fly through the stars but we probably will have killed half the planet by the time we actually do.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks for a fascinating review.
2 - Wanza Leftwich
This is an informative interview. I do not know much about speculative fiction. I'm intrigued...I just may have to read a few selections in this genre.