|
When you really come to think about it, science fiction and fantasy are really very similar. There are usually differences that stem from the settings, usually space ships or cyborgs vs. dragons, wizards and knights but the more sophisticated works are harder to distinguish.
When you take into consideration Arthur C. Clark saying that a sufficiently advanced technology will be indistinguishable from magic, how does one know if the book or the movie he reads is Science Fiction or Fantasy?
A technological Wizard
For almost everything an author writes about, there can be a Fantasy or Science Fiction explanation. A car can be driven by a superconductive magnetic engine or by a demon, a weapon can be a coherent X ray beam caster or a complex death curse. A ship can travel the stars powered by a fusion engine or transported by a summoned elemental. And where does that leave us when we try to figure out if a novel is Science Fiction or Fantasy?
My conclusion is simple. We have no way of telling if something is science fiction or fantasy unless the author tells us how he classifies his work. The difference is fairly small, after all. All we need to know is if the explanation between the miracles the author shows us fall into the category of the science fiction or fantasy. The wizard could be summoning the power of ancient demons to see what transpires around his castle or he can use a UAV drone with TV sensors to do the same.
A very useful android review site for apps, games and android tips and help.
No comments:
Post a Comment