cyn
Full Member
Posts: 148
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Post by cyn on Sept 15, 2008 17:12:12 GMT -5
Check out Frank Creed's comprehensive list of speculative fiction subgenres (and sub-subgenres) on the General Board.
I'll repost it here:
I’m compiling the most complete list of spec-fic sub-sub-genres for posting in a Web article. If anyone can think of one I don’t yet have, pretty-please wing it my way, kay?
Thanks!
A.Spec Fic
1. fantasy
2. sci-fi
3. horror
4. crossover sub-genres
1. FANTASY
Bangsian
Contemporary or Urban
Dark Fantasy
Fairytale
High
Historical fantasy: Celtic Fantasy, Wuxia, Historical high fantasy, Medieval fantasy
Light Fantasy
Low
magic realism
traditional Fantasy
sword and sorcery
Sword opera
2. SCIENCE FICTION
AI
alien invasion
apocalyptic
Apocalypse or Holocaust
astrobiology
Biopunk
biorobotics
Clockpunk
Communalness
Cybernetic revolt
Cyberspace
cyborg
Coming of Age
Cosy catastrophe
Cyberpunk
Cyberprep
Dieselpunk
Edisonade
Extraterrestrial life
First Contact
Genetic Engineering
Hard Science Fiction
Hollow Earth
Hyperspace
Light
Military
Multiverse
Mundane
New-wave
Parallel universe
Post-Apocalyptic
Post-cyberpunk
Post-Holocaust
Retro-futurism
robotic
Social
soft
Space Opera
steampunk
spy-fi
Time travel
Voyages Extraordinaires
Wetware computer
3. HORROR
creepy kid
classic monsters: Devil/ demons, ghost, lycanthropic, mummy, vampire, zombie
extreme or gore or splatterpunk
gothic
Haunting
Insanity
Lovecraftian
Noir
Quiet
psychological
Satanic or occult
slasher
Surreal
Suspense
Visceral
Witches or Warlocks
4. CROSSOVER
(Sub-sub-genres: subgenres that can be used by more than one spec-fic subgenre.)
Alternate history
Big monsters
Comic
Dark
Dwarfpunk
Dystopian
Elfpunk
Erotic
Gothic
Heroic
High
Immortality
Japanese
Juvenile
Low
Lycanthropic
Mannerpunk
Mythic
Philosophical
Psychic or mind control
Religious
Romantic
Science-fantasy: sword & planet, dying Earth
Superhero
Supernatural
Utopian
Weird or Pulp
Western
Who-done-it
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Post by Frank Creed on Sept 16, 2008 0:52:15 GMT -5
A touch up:
Anatomy of Speculative Fiction
A.Spec Fic
1. fantasy
2. sci-fi
3. horror
4. crossover sub-genres
1. fantasy
Arthurian
Bangsian
Contemporary or Urban
Dark Fantasy
Fairytale
High
Historical fantasy: Celtic Fantasy, Wuxia, Historical high fantasy, Medieval fantasy
Light Fantasy
Low
magic realism
traditional Fantasy
sword and sorcery
Sword opera
2. sci-fi
AI
alien invasion
apocalyptic
Apocalypse or Holocaust
astrobiology
Biopunk
biorobotics
Clockpunk
Cybernetic revolt
Cyberspace
cyborg
Cosy catastrophe
Cyberpunk
Cyberprep
Dieselpunk
Edisonade
Extraterrestrial life
First Contact
Genetic Engineering
Hard
Hollow Earth
Hyperspace
Light
Military
Multiverse
Mundane
New-wave
Parallel universe
Post-Apocalyptic
Post-cyberpunk
Post-Holocaust
Retro-futurism
robotic
soft
Space Opera
steampunk
spy-fi
Time travel
Voyages Extraordinaires
Wetware computer
3. horror
creepy kid
classic monsters: Devil/ demons, ghost, lycanthropic, mummy, vampire, zombie
extreme or gore or splatterpunk
gothic
Haunting
Insanity
Lovecraftian
Noir
Quiet
psychological
Satanic or occult
slasher
Surreal
Suspense
Visceral
Witches or Warlocks
D. crossover (Sub-sub-genres: subgenres that can be used by more than one spec-fic subgenre—usually because one can use magic to do tech things.)
Alternate history
Big monsters
Comic
Coming of Age
Communalness
Dark
Dwarfpunk
Dystopian
Elfpunk
Erotic
Gothic
Heroic
High
Immortality
Japanese
Juvenile
Low
Lycanthropic
Mannerpunk
Mythic
Paranormal
Philosophical
Psychic or mind control
Religious
Romantic
Science-fantasy: sword & planet, dying Earth
Social
Superhero
Supernatural
Utopian
Weird or Pulp
Western
Who-done-it
Faith,
f
frankcreed.com
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Post by Frank Creed on Sept 16, 2008 12:33:43 GMT -5
Last night I added thought-crime.
In the Lost Genre Guild private newsgroup, Grace Bridges asked if I planned on including definitions within this list. All art is subjective, but when you mix religious, philisophic, social, and political aspects to literary art, there will be debate about genre definitions.
There's debate at the Ray-Gun-Revival boards that I'm including themes as genres, because once there are a gaggle of books written in a category, that's one way a genre begins.
Some of the newer genres are still being defined. The best thing to do is string together terms, for example 'Christian who-done-it-fantasy', and see what Googles on any specific day.
I'd like to ask advice here. What do you think of this comment from Rimworlder at the RGR boards:
"Change your hierarchy to reflect the proper relationships:
A. Science Fiction
1. Sci Fi
2. Spec Fic
3. fantasy
4. horror
Unless you insist on believing that speculative fiction is NOT the literary equivalent of writing science fiction while not calling it that... "
This would have been true decades ago, but today, spec-fic is the market's umbrella term, no?
Thanks.
Faith,
f
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Post by Caprice on Sept 16, 2008 14:27:33 GMT -5
The way this person has it written suggests that fantasy is a division of sci-fi. Nope, I totally disagree with that. I do not think it was EVER true. If anything, it would have been fantasy as the broader category because we had fairy tales long before we had science and therefore science fiction. But actually, the two have been grouped together without an umbrella term, just using the sci-fi/fantasy slash thing. I've also seen a variation on that with the SFF acronym, also widely used. Now, some publishers or agents who do none of this type of literature might just call it all science fiction and then fantasy folks would assume that anything that applies to sci-fi applies to fantasy, but since any discussion would probably be negative-- "We don't accept sci-fi." there's no sense in using that type of division done by outsiders to the genre. This also suggests that there is a "type" of sci fi that isn't sci-fi (  ) or fantasy, but pure speculative fiction. So what type of speculative fiction has no sci-fi, fantasy, or horror elements? Just what WOULD it be? The broad term is speculative fiction, which can be broken down into sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Now maybe crossover belongs under each of the other three (depending on what is crossed) but that would get complicated. You had it right the first time. Oh, and I deleted the superfluous thread over in introductions, so it'll all be here now. |
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cyn
Full Member
Posts: 148
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Post by cyn on Sept 16, 2008 15:02:22 GMT -5
D.D. Shade ( Lost Books) defines speculative fiction as science fiction and fantasy stories that take place in worlds that have never existed or are not yet known. He details his thinking below: 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: All stories set in the historical past that contradict known facts of history or "alternate world" stories. 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. 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. 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. Caprice's point about science fiction fitting into the fantasy category (as opposed to vice versa) is a logical one. However, I could see genre purists shaking their heads: logic doesn't necessarily enter into an historical definition. c |
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Post by Frank Creed on Sept 17, 2008 13:52:06 GMT -5
Here's the explanation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkiffyI cannot believe I've been a sci-fi fan my whole life and have never heard of this debate before now. I admit that I was thinkin' this rimworlder fellow must have been reading George MacDonald's works when they were new releases.  When my daughter was about seven years old and began enjoying hockey, I told her it used to be televised when I was a kid, and I loved it too. When the NHL stopped airing games, they lost me as a fan. My daughter replied "Oh, get over it Dad!" This is my sentiment on the skiffy debate. Even B-rate films have decent special effects these days! Faith, f _________________ To God be the glory, Frank Creed--novelist and founder of the Lost Genre Guild www.frankcreed.com www.lostgenreguild.com |
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Post by Frank Creed on Sept 17, 2008 13:55:15 GMT -5
Regarding D.D. Shade's definition, the reason horror also fits into spec-fic is because the genre has the most creative settings AND characters. Most horror settings are on earth, but the protagonists are creeeepy-over-the-top monster types.
Faith,
f
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) or fantasy, but pure speculative fiction. So what type of speculative fiction has no sci-fi, fantasy, or horror elements? Just what WOULD it be?