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Science Fiction vs Fantasy

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Re: Science Fiction vs Fantasy
Post by umbrarchist   » Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:02 pm

umbrarchist
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These are the science fiction novels from the Big Three in the 70s:

I Will Fear No Evil, 1970
Time Enough for Love, 1973—

Rendezvous with Rama (1972)
Imperial Earth (1975)
The Fountains of Paradise (1979)

The Gods Themselves 1972

Asimov produced more than that by himself in the 80s.

Star Trek reruns attracted people to science fiction who had not been SF readers before the 70s. Then Star Wars arrived in 1977 which the producers admitted was Space Fantasy. Since then it seems more and more people do not care about the difference.

http://iwastesomuchtime.com/on/?i=63771

IN the 60s psychic powers seemed acceptable as science fiction. But I guess now the people who prefer science fiction need to decide how to distinguish the two.

But with all of the people who don't care about the difference or how bad the science is it becomes difficult to find good SF for the people who care about the science.

I think some writers don't care as long as it sells.
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Re: Science Fiction vs Fantasy
Post by Redleg68   » Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:20 am

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Ok if you cannot tell the difference why have two catagories for me to search? If you can tell the difference then make it a little easier for the to sort out looking for something I want to read. No into vampires, ghouls, hobbits, elves, space flying dragons, werewolves, or obviosly not science fiction. I read some turttedove which to me is fantasy and enjoy it and some which is Sf and enjoy that. I like Moon's SF and Fantasy. Some SF I dont like and Much fantasy I don't like. I enjoy Gordon Dickerson, Jerry Pournelle, and Heinlein. I enjoy military Sf more than some other kinds, but that comes from the fact that I grew up around the military and then spent 30 years in the service. Then I read S. M. Sirling's and Eric Flits alternate history stories and enjoy them. I enjoy Bujold's Series about a hunchback cripple who overcomes all to be successful. I have read Mcafferty's Pern and enjoyed some more than other based on the slant. Like the character development.

So I have a chatholic taste. Yet If you provide a division please make it so not list obvious fantasy in SF and obvious SF in the fantasy.

Folding up soap box, dusting hands and marching off to a nice breakfast steak, pan fried potatoes with sweated onions, and home made biscuits with raspberry jam. LOL
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Re: Science Fiction vs Fantasy
Post by umbrarchist   » Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:10 am

umbrarchist
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Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:45 am

Maybe we need categories with archetypes for reference.

http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthre ... post709804

I just finished Leviathan Wakes. I would put it in type 2. It has SF elements but an asteroid that "jumps" 500 Km to avoid an impact. Give me a break. And "vomit zombies". I mostly just read it to be able to comment on it. It wasn't bad as entertainment goes but other than evaluation purposes I would have avoided it just because of the zombies.

I get the impression that too many readers are followers and can be told what is good rather than truly decide for themselves.
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Re: Science Fiction vs Fantasy
Post by DDHv   » Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:30 am

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Way back in college I ran across a card. One side said "The statement on the other side is true." The other side said, "The statement on the other side is false." Thinking it over provided these definitions:

Fantasy statements only connect with other words, although there will be resonances with reality in understandable ones. (Bahzelverse weapons destroy, water floats & drowns, etc.)

True statements agree with reality.

False statements disagree with reality.

Later conclusion: Since we aren't God, we can neither know everything, nor think correctly about everything even if we did know it. Therefore we should assume any paradigm statements, even the useful ones like Ptolomaic astronomy, Aristotelian physics or today's XXXXX are going to be wrong somewhere, and we should look for where.

Economic examples: Keynesian assumes the multiplier is greater than 1. Monetarism assumes the velocity of money doesn't change much. The efficient market hypothesis assumes investors are do so rationally.

So far it looks like some combination of complexity theory with psychological investing is the best bet.

On the other hand, the old theories: excuse spendthrift politicians, excuse the Fed grabbing power, and excuse a lot of poor Wall street shenanigans.

Guess what is likely to be used until a major crisis forces a change!
Douglas Hvistendahl
Retired technical nerd

Dumb mistakes are very irritating.
Smart mistakes go on forever
Unless you test your assumptions!
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