Science Fiction or Science Fantasy?

[Aldarion]

I have just re-published my old post on soft-sci-fi vs science fantasy:

Soft Science Fiction or Science Fantasy

Definition Generally, when differentiating fantasy from science fiction, a very simple key is used: if it is pre-modern, it is fantasy, and if it is futuristic, it is science fiction. Thus a story …

warfantasy.wordpress.com

And realized (again) that most of the most popular Sci-Fi franchises are either outright science fantasy (Warhammer 40.000, Star Wars, Dune) or have significant elements of science fantasy (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who).

So:
1) Why do you think that is?
2) How do you differentiate between science fiction, science fantasy and outright fantasy, and do you think these can be considered clear categories or more of a continual spectrum?
3) Do you prefer science fiction or science fantasy, and why?

 

[Bear Ribs]

I have just re-published my old post on soft-sci-fi vs science fantasy:

Soft Science Fiction or Science Fantasy

Definition Generally, when differentiating fantasy from science fiction, a very simple key is used: if it is pre-modern, it is fantasy, and if it is futuristic, it is science fiction. Thus a story …

warfantasy.wordpress.com

And realized (again) that most of the most popular Sci-Fi franchises are either outright science fantasy (Warhammer 40.000, Star Wars, Dune) or have significant elements of science fantasy (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who).

So:
1) Why do you think that is?
2) How do you differentiate between science fiction, science fantasy and outright fantasy, and do you think these can be considered clear categories or more of a continual spectrum?
3) Do you prefer science fiction or science fantasy, and why?

I think it's worth noting firstly that the pure fantasy genre, in terms of market share, awareness, and dollars, utterly dwarfs sci-fi or even science fantasy.

Gender plays some role. I've seen convincing figures (can't find the study offhand) indicating that generally women prefer fantasy and men have a milder preference for sci-fi. Women also read considerably more than men so that skews literature a good bit, and in the current "adaptations, sequels, and franchises only" climate in Hollywood that's enough to deeply skew the movie and show productions.

Personally, I feel it's mostly cultural though. Science Fiction, especially relatively hard sci-fi, dominated in the 60s and 70s and was going strong in the 80s. But in the 90s and forward, it flailed, crashed, and burned. Why? Because the future looked bright in the 60s and 70s. Science was going to cure all the diseases, fix all the problems, invent all the awesome gadgets, and everybody was going to live an awesome life with a jetpack, flying car, and robot maid to clean the house for them.

It didn't happen, of course, and now we look to Science with suspicion and mistrust. Science isn't the solution to our problems, advancing tech is a dystopian threat that may well be the harbinger of the apocalypse. Science isn't going to give us Lensman, or Star Trek, or Known Space. It's going to give us 1984, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, or The Hunger Games.

People read speculative fiction to escape. They can no longer conceive that science provides escape, it's too hard on the suspension of disbelief. It's easier to imagine magic unicorns and wizards solving our problems than to imagine that science is going to do anything good in the future.

 

[ATP]

I have just re-published my old post on soft-sci-fi vs science fantasy:

Soft Science Fiction or Science Fantasy

Definition Generally, when differentiating fantasy from science fiction, a very simple key is used: if it is pre-modern, it is fantasy, and if it is futuristic, it is science fiction. Thus a story …

warfantasy.wordpress.com

And realized (again) that most of the most popular Sci-Fi franchises are either outright science fantasy (Warhammer 40.000, Star Wars, Dune) or have significant elements of science fantasy (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who).

So:
1) Why do you think that is?
2) How do you differentiate between science fiction, science fantasy and outright fantasy, and do you think these can be considered clear categories or more of a continual spectrum?
3) Do you prefer science fiction or science fantasy, and why?

1.People need myths,so they prefer fantasy or science fantasy over science fiction.
2.Continual spectrum,althought you could have clear specimens,like,let say,Conan or Dick novels.
3.Both are good.