How to distinguish if a novel is science fiction or fantasy?

Question

Through the process of writing my novel, I've found that I really don't know where it fits in the written realm. I believe I should have a clear understanding to identify what genre my book belongs in.

Fantasy is about things that cannot occur and has no logical explanation; about alien planets and magic and monsters. Science fiction has logical explanations to all things occurring in the work and often takes place in a futuristic time setting.

Or, pulled straight from a dictionary:

Science fiction: Fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and alien life on other planets.

Fantasy: A genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, esp. in a setting other than the real world.

But for novels that are completely rooted in logic and playing out on different planets with inhabitants who greatly resemble humans and have no powers, what then? Is it filed in a completely different category than these two?

I really need a healthy dose of clarification on the matter.

Answer 1

To me, the difference is not whether the story has a logical explanation, but whether it could have an explanation in this universe. Another way to say it: Fantasy may violate what we know to be true of the universe. Science fiction may not.

A monster, an alien planet, or "magic" could be either fantastical or science fictional, depending on whether it violates the known laws of the universe.

Now, even that line is fuzzy, because "known" is fuzzy and to some extent changeable. And different readers know different things. A quirk of physics that most readers would accept might violate the knowledge of a scientist who specializes in that aspect of physics.

And sometimes an explanation will make the difference. A given monster, planet, or magic might, with sufficient explanation, shift from fantasy to science fiction. What seems like magic may be "merely" technology sufficiently advanced.

Answer 2

To me, the science in science fiction is what differentiates the two. That is usually represented by devices of some sort. Nor does it necessarily need to be a silicon-based device, a carbon-based biological based device would equally foot the bill. But there is always some device that is what makes the special power of the world (be it a method of transportation, communication, etc.) There are also different levels of science fiction. A soft science fiction story probably wouldn't explain how an ansible works, as long as it does. In hard science fiction, the technology behind such a device would not only need to be described in glorious detail but it pretty much needs to actually work based upon the scientific principles that we know and understand today.

Fantasy novels, on the other hand, are almost always rooted some non-device based means of getting things done. It could be magic or runes or wishes, but it does not strictly depend upon a manufactured device being used to make things happen. As with science fiction, there are levels of fantasy, such as hard fantasy.

It should be noted that the vast majority of fantasy and sci fi is not strictly delineated. In fantasy fiction there are always "things" that contain the world's special power, but it doesn't actually create it. These would include such things as Frodo's ring or Harry's Nimbus 2000. Likewise, in science fiction there are often special powers of the mind (psi) that function as that genre's magic. Think of the Bene Gesserit abilities of Dune, for instance, or "the Force" in Star Wars.

And, of course, as Arthur C. Clarke has famously pointed out, [a]ny sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic which implies that if you get far enough out in time, it all merges into the same thing.

Answer 3

I think Philip K. Dick said it best:

Fantasy involves that which general opinion regards as impossible; science fiction involves that which general opinion regards as possible under the right circumstances. This is in essence a judgement-call, since what is possible and what is not possible is not objectively known but is, rather, a subjective belief on the part of the author and of the reader.

From a letter, May 1981; as quoted on p.28 of "The Twisted Worlds of Philip K. Dick" by Umberto Rossi

Answer 4

Whenever this question comes up I always say that the clue is in the name. It's SCIENCE fiction. That means that the story must absolutely rely on science in order to be told and if it doesn't, it's probably fantasy. Now that doesn't mean that the science in the story has to be real, neither does it have to make sense (except within the logical parameters of its own world) and it doesn't have to be set in the future so I'm not necessarily talking about robots or spacecraft or "phasers on stun", but the science does have to be one of the major driving forces of the story. Without the science, the story could not be told.

A great example of this is Back To The Future. In the film Doc Brown has to deliver 1.21 gigawatts of electricity, directly into the Flux Capacitor, at the exact moment that the car hits 88mph to travel through time. Later on when Marty McFly is trapped in 1955 the only way to get back is to rig up the DeLorean with a conducting rod so that, as long as Marty hits his mark at exactly the right moment, while doing exactly 88mph, the lightning will send 1.21 gigawatts of electricity directly into the Flux Capacitor, sending Marty back to the future.

This is classic science fiction. The story absolutely relies on the science to work, without the science, the story could not be told. The fact that the science is utter nonsense is neither here nor there but what does matter is that the science is utterly consistent within the confines of the film and in both time periods. The physics(!) dictates 1.21 gigawatts of power into the Flux Capacitor at 88mph and the same is true in both 1985 and in 1955, the challenge is in harnessing that kind of power in 1955 to get Marty home and that is what makes Back to the Future such a terrific film.

Remember though, ultimately very few people care about the science. What they want to know is "Will Marty's parents get together? Will he get back to 1985 before he ceases to exist?" because like all great science fiction, the science drives the story but it's the people we care about.

Answer 5

Real difference:

Science fiction pretends to be possible. It says We haven't managed to pull this off yet, but we still might someday! Or else, it says We never pulled this off, but if history had gone a little differently, we could have!

Fantasy flat out says This shit is impossible, but it's happening anywayyyy!!!!

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Secondary difference which is a thematic generalization, not always true:

Fantasy uses unrealistic aspects to allow characters to explore themselves and their own potential in more inventive ways.

Science fiction uses unrealistic aspects to explore society and humanity in more inventive ways.

Answer 6

To come from the other side, I think fantasy will usually have characters with some form of "mystical" power - however it is described or explained - which is core to the story. The power is not something created - which would imply that everyone could have it - but something which is indigenous to the character or characters.

In SF there is often no sense of the mystical. Where there is, it is not something that empowers people beyond an inner strength that they may get from their mysticism. In the end, the story is driven by scientific progress or regress, and by application of science.

However, classification is always difficult, and not always helpful. Blurring boundaries often makes for a fun story, and one that challenges the reader. Some of the best stories fail to fit into a clear category - Audrey Niffeneggers "The Time Travellers Wife" is probably romantic fiction, but there is a definite SF element in it.

Answer 7

An even simpler answer:

If the world of the novel purports that proper application of the scientific method in OUR WORLD could explain what's going on, it's sci-fi.

Otherwise, fantasy.

Answer 8

I read the following breakdown of speculative fiction in some writing article or book, and I can't remember were or who wrote it, so unfortunately I can't attribute it. But, it's been really useful for my thinking, so here goes:

Science Fiction is fiction of the mind, Fantasy is fiction of the heart, and Horror is fiction of the senses.