What is it that you like seeing in the usual fantasy and sci-fi settings? I like the usual pseudo-medieval stuff, as well as lots of magic, elves, dragons in fantasy, like D&D and Warcraft. In sci-fi, I like seeing space as an ocean, with all kinds of planets, spaceships, races, energy weapons, and psionics, like in Mass Effect and Starcraft. However, there is more to it I like than just that, I still love variety in both types of settings, where possibilities are almost limitless.
Fantasy vs Sci-fi
- Thread starter VGmaster9
- Start date
Surprises. The unexpected. Innovation.
Ditto
Also, actual characters. I'm not a big fan of science fiction where the science and/or fiction is the main plot element. The science/fantasy should only be the tools used by the characters to drive the plot.
What would be a good example of the latter?
Lately I've been watching the two seasons of Stargate Universe (on dvd), which seems to attempt to do this, albeit not done particularly well.
Last edited:
To each their own, of course. But, to be honest, if the science isn't driving the plot in some sense, I'm not sure it is science fiction. Science fiction is at its best when it is exploring the impact of possible science and technological developments upon people - to ask science "what ifs". To do that properly, the science kind of has to be driving some of the plot.
It takes a good author to have both character and science both driving plot - but it takes a good author to write a book worth reading at all, so that's not what I'd call a real barrier.
My recent Sci-fi faves in this regard:
Kristine Kathryn Rusch's Retrieval Artist novels
Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben Bova's Grand Tour novels
Ben Bova - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neal Stephenson's Anathem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathem
Last edited:
horacethegrey
First Post
Does Mass Effect qualify as good scifi? While I do like the series' take on space travel and how the titular 'mass effect' affects society, I find myself liking the series more for it's characters and their stories.
With both fantasy and sci-fi, what I look for most is adventure and excitement. Nothing too far-fetched, nothing too contrived, just protagonists that I can relate to getting involved in dangerous situations.
With sci-fi, I prefer the basic stuff: spaceships, battles, explosions, aliens. What can I say, I grew up watching Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica.
With sci-fi, I prefer the basic stuff: spaceships, battles, explosions, aliens. What can I say, I grew up watching Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica.
GreyLord
Legend
I see it more as space opera. Star Wars is Space Opera, Star Trek sometimes is science fiction, many times Space Opera.
Another way to look at Space Opera is basically Fantasy in Space, rather than Fantasy in a Medieval setting.
2001 when it came out was Science Fiction in my eyes, very little coming out today qualifies as Science Fiction though.
Perhaps I used the wrong terminology then, because that's more what I mean - the story should be about how the science is used, as opposed to what the science is.
The latest science fiction story I read was Sawyer's FlashForward (before the poor IMO TV adaptation); it was an excellent read I found, focusing on the impact of the flashforward rather than the cause.
Similar Threads
