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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Desdichado" data-source="post: 1919757" data-attributes="member: 2205">This is actually an interesting topic that I've given some thought to, based in part on someone's complaints on one of the other sub-forums about romance novels disguised as fantasy novels.Most genres of fiction are defined by the type of plot they have, or the types of characters, or both.  For fantasy that's not really true; its defined by the setting more than anything.  Anything else goes in fantasy.  There are some common themes, such as going on quests, good vs. evil, etc. but they aren't mandatory for the genre.  Therefore, fantasy can effectively be combined with almost any other genre; fantasy romance, fantasy horror, fantasy hard-boiled detective mysteries, etc. without making it not fantasy.Science fiction is sorta in the same boat.  Technically, most authors of science fiction, at least in the past, would tell you that it doesn't truly qualify unless some form of interpretive or speculative science is used to literally resolve the plot.  (I've never heard anyone try to make a similar case with something magical or supernatural crucial to plot resolution in fantasy.)  However, in all practical terms, today science fiction is pretty much also defined more by setting conventions than anything else.For those of you who disparage non-fantasy literature, you're really missing out.  There's some really good stuff out there, and conversely, most of the fantasy I've read has been pretty mediocre at best.  Of course, YMMV.</blockquote>

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