Fantasy vs Science Fiction: A Poll

[Gramm838]

Sorry to be pedantic, Gramm, but apostrophe use does not denote 'an arabic or oriental basis'. Quite often, I take apostrophes in Fantasy words to represent a glottal stop, which is common in many languages, including your own. Scots Gaelic to Polynesian, many cultures have it in their language.

In a different world, I would expect the names to be a little unusual. However, I do take the point that an apostrophe might be used by a lazy writer to create a false air of exoticism, which I think would come across crassly unimaginative.

On the other hand, I think Hope's answer here is perfect.

Maybe I should have used the word 'exotic' then...but my point still stands!

 

[Action Avenue]

Sci-Fi "speaks" to me more than fantasy. Both are engaging and are usually worth the trip through the passages.

 

[chongjasmine]

I like to be in a world of fantasy rather than science fiction.
I like the 'uniqueness' of the fantasy world where anything can be out there.
I don't really like science fiction.

 

[Hermit the frog]

I like both, although sci fi is the one that I always come back to. They both offer escapism, but whereas fantasy is a beautiful dream, sci fi is more, a dream that could become a reality. I can transport myself into both and enjoy it, its just that with sci fi the promise or threat that what you're reading could take place grounds me in the story a bit more.

Stumbling over what I feel, hope you get the idea.

 

[Influx]

I'm a fan of both genres, however of late the vast majority of my reading choices fall within Science Fiction.

I went through a period where I was reading fat fantasy series which may have lead me to suffer an overdose on Fantasy somewhat.

 

[Warren_Paul]

wh'at pu'ts me of'f abo'ut fan'tasy is the num'ber of wor'ds that inc'lude un'necessa'ry apost'stop'hies...not every fantasy location or name has to have an arabic or oriental basis to it, does it?

To be honest, I don't find all that many fantasy novels that actually do this, and to claim they all do is a gross exaggeration. And putting all the apostrophes in your words like you've done doesn't reflect their proper intended use because you're putting them in random, incorrect places without any clear understanding of the purpose behind their use - which isn't solely rooted in fantasy (I imagine you will find plenty of examples in literary works as well), even sci-fi novels use the apostrophe in this way for its alien races dialects. In fact, they are even more likely to than fantasy.

The only time I've used it in my writing would be the following tribal village name: Equi'te. The sole reason was to create a pause between the I and the T. But the apostrophe doesn't look out of place either, unlike your examples, and taking it out would give the word a completely different pronunciation which just sounds wrong.

 

[nerd literature]

I always want to say fantasy but I have to admit to myself I think science fiction is more my cup of tea even beyond literature. The shows I go back to time and time again are all science fiction: Fringe, X-Files & Farscape as well as the authors: Asimov, Bradbury, Wells, Herbert. That's not to say I don't love me some fantasy either.

 

[allmywires]

wh'at pu'ts me of'f abo'ut fan'tasy is the num'ber of wor'ds that inc'lude un'necessa'ry apost'stop'hies...not every fantasy location or name has to have an arabic or oriental basis to it, does it?

Very rarely do fantasy series base themselves accurately on Arabic or Oriental cultures, although I'll admit that apostrophitis does annoy me too. Constant medievalism of fantasy annoys me more, though - of all our time periods, that's the most exciting? Sheesh.

I like science fantasy. Science fiction to me is generally too unbelievable - at least stuff that isn't a humorous take on it, like Futurama - and standard Tolkien-esque ripoff fantasy gets samey after a while.

 

[Southern Geologist]

Both genres have been present with me since childhood--largely in the form of literature--but I'll admit that fantasy has historically been my preference throughout my life. In spite of that, I had to pick science fiction. It has grabbed me recently and not let go and I actually have the desire to write sci fi. I've never had a strong desire to write fantasy.

Also, space opera rules.

By the way, I don't have any intention of getting heavily involved in the competition but I'm pretty happy to see this poll/thread here merely to gauge where the board stands on the matter.

 

[biodroid]

I am steadily getting bored of the same fantasy tropes out there, so I will be trying my hand at some SF like Gary Gibson and Alastair Reynolds etc. I still want to read Janny Wurts Wars of Light and Shadow series and Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series but so far that's about it.

 

[Southern Geologist]

If you're interested in Donaldson and sci-fi I'd recommend his Gap series, a space opera.

 

[Mr Fraaz]

I voted Fantasy...

But I include the so called "space fantasy" genre in "fantasy".

 

[Bick]

Almost always it's SF for me. I dip into Fantasy occasionally (such as King's Dark Tower), but it's a rare departure from the norm.

 

[Handsome John]

Look, SF is amazing (Kim Stanley Robinson, anyone? Philip Jose Farmer? Star Wars?) but Fantasy is clearly supreme.

Tolkein
Jordan
Martin
Brooks
Feist
Hobb

just to name a few.

 

[steve12553]

I kicked my vote to Science Fiction. This is one of the rare polls that I have seen that makes any sense. I don't have a favorite color, book, movie, or any of of those many things that people seem to be concerned about. At my age I've gone through many favorites and will revisit with mood. But in this case I've read at a ratio of hundreds to dozens Science Fiction to Fantasy. I've enjoy both but that's where my interest lies.

 

[Ted Cross]

I voted fantasy but only because I read slightly more of it than sci-fi. I love both of them pretty much equally.

 

[JoanDrake]

Following Clarke's Law, any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from Magic. Modern physics says that at a Black Hole Singularity anything is possible so Magic might be possible to a technology that could utilize Singularities. Therefore I voted for SF, but there really isn't any difference between the two genres

 

[chongjasmine]

I chose fantasy, because I prefer to read it more than science fiction.

 

[Mariella]

I have read and enjoy both but have to give the nod and the vote to fantasy. It is a pretty close vote.

 

[ed9428]

This is alot closer than I thought. I chose Sci fi, but I thought fantasy would have a bigger lead.