Fantasy vs Science Fiction: A Poll

[MAJE Mike]

Sorry for me it is an age thing, (my age). I loved A C Clarke. Stories at there best.

 

[althea]

You never have to apologise for your age or your taste in books,MAJE Mike.
Sometimes, age has no relation to the books one reads,and sometimes,it does.
We are all different and that's what makes life interesting.

 

[BAYLOR]

Sorry for me it is an age thing, (my age). I loved A C Clarke. Stories at there best.

Arthur C Clarke was a great writer. Lots of readers like him.

 

[Vaz]

Erm, I'm a bit of a cross-genre writer but I went for Fantasy.

Main Reason: Dragons > Droids

 

[juelz4sure]

I do enjoy science fiction, although sometimes they go over my head which is why I lean more toward fantasy.

 

[thomas sweetman]

I put in a vote for Fantasy. That's pretty much all that I read, and some historical fiction. I am just now starting to read some Science Fiction, but I still prefer Fantasy.

Ha your me. In lady form

 

[thomas sweetman]

I read mainly Science Fiction, I used to read a lot of fantasy but lately I haven't read any. The last one I did read may have turned me off to it a bit.

What did you read last

 

[thomas sweetman]

Fantasy for me. Sometimes historical fiction but it feels like cheating. To already have a story to bend an shape.....

 

[logan_run]

Science fiction

 

[michaelhall2007]

I've never been big on fantasy. I love'd "The never ending story" in my early teens, but 10 simple words changed my life.
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away".

 

[Old_Man_Steve2016]

I voted for SF since the tech in a sci-fi novel, while not possible today, doesn't mean it won't be possible tomorrow.
You can't really bring fantasy to life, unless it's Science Fantasy (or SF masquerading as fantasy).

 

[Hilarious Joke]

You can't really bring fantasy to life, unless it's Science Fantasy (or SF masquerading as fantasy).

Um, I think you clearly forgot you can use a simple wardrobe to get into Narnia.

 

[althea]

When I read,I'm looking for a rattling good story that keeps me gripped all the way through.
I don't really care what category it fits into.
I just happen to find, I am more likely to enjoy immersing myself into a fantasy world where unusual possibilities may happen.

 

[Old_Man_Steve2016]

Um, I think you clearly forgot you can use a simple wardrobe to get into Narnia.

I never read Narnia, but if you did, could you tell me if the book went into any sort of detail as to how a simple wardrobe held (or generated) a transdimensional wormhole? Especially without said wardrobe, room, and probably the entire building not getting sucked into Narnia along with the kids.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I never read Narnia, but if you did, could you tell me if the book went into any sort of detail as to how a simple wardrobe held (or generated) a transdimensional wormhole? Especially without said wardrobe, room, and probably the entire building not getting sucked into Narnia along with the kids.

The Magician's Nephew explains some of it. But it is set up to be a fantasy, not a sf - although obviously Lewis is also a pretty recognised SF writer.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

The Magician's Nephew explains some of it.

Though a late "retcon" (penultimate book published and should be read then too). In practice portal stories, SF or Fantasy rarely explain or care how it works.
"Aslan" explains something about "portals" in Prince Caspian (which actually initially doesn't even use one, only for going home). Dawn Treader uses a painting.

It's best not to explain.

C.J Cherryh: Morgaine series is sort of Fantasy / SF with portals too.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

You can't really bring fantasy to life

You can in your head.

Also SF isn't really about the possible science. That's only "hard SF" and almost everything alleging to be that on Amazon isn't. SF is basically usually a McGuffin purely to have the setting or examine social / ethical questions without "obvious" Magic. Almost no good SF is genuinely about predicting or helping development of science and technology, except by accident. Most of it *IS* fantasy with the "magic" hidden by technobabble and contemporary near future, alien or future instead of the now and past of most fantasy. But some Fantasy is set in far future (Wondla series that might be mistaken for SF and Shannarra series)

 

[althea]

Anyone who reads sci/fi or sci/fantasy,expecting it to be fact rather than fiction,is in for a disappointment.
When I start a story,I suspend belief and just go with the plot.
Often,after reading a story,I think about it and realise the premise the story was based on,was preposterous.
But during the time of reading I get caught up in it and don't start analysing until afterwards.

 

[Old_Man_Steve2016]

A quick peak at the Smithsonian website informs me of several inventions inspired by Science Fiction (sub, helicopter, cell phones, etc).
Don't know if you'd call "Star Trek" good sci-fi or not, but it did inspire some scientists to make things based off of what they saw on the show.
As far as Fantasy goes, it seems exceedingly difficult to bring magic (or magical animals) to real-life. And given what goes on in those novels, you'd have to be pretty damn crazy to even want to. There's no way you'll ever fit that Dragonlance in your garage...

 

[althea]

You haven't seen my garage!