Fantasy vs Science Fiction: A Poll

[J-WO]

Nooooo!

 

[The Procrastinator]

Voted I have.

For Fantasy, Precious!

In real life I find it impossible to choose and read (and love) both. So I picked the one on the top of the list.

(Actually if I'm really honest I probably voted Fantasy because of the Lord of the Rings, which I love on many levels - and try as I might I don't have a sci fi equivalent of that kind of love...so there.)

 

[Doctor Crankenstein]

I voted for SF.

I find it more interesting and more worthwhile to contemplate possible futures than possible pasts.

 

[digs]

I voted for fantasy. There's just something about the sheer scope of possibilities in fantasy that gets me. Anything can happen (within the logical boundaries of the world, of course - but good fantasy authors can push those boundaries pretty far). There are some scifi books that I absolutely love, like Ender's Game and a few of that ilk, but there are so many fantasy books that have touched and possibly even changed me in some way.

 

[Connavar]

I've read a lot more science fiction and sci-fi has been my favorite genre since I was a child. Most fantasy novels are centered in medieval European culture and I can't really relate. In theory, however, I prefer the idea of fantasy over science fiction. Science fiction can allow you to experience a world that is drastically different from our world but like our world in that things are explainable and follow the same basic set of rules that our universe does. I think it takes more imagination to create a world with events that are unexplainable and follow a completely separate set of rules than events in our universe do. Besides, if you're writing a story about something that is logically impossible, why not just admit that it is logically impossible rather than coming up with a psuedo-scientific explanation for it?

Fantasy is the oldest genre of story telling (most likely), I just wish that there were more fantasy novels based on African mythology or involving Black characters. I ordered a bunch of fantasy novels online and, if I like them, I might start reading more fantasy than sci-fi. Two 'things' I love about science fiction that fantasy doesn't have are androids/robots and aliens.

You must read Imaro series by Charles.R Saunders. An sword and sorcery series based on Ancient African history,myths. Great writing and perfect for African readers like us.

I asked myself the same question until i saw that series. The books are in print too.

 

[The_African]

You must read Imaro series by Charles.R Saunders. An sword and sorcery series based on Ancient African history,myths. Great writing and perfect for African readers like us.

I asked myself the same question until i saw that series. The books are in print too.

I read two of his short stories (Yahimba's Choice and Gimmile's Songs) in the Dark Matter anthologies and I loved them. I ordered the first two Imaro books from Amazon as well as My Soul To Keep by Tananarive Due but I don't know of any other African based fantasies. I have everything ever written by Octavia Butler but she mostly wrote science fiction.

I find it more interesting and more worthwhile to contemplate possible futures than possible pasts.

That's another reason why many fantasy novels never appealed to me but maybe fantasy isn't preoccupied with the past so much as with low-technology societies where there's more of a need for magic. For all we know, future humans might return to pre-industrial, agricultural socieities (or even hunting-gathering), especially since running out of fossil fuels is inevitable. Or environmentally friendly, alternative sources of energy may become the norm, I don't know much about the subject so I don't know if solar power, wind power etc. is as efficient. The Sword of Shannara series takes place in the future.

 

[Doctor Crankenstein]

The Sword of Shannara series takes place in the future.

And Star Wars takes place in the past.

 

[Vertigo]

I have voted SF. I do read and enjoy fantasy but find SF more consistently good and varied. Fantasy books all too often just seem to follow a standard template. I'm not saying all fantasy is like that but I find much more "same old same old" than there is in SF. There are obvious and remarkable exceptions to this, I just find them harder to isolate.

 

[River Boy]

Fantasy for me, though I prefer to think in terms of folklore and storytelling.

I'd love to find a sci-fi author I can really embrace, but for me sci-fi is used more for moral debate than to explore the imagination and it seems much harder to do well. I suspect I'll go through Philip K Dick's library at some point though, and perhaps HG Wells. My favourite two sci-fi novels are actually by CS Lewis - Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra.

 

[steve100]

In one respect, I see Sci-Fi as a way for humanity to search out its own potential, exploring avenues that could one day become real. The imagination 'daring' us to follow, if we are mad enough that is!!!!

Fantasy is a fine way to 'escape' the sometimes hard labours of life. I favour Fantasy, but do enjoy a good Sci-Fi film.

 

[Rand]

I have voted SF. I do read and enjoy fantasy but find SF more consistently good and varied. Fantasy books all too often just seem to follow a standard template. I'm not saying all fantasy is like that but I find much more "same old same old" than there is in SF. There are obvious and remarkable exceptions to this, I just find them harder to isolate.

Agreed.

There was a time when it would have been very difficult for me to choose between the two, but then fantasy suffered from a glut of FRPG players who decided to write stories based on their gaming characters. In some cases it worked out. In most, it really didn't.

SF suffered from the cyber-punk trend a while back (Super Hackers battling Security and other Super Hackers in VR worlds), but that died out pretty quickly and, unlike the FRPG gamers' stories, didn't create viable enough by-the-numbers templates to influence writers who came later.

 

[Allegra]

I voted SF because my favourite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Iain Banks and Douglas Adams. In fact as long as it's well written, I enjoy both.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I voted fantasy because that's what I mainly read (and exclusively write) these days. I don't dislike SF - I grew up on it, and loved it for many years, but after the heyday of cyberpunk I just couldn't find any new SF I really enjoyed. Maybe the odd "soft SF" novel here and there (Ring of Swords by Eleanor Arnason - very Ursula K Le Guin), but New Space Opera leaves me cold.

I agree that a lot of fantasy is very same-y, which is why I've become a very selective reader. Besides, I don't have time to read a big fat fantasy epic a week and work on my own stuff - especially when even my "leisure" reading is often research into the current market. Given the choice, I prefer to savour a good Tim Powers or re-read a favourite Pratchett (like Lords and Ladies).

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Hey come on fellow SF lovers.

I thought we had this stitched up.

Polls like this are important. The publishing industry will use results like these as an excuse to profligate long winded 1000 page forest despoiling book worm loving obliques. You know the kind of book you need a fork lift to get it out of the shop. (volume one)

Plus they'll be changing the name of the site to Science Fantasy and Fiction.

 

[FaerieMajikk]

fantasy for me, i don't think that i have read any SF before!

 

[chrispenycate]

Hey come on fellow SF lovers.

I thought we had this stitched up.

Polls like this are important. The publishing industry will use results like these as an excuse to profligate long winded 1000 page forest despoiling book worm loving obliques. You know the kind of book you need a fork lift to get it out of the shop. (volume one)

Plus they'll be changing the name of the site to Science Fantasy and Fiction.

Peter Hamilton can do some pretty impressive fork-lift requirements.

And a Pratchett fantasy (even if he does slightly overuse logic and rationality, he's always classed as fantasy) can be read in an afternoon.

fantasy for me, i don't think that i have read any SF before!

So, what fantasy have you really enjoyed reading. I'll bet we can find an SF author who will tickle your fancy…

No, probably not a good idea. You'll already get enough suggestions in just one of the genres to build your "to be read" stack to architectural rather than interior decorating proportions; adding the second division is just cruelty to Strines.

 

[Deathpool]

I like science fiction the best.

 

[manephelien]

I like both, but lately I've read far more fantasy than SF. It varies, though.

 

[Redthing]

I read both, but I like fantasy better. Sometimes I go on SF binges!

 

[Allanon]

For me it's Fantasy as you'll see on my new thread in this forum