Fantasy and Fantasy and Science FictionScience Fiction

““If a story is set in a universe that If a story is set in a universe that follows the same rules as ours, it’s follows the same rules as ours, it’s science fiction. If it’s set in a universe science fiction. If it’s set in a universe that doesn’t follow our rules, it’s that doesn’t follow our rules, it’s fantasy”fantasy” -- Orson Scott Card-- Orson Scott Card

Which is it?Which is it? How can we tell the difference How can we tell the difference

between fantasy and science between fantasy and science fiction?fiction?

Why should we?Why should we?

Where it all began…Where it all began…

The Roots of FantasyThe Roots of Fantasy Folktales, fables, fairy tales and Folktales, fables, fairy tales and

legendslegends King ArthurKing Arthur Celtic legends “Mabinogion”Celtic legends “Mabinogion” Brothers Grimm, Anderson, Brothers Grimm, Anderson,

PerraultPerrault

Who’s Who of Fantasy Who’s Who of Fantasy LiteratureLiterature Rudyard KiplingRudyard Kipling Lewis CarrollLewis Carroll L. Frank BaumL. Frank Baum J.R.R. TolkienJ.R.R. Tolkien C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis

Ursula LeGuinUrsula LeGuin Anne McCaffreyAnne McCaffrey Robin McKinleyRobin McKinley J.K. RowlingJ.K. Rowling Philip PullmanPhilip Pullman

Conventions and Conventions and TraditionsTraditions

Internally consistentInternally consistent Magical Magical Dragons, unicorns, vampires, Dragons, unicorns, vampires,

ghostsghosts QuestsQuests Universal truthsUniversal truths Wide age appealWide age appeal

Importance of FantasyImportance of Fantasy

““Fantasy is our world turned upside Fantasy is our world turned upside down”down”

Pure escapismPure escapism Pass on customs and traditionsPass on customs and traditions Respond to the unknownRespond to the unknown ImaginationImagination

Subgenres of FantasySubgenres of Fantasy Literary fantasyLiterary fantasy Adventure fantasyAdventure fantasy Series fantasySeries fantasy

Evaluating FantasyEvaluating Fantasy Gradual move from reality to fantasyGradual move from reality to fantasy SettingSetting LanguageLanguage Real ObjectsReal Objects ConsistenceConsistence Original PlotsOriginal Plots Universal TruthsUniversal Truths

Now for Science Fiction…Now for Science Fiction…“Where No One has Gone “Where No One has Gone Before”Before” Includes paraphernalia of scienceIncludes paraphernalia of science Adheres to natural lawAdheres to natural law Presents a speculated world. Presents a speculated world. FuturisticFuturistic AdventurousAdventurous ““What if…”What if…”

The Beginning of The Beginning of Science FictionScience Fiction Jonathan Swift – Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels Gulliver’s Travels

(1726)(1726) Mary Shelley – Mary Shelley – Frankenstein Frankenstein (1818)(1818) Jules VerneJules Verne – Voyage to the Center – Voyage to the Center

of the Earth of the Earth (1864) and (1864) and Twenty Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870)(1870)

Fathers of Science Fathers of Science FictionFiction Isaac Asimov – “Foundation” seriesIsaac Asimov – “Foundation” series Arthur C. Clark – Arthur C. Clark – 2001 : A Space 2001 : A Space

OdysseyOdyssey Robert Heinlein -- Robert Heinlein -- Stranger in a Stranger in a

Strange LandStrange Land Ray Bradbury – Ray Bradbury – The Martian The Martian

ChroniclesChronicles

Value of Science Value of Science FictionFiction Develops the imaginationDevelops the imagination Offers challenges and hopeOffers challenges and hope Offers possibility for changeOffers possibility for change