Sub-genres in Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: An 1889 Labs Encyclopedia, sort of.

 

 

The fantasy and science fiction genres are vast; they are more like an umbrella that encompasses completely different types of stories. There are millions of books out there that are classified as being science fiction or fantasy (sometimes both), but when a reader is trying to find specific stories in particular, these genres alone won't do much to narrow down his or her search.

Fantasy literature, by definition, is a genre that uses either imaginary worlds, races, supernatural or paranormal characters, and magic. It's often set apart from science fiction and horror by omitting scientific or macabre themes. However, if anyone has noticed as of late, there has been some significant overlapping across these genres.

Science fiction literature, by definition, is a genre that often incorporates alternative earthen histories, distant planets, alien races, epidemics caused by volatile, deadly contagions, or practically anything else that offers insight into futuristic scientific progression. Science fiction is commonly seen being crossed with horror. The console game Dead Space comes to mind (it's not literature, I know), FEAR, and the huge zombie outbreak in the literary world often tries to add scientific explanations to the plague that caused the apocalypse.

The sub-genres of fantasy are numerous. Too numerous to go through them all, but some of the major ones include dark fantasy, epic fantasy, low fantasy, high fantasy and the newest one of the bunch, science fantasy.

Dark fantasy is the sub-genre that accounts for the fantasy-horror mash up. It can also contain macabre themes that aren't exactly horror, but contain brooding and often chilling undertones. Dark fantasy has also been known to include the paranormal and supernatural genres. Usually dark fantasy is limited to worlds that are very similar to ours, with humanistic themes.

Epic fantasy is a sub-genre of literature that normally takes place in an imaginary world, telling a tale over the course of a very long time, which usually incorporates war or some other kind of worldly conflict. Many popular fantasy series are epic fantasies. Some that come to mind are Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, GRR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and of course JRR Tolkien's the Lord of the Ring series.

High fantasy is a sub-genre of literature that usually goes hand in hand with epic fantasy. Many of the mentioned series above are high-fantasy stories, which are pegged as 'sword and sorcery' fantasy. High fantasy usually contains elves, wizards, kingdoms in peril, dragons, and other mythical creatures and beasts. This sub-genre is also sometimes referred to as 'classic fantasy'.

Low fantasy is a little harder to categorize. These stories take place in a real world setting, with less emphasis on the fantastical. Many low fantasy stories are often set with paranormal and supernatural themes, occurring in our world, with human characters. Low fantasy is antithetical to high fantasy, so it does not contain a surplus of mythic and magical elements.

Science fantasy is the newest sub-genre (or at least newest to me, since I hadn't hear of it until last year), which accounts for science fiction and fantasy cross-overs. Stories that have both scientific and fantastical elements to them, but can't quite be strictly deemed science fiction, nor can it be strictly called fantasy, tend to be termed 'science fantasy' instead. These stories contain a blend of elements related to the science fiction domain, but also contain those related to fantasy as well, such as supernatural/paranormal mixed with genetic engineering or other forms of scientific theory. Though I haven't come across this sub-genre much in the last year I'd known it existed, a movie (whose title eludes me at the moment) that contained vampires claiming the earth and experimenting on humans to create 'synthetic blood', others attempting to research a cure using photon radiation, comes to mind.

The most popular science fiction sub-genres, that I know of, consist of hard SF, soft SF, cyberpunk, and steampunk.

Hard science fiction is a sub-genre used to describe the amount of scientific emphasis or technical detail to a story's setting or theme. Hard science fiction authors often use extremely accurate science or technological aspects to drive a story's plot. Some hard science fiction authors that come to mind are Asimov and Larry Niven. Some of Michael Crichton's works could also be deemed hard SF.

Soft science fiction is a sub-genre that contrasts hard SF.  It is not based on the 'hard' elements of science (physics, astronomy, chemistry, etc), but on the 'soft' elements, like anthropology, sociology, political sciences and psychology.

Cyberpunk is one of my favorite sub-genres of science fiction. Stories in the cyberpunk sub-genre are usually set in postmodern times with an emphasis on high technology and low life. It's also usually placed in a dystopian world (many of the themes point to the consequences of misusing science and technology). Plots may center on hackers, artificial intelligence and megacorporations, along with a certain degree of radical political discharge and social disorder.

Steampunk is a sub-genre that can also be incorporated into fantasy. However, it's emphasis on contraptions and alternate histories suggest a more SF foundation. Steampunk settings are usually quite interesting, with a Victorian-esque atmosphere, back when 'steam' was still used as a power source. However, steampunk may also have postmodern elements to them; futuristic worlds with unique contraptions and gimmicks, political orders, all packaged into an unusual society of corsets and tophats. Those are my favorite kinds of steampunk stories, anyhow.

 

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Terra Whiteman is a scientist by profession, a philosopher by hobby, and author of 'The Antithesis'. For other musings and additional works, please visit terrawhiteman.com