When is fantasy not fantasy?

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I'm totally ok with Space Opera. That is what I consider sci-fi like fantasy books (you know, no hard sci-fi and lots of fantasy elements but it takes place in space). THere are a lot of romance space operas.

[Jason]

MrsJoseph wrote: "R. Scott wrote: "I don't know what Lucas would say about fantasy versus science fiction, but it doesn't matter. Lucas could call it a ham sandwich but that doesn't make it one. It is space fantasy ..."

Check out this funny song.

This is not a song, this is a sandwich:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMrXMj...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

lol! That is funny!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

They're all alternate/future history with speculative aspects located in this, another or an alternate universe/multiverse....

[Jason]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "They're all alternate/future history with speculative aspects located in this, another or an alternate universe/multiverse...."

I bet you can't say this quickly five times in a row. lol

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Now if I were really annoying I would just copy and paste it 5 times, but I'm resisting the temptation...really I am...

[The Pirate Ghost]

this quickly five times in a row. lol

see, I can say it!

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Ah yes. Hugh-mor.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hugh-mor????? I suddenly got a flash of mud bogs, a hound baying at the moon and some guy with wild hair...Hugh-cliff??????

[Jason]

Oh boy...

[Terry]

Hugh-gor Clegane? Lost brother of Sandor and Gregor. He will be in the next book, 3 years from now. Wait for it.

[The Pirate Ghost]

I was thinking Clay-mor. A little to offensive?

[Terry]

Good anime, Claymore was. (In my best Yoda voice)

[Shanshad]

What makes me go with space opera or science fantasy for Star Wars is that the opening starts with what essentially amounts to "once upon a time in a kingdom far away" only coached in different wording. It's a SF setting, to be fair, but it still strikes me as fantasy at the heart of the story.

[Mach]

It's Galaxy not Kingdom.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

"Essentially amounts to" means paraphrasing is going on--suggesting the format is like a folk-tale or fairy tale.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Carol wrote: ""Essentially amounts to" means paraphrasing is going on--suggesting the format is like a folk-tale or fairy tale."

^This

[Teresa]

I don't automatically discount any sort of speculative fiction as fantasy. It depends on the individual book. If the story could be told just as easily and as well without whatever the ostensible fantasy element is, then for me it isn't really fantasy.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Alex wrote: "I think the guys over at Best Fantasy Series did a great job of classifying a large number of fantasy genres including: epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, high fantasy, steampunk, sword & sorcery, dark,..."

This is how I think of Sci-Fi vs Fantasy.

I've liked very little sci-fi but I love fantasy. Hate to say it, bit I could care less if Androids dream of Electric Sheep...

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I'm more of a fantasy person myself. I admit I do love the rustic, Firefly type sci-fi though.

[Bridget]

Alex wrote: "I think the guys over at Best Fantasy Series did a great job of classifying a large number of fantasy genres including: epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, high fantasy, steampunk, sword & sorcery, dark,..."

Great explanation, Alex. I think sometimes since the line can be so fine between the different genres that it becomes a personal definition. This pretty basic straight forward way of putting helps at least clarify it to some degree.

[Marina]

That's an interesting read, but a lot of the time I think they're splitting hairs. Plus some authors seem to be placed in different categories seemingly in contradiction with each other.