Science fiction and fantasy books often share shelf space in both physical and electronic bookstores. I’ve never quite understood why. Okay, I see that both genres involve places, people and fantastic events that are beyond our current reality. Both genres introduce the reader to creatures that don’t exist in our world, or the story dives headfirst into an entirely new world. So yes, there are similarities, mostly in settings and characters.
But that’s where the similarity ends. In my opinion, fantasy is as different from science fiction as cheese whiz is to the finest gouda. One has structure and a refined taste; the other is often a gooey mess. Science fiction, if done right, derives its strength from reality by taking the reader on a fantastic trip that could be real – if not today, then someday. We step off a platform, firm and solid, and ride from there into the unknown.
Fantasy, even though it can be highly imaginative (J.K. Rowling, you are amazing) often has no basis, no rules, no structure. It doesn’t derive from any reality we know. Things just are the way they are because the author says so (Rowling and a few others excepted).
I just finished reading an award-winning book, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. It won a Hugo, the highest award any sci-fi or fantasy book could receive, so obviously the author has written a dynamite story, right? Well, yes, she has. I can appreciate her imagination and her writing style (it’s very clever). But because the story is pure fantasy, there’s not a shred of structure. Everything is made up without explanation. For example, dozens of different creatures roam this fantastic world. They all have various powers to kill, or turn things to stone, or move mountains. Yet none of them can explain where their powers come from. The characters continually say they don’t understand how it works; it just does. Sorry, that’s a complete copout, bordering on lazy. It’s not like the author neglected one or two minor plot holes, this excuse is used over and over. Fantasy without explanation is the Swiss cheese of plot holes.
One fantasy writer who did take the time to define the rules is Brandon Sanderson. His magnificent epic, Mistborn, is one I’ll remember for a long time. In this story, the author systematically identifies dozens of metals (copper, iron, and so on) that can be swallowed and then “burned” by Allomancers to produce a particular power. Some allomancers can burn one metal, but the "mistborn" can burn them all. The point is, there are rules, limits and clearly defined reasons why these metals work the way they do, and it provides the basis for a great story. Bravo Brandon. Well done.
Another writer that I love is Martha Wells, who transitioned from fantasy to sci-fi with her outstanding novel, All Systems Red. If you haven’t read it, do. It shows that an author who understands how to craft a believable character can be at home in any genre. I’ll bet Martha could write a mystery or romance novel and it would be just as good.
My complaints about fantasy shouldn’t imply that every science fiction novel is superior. Not by a long shot. So many sci-fi books employ tired formulas with too many military battles, far too much violence, and are set on too many wretched, dystopian worlds. Ugh. Personally, I prefer science fiction that is adventurous, uplifting or mysterious.
I also believe that every science fiction novel should have a foundation in real science (that’s why we call it science fiction). Without a scientific basis, the story more rightfully belongs in the fantasy category, where the only limit is the author’s imagination. When a story introduces a magical element, but can’t explain how it works, I usually close the book.
Whatever you enjoy, keep reading. Long live science in science fiction!