Eeesh! Why do sci-fi and fantasy always get lumped together?!

I LOVE good Sci-fi (think John Wyndham, H G Wells etc) but I HATE fantasy (sorry all you Pratchetterians and Tolkienians).

I like things that are grounded in truth and actual possibility. I like things that are about human beings, not elves and orcs and hobbits. I like things that are based on Earth, rather than in imaginary worlds, which just leave me cold.

My favourite books include 'The Midwich Cuckoos' and 'The Secret People' both by Wyndham (although the latter written under a nome du plume). I loved the film 'Contact' which reminded me of a good sci-fi novel and on the TV I love Red Dwarf, Dr Who (only the new stuff though) and Torchwood.

Greetings, Earthling.

I have travelled countless of your hours, across vast distances between the stars to visit your planet.

Take me to your toilet.

An excellent question! My guess is that they are because neither is quite "real". I also see the genres as distinct though.

All of your responses are good to read .... for Lou, I lumped the two together, because (at least here in the U.S.) the publishing world lumps them together. From what I understand, the pioneers in the area (i.e., HG Wells and Jules Verne, etc.) told their stories in and out of both genres, and so the two seem to be very strongly linked and many (though as you prove, not all) love both genres, even though they are distinctly different. But also, many of the writers go back and forth between both genres and so bookstores tend to lump them together so that the authors works are all together (hopefully selling more of their stories to those who enjoy that particular author's work).

At least that's some of the reasons I've come across as I've been pondering some story ideas in these two fields.

In print - Robert Jordan (I run the european events for a WoT site), Raymond E. Feist, George R. R. Martin, Katharine Kerr, Jacqueline Carey (great fantasy series with reaaaaaally kinky sex)... let's just say my spare room is a library!

On screen - Firefly, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Dead like me. Btw, anyone see the new episode of Torchwood last night? How hot were James Marsters and John Barrowman together???

Has anybody read stories by Robert Forward ("Dragon's Egg") .... just learned about him and understand that he's a writer of "pure science" fiction -- he's actually a physicist. Loulabelle, this might be one that you would like, if you haven't already read his stuff.

fzzy

I attended a BSO “Sci-Fi Spectacular” concert last night. There were Imperial Storm Troopers, Star Trek crew, and even Gort showed up! Very entertaining. Quite spectacular. What was also apparent was the large number of children and youth who attended.

Selections from both Science Fiction and Fantasy flicks and television were played.

Being the author of seven of the thirteen selections played, I was reminded again how large John Williams looms over this genre’s cinematic landscape.

George Takei, well known for playing Sulu in the original "Star Trek", is still going strong at 70. He had a couple of appearances during the evening, which was filled with, besides the music, the inevitable laser light extravaganza. He finished with Klatuu’s closing speech from “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, while the orchestra played a suite arranged from Bernard Herrmann’s score.

Recommended. If it comes to your area, take the Kinder. You should have an enjoyable evening. :thumb:

And it will be in Darwin in . . . . .

Oldfart,

I have been told it is traveling at Warp Speed.

That's good, most things are warped here.

Arrrgh...I wish I had the money to have gone...couple of friends of mine from the next town over made it up there, will have to bug them for details.

books i am into fantasy the only scifi books i have are the deathstaker books
althou they are a mix of scifi and fantasy
onscreen i like both