History Analysis / SpeculativeFiction

It might be said that, on one level, ScienceFiction and {{Fantasy}} tap into two quite different emotions. ScienceFiction appeals to ''hope'' and ''wonder'', both in how we want things to turn out, and how we are afraid they might turn out worse. {{Fantasy}} on the other hand is about ''yearning'' and ''regret'', an appeal directly to the heart about how things ''should'' be that in some ways stretches back to the ideal of childhood, something that can be seen directly in many stories. {{Fantasy}} is rarely dystopic in the way ScienceFiction often is, but it is often wistful - and it is nearly always set 'in the past' (see Star Wars below).

To a lesser extent, this conflict can be portrayed as [[MagicVersusScience outright antagonism between magic and technology]], sometimes [[HarmonyVersusDiscipline used as a theme]]. Occasionally it's even {{lampshaded}} with a [[TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar shooting war between the two]].

ScienceFiction and {{Fantasy}} are the two main classes of non-realistic fiction -- that is, SpeculativeFiction. This page used to be called "Science Fiction versus Fantasy", because the two {{genre}}s can be difficult to distinguish. There are almost as many definitions of the difference between science fiction and fantasy as there are writers. Unfortunately, all of them differ on the central issues: Where do you draw that line that divides ''impossible'' from ''improbable'', or ''measurable'' from ''immeasurable''? What is science, and what is not? {{Horror}} is also classed as speculative fiction but it's much easier to differentiate from the other two...usually.

A wizard turning people into frogs? Generally considered impossible. Travel at the speed of light? Generally considered only improbable for now - unless you are a physicist using the dominant theories. Eliminating death with {{Human Popsicle}}s... Anyone else want to take this one? And TimeTravel... don't even go there.