On Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Science Fantasy
I am of an age where the split between Science Fiction and Fantasy had occurred. Yes Star Wars was out and in the early 80′s movies were still being made where Science Fantasy was briefly explored. I have been reading old pulp magazines, from the early to mid 1920-30 where the Science Fantasy genre was occurring. The split had not occurred. Checking Wikipedia, Science Fantasy is defined as: Science fantasy is a mixed genre within the umbrella of speculative fiction which simultaneously draws upon or combines tropes and elements from both science fiction and fantasy. In a science-fiction story, the world is scientifically possible, while a science-fantasy world contains elements which violate the scientific laws of the real world. Nevertheless, the world of science fantasy is logical and often is supplied with science-like explanations of these violations.
Why is the definition important, in Science Fiction, everything has to be scientifically possible. That is pushing the envelope outside of what we know to be the laws of the natural world. Such as a colony ship floating in the relative void of space, on a years long journey to another planet. All of this is feasibly possible. I am of the mindset that by limiting our thoughts, in life, and in gaming to what is scientifically possible. Is hindering what we can come up with. I was having a discussion with my son about a Marvel movie that we just watched, Thor: The Dark World. He said, “Dad that movie was fiction, cars can’t float like that.” It got me thinking, and I asked, “Why Not?” Yes my son is only 6 and you will get some of the best answers asking that. His response was firmly rooted in the real, and the mundane. I am glad to hear the concepts and science that he is learning from his mother and myself, as well as from the teachers. What saddened me is that there was no “what if,” the element that helped us develop so much. The Science Fantasy genre to me, is the “What If,” story. For gaming, what if a civilization built up around a nuclear warhead that didn’t detonate, they found that controlling the radiation from the core of that device would mutate the victims into super humans, what would happen. What if instead of a nuclear reaction, it was instead a Pheonix trapped in stasis and they only momentarily let it start it’s rebirth and that is what is mutating those exposed to it. Star Wars explores the what if Magic was real, but was a balancing act between the forces of good and evil. Passion and Control. Which ever other millions of way it can be defined as. I will be introducing an adventure/location that I am calling Jaranga: The City of Masks. This is a game that I intend to run with the Dungeons and Dragons 5e system. Cause that is what my players like. The city resides in a Dome that doesn’t allow the light from the outside world in, instead it is lit by the incredibly bright lights of Arc Lamps, bulbs filled with plasma, a technology that existed in our history and was abandonned. The Masks protecting the eyes of the persons who live there, much like ancient welding masks. I am encouraging everyone to take a moment and look at your game worlds, would Science Fantasy fit, benefit, or hinder the game. What elements can be extracted from the blending of these genres to flesh out otherwise unexplained elements past “magic.”