Rejoyce! The Star Wars VII cast has been announced!
On that note, is Star Wars science fiction or fantasy?
Science fiction deals with imaginative content. So does fantasy.
Science fiction depicts other worlds, past, parallel,
present, future or alternative. So does fantasy.
Science fiction explores literary themes like morality and social structure. So does fantasy.
The difference between them is (or is it?) that the imaginary elements within sci fi are possible within science, although they still are pure speculation. There is however, a pretense of realism.
So no magic, no good or evil. No wizards, vampires, ruby slippers, shapeshifting or Middle Earth.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) is recognized as one of the first works of science fiction. It also spurred the weird fiction genre, or what we now recognize as horror.
However, what happens when vampires are explained through science, i.e. medical mumbo-jumbo? Like in I am Legend from 2007. Vampires per se are creatures of fantasy.
In I, Frankenstein from 2014, Frankenstein (a creature of science) must involuntarily fight with Angels poorly dressed as Gargoyles against hordes of Demons in a crazy mash up of science and magic.
None the wiser?
I seem to prefer sci fi, although Harry Potter is much better as a wizard than he would be as a lab-assistant.
Conclusively, Star Trek is sci fi and Star Wars is fantasy.
It is simply a Force thing.
Christine
christines rant 