Fav Fantasy writer

ivan_2068 wrote: Peter wrote: Well, Dune is generally regarded as science fiction (often concerning the future, spaceships, other planets, advanced technology, etc). Fantasy, on the other hand, generally involves magic, and often, a pseudo-medieval setting. The two genres are related, yes, but generally treated as separate (though sometimes the lines blur, and writers often don't necessarily stick to just one or the other). I don't know if Herbert has ever written any pure fantasy.   But, just in case you don't want to take my word for it, I got this from the Official Dune Website: "Frank Herbert's Dune series is one of the grandest epics in the annals of imaginative literature. Selling millions of copies worldwide, it is science fiction's answer to The Lord of the Rings, a brilliantly imaginative epic of high adventure, unforgettable characters, and immense scope."   Great books, BTW, though, for me, the first was easily the best. You make a point Peter, when saying limits are blur, lets see an example: Star Wars: A futuristic space saga with spaceships, interstellar voyages, etc no doubt about it, but it has all the characteristcs of Fantasy that you mention: Magic: The limits beyond magic and mysticism in the Jedi Knigts is very soft, so at least we have one component of Fantasy. Swords: Light sabers are the equivalent to swords. the monsters we see take the place of the dragons, etc. Pseudo Medieval settings: We have Queen Amidala, Princess Leia, Jedi Nights who fight for the sake of goodness. What's this Sci Fi or Fantasy? Iván

Space opera!

It's a "fairy tale" set in space -- think of the opening: "long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." substitute "kingdom" for "galaxy," and you have a typical fairy tale opening. 

For sure, Ivan, that one is a major blend. I've always noticed how Star Wars "looks like sci fi, but acts like fantasy," as it were. Princesses, magic (the "force"), etc -- it is really more fantasy than sci-fi.

(Notice that I was careful to use words like "generally" and "often" in my post -- there are always exceptions.)

SW is pretty clumsy in its sci fi, too -- witness the spaceships making sound in the vacuum of space! Ha! Too much of the "science" is never explained, as well: just how does a non-aerodynamic craft, with no wings or rocket blast, levitate silently when within a planet's atmosphere? "Anti-gravity?" All indications are, such a thing is flat-out impossible.

There are many other examples of such fantasy/sci fi blends, but that one is certainly an obvious one! (For one excellent such blend, check out Robert Silverberg's stunning Lord Valentine's Castle. An amazing, engrossing read!

Science fiction is a type of "fantastic" literature, anyway. (An offshoot of fantasy, which came first in the guise of the folk/fairy tale.)

But there are generally certain broad parameters between the two.

Most popular fantasy is sword and sorcery -- but by no means does all fantasy fall into that category.

Much science fiction (Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke, David Brin, william Gibson, etc) focusses on actual, possible science and technology (so-called "hard" science fiction)  but some sci fi, like that written by Ursula K. LeGuin, for example, in her outstanding novels The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness, effectively "gloss over" all that, and concentrate instead on social sciences like anthropology (her father was a famous anthropologist) and psychology. Her character development, insights into human nature, and portrayals of the clash of "primitive" and technological cultures, is simply awesome, but the science of say, interstellar travel, is just taken for granted as being in place, with no real attempt to explain or justify it. (She writes excellent fantasy too, in her Earthsea series, as well as mainstream fiction. A very versatile author, and certainly one of America's best, in ANY genre!) 

Both types of sci fi can be equally rewarding reads, in different ways.

Happy reading!