MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - The difference between Science-Fiction and Fantasy

kindlekitten · 01-14-2011, 08:33 PM

there is the classic Heinlein test; "if an egg beater does not exist and someone dreams it up and writes about it and later the egg beater is made, that is science fiction" (or something along those lines)

for fantasy, I just apply the unicorn test; if fanciful mythic creatures appear on scene, or people have magical powers, it is fantasy. I'm not entirely certain where that leaves treecats, but it is a start

01-14-2011, 08:33 PM	#2
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	there is the classic Heinlein test; "if an egg beater does not exist and someone dreams it up and writes about it and later the egg beater is made, that is science fiction" (or something along those lines) for fantasy, I just apply the unicorn test; if fanciful mythic creatures appear on scene, or people have magical powers, it is fantasy. I'm not entirely certain where that leaves treecats, but it is a start