Welcome to the Sci-Fantasy Blog. My name is Kusani, and I’ll be your overly enthusiastic guide to the wonderful world of sci-fantasy.
What is sci-fantasy, you ask? It is the illegitimate yet awesome child of the two biggest, and typically opposing, genres of fiction writing and cinema – science fiction and fantasy. A fantastic example of sci-fantasy is Final Fantasy X (I bow to Squaresoft for their genius here). In FFX, you see people using magic right alongside strange, glowing pieces of technology, ranging from hand grenades to “airships” to control panels in the walls that are activated by magical spheres. Sci-fantasy is the combination of gritty, realistic, scientific technology that is often rooted in the laws of physics (no matter how bent they may be in that particular universe) and the freedom of magic-riddled, monster-infested, prophecy-strewn fantasy worlds who seem to be permanently stuck in the bronze ages.
Orcs with transmogrifier rays? Werewolves with anti-aircraft missile launchers? Elven princesses rubbing elbows with one-eyed cyborgs aboard airships that sail between worlds (and everyone can be on the deck without oxygen masks)?
Yep, those are all sci-fantasy. It is a fantastic, bewildering hybrid genre that, I believe, will quickly see more and more representation in TV shows, movies, video games, and novels. I can name half a dozen examples off the top of my head: Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, Fifth Element, Ykinde, Chronicles of Riddick, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Dragonriders of Pern (-if- you count things like telepathy, soul-bonding, and telekinesis as “magic” or “fantasy,” which I do).
I, myself, have always professed to be a sci-fantasy writer. I dabble in pure science fiction from time to time, or high fantasy, but I have an absolute love of precisely explaining how everything fits into laws of nature and physics… even magic. I am a degree-less biologist; I know enough science to have a clue how to make even difficult things work. And I am an avid fiction-reader and gamer. All of this exposes me to the wild and wonderful vista of creativity in all its varied forms.
What I noticed is that… well, there aren’t many people talking about sci-fantasy. It may just not be a popular term; a Google search comes up with about 85,000 results. For Google, that’s pocket change.
So, in an attempt to prod what readers I may have into talking… Is “sci-fantasy” the term of choice? Am I missing some more widely-used term to describe this sort of thing? What are -your- favorite sci-fantasy books, movies, and games?
Aileni Noyle said,
August 21, 2007 at 10:58 am
Hi, Kusani,
Just to introduce myself, I have a ‘megablog’ much concerned with writing, photography and, to be honest, my place – after seventyone years – in the scheme of things. There, you will find ‘Inside the Rainbow’, fantasy with some science and magic. Just follow the links.
I apologise in advance for the ragged appearance of the latter parts – my reason is explained in ‘Talking to Myself’.
Elsewhere you will find work written under an earlier name.
Regards and good luck with the blog.
Aileni.
Kusani said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:21 am
Hi, Aileni! Thanks for the comment, first of all. It’s quiet in new places. =)
Fantastic! You have a bit of sci-fantasy! I will check it out as soon as I’m able. And, hey, no worries for ragged appearances – it happens. ^_^
Thanks again for stopping by! Here’s hoping you’ve broken the silence for other people to speak up a bit around here. ~_^ Take care!
~Kusani