Speculative Fiction is a notoriously difficult genre to define. For convenience, we’ll be going with the latest definition: It’s a “super genre” that includes a large number of other literary genres, which contain certain elements that don’t exist in our world (at least, as far as we know).
Examples of such genres include science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, horror, and others with speculative elements.
Defining Speculative Fiction
It is important to note that these genres are not automatically considered speculative fiction; rather, a writer’s addition of imaginary elements makes a particular story speculative.
What Makes Something Speculative Fiction?
This is a literary genre motivated by the “what-ifs” of our world, where certain changes are introduced. These changes need to be more substantial than a simple change of action or physical characteristic. The impossible becomes possible and what doesn’t exist becomes real. The outcomes of these changes are then “speculated,” hence the name.
So having two astronauts die from technological failure is not speculative, since it can happen in our world based on our current knowledge. But having them die from alien attacks is speculative since, as far as we know, there are no other species out there other than those from Earth.
Keeping this in mind, our definition and expectation of what to speculate changes as we accumulate more knowledge. What is speculative now might become factual in the future.
A Brief History
Speculative fiction can be traced back as far as ancient Greece when playwrights explored alternatives to the truth. In Euripides’ play Medea, he portrays a world where Medea killed her own children rather than by the Corinthians. It’s an old, old concept.
The term “speculative fiction” was only coined in 1947 by author Robert Heinlein, but he only used the term as a synonym for science fiction. It was used in the 1960s to describe a genre that protests the traditionalized science fiction stories, but use later died off in the mid-1970s.
It was only in the 2000s that it was considered a blanket term for everything that draws conjecture from what we know. However, a fierce debate is still ongoing about creating a solid definition for speculative fiction. Margaret Atwood (The Handmaiden’s Tale) maintains that speculative fiction deals with possibilities that could happen, while science fiction is a separate genre that deals with what couldn’t happen yet.
Sub-genres of Speculative Fiction
Following our definition of it as a catch-all term, here are a few sub-genres of speculative fiction.
1. Science Fiction
Science fiction includes stories about imagined technologies that don’t exist in the present, but that we may or may not achieve in the future through technological advancement. Common elements are advanced robots, time travel, aliens, and interstellar travel.
2. Fantasy
This genre features elements that originate from or are inspired by traditional stories and folklore. Magic is a common theme, as well as societies patterned from medieval times and mythical creatures (elves, dwarves, and dragons).
3. Horror
Horror focuses on stories that incite fear and are often filled with violence and death. The villains of this genre may be of supernatural (vengeful ghosts, monsters, demons) or mundane (psychopaths and serial murderers) origins.
4. Utopian
Utopian stories are about civilizations and societies that seem perfect. People are happy, progressive, and problem-free.
5. Dystopian
These feature stories that take place in undesirable societies where chaos, violence, and oppression are rampant. Life is hopeless and the majority of people are unhappy.
6. Alternate History
Alternate histories focus on factual events, but are written with different outcomes and consequences. They often explore what these different outcomes might mean for the future.
7. Superhero
Superhero stories focus on people who use their special abilities for the good of society. We typically follow them as they battle evil forces and natural calamities. These stories occasionally exhibit fantasy and science-fiction elements.
8. Post-apocalyptic
This genre explores the world after a worldwide disaster that destroys civilization and kills a majority of the world’s population. It focuses on characters who must adjust to their new circumstances and surroundings (i.e. emerging from a bunker to discover a nuclear wasteland).
9. Apocalyptic
This genre focuses on the world before and during a worldwide catastrophe. Typically focuses on characters who do all they can to survive, from stealing, scavenging, to even killing.
10. Supernatural
Similar to horror and fantasy, this genre relies on elements that are out of place in the natural world. This can range from religious and mystical powers, psychic abilities, and supernatural creatures.
Speculative Fiction Book Examples
Here are a few books to get you started on your speculative fiction reading journey.
1. The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
For those new to speculative fiction reading.
This is a collection of speculative fiction that displays the genre’s amazing range of storytelling. Read about a girl born with an ice cube for a soul, a little girl who meets a man that might be the god of war, and a son who’s unwilling to learn his immigrant mother’s language.
2. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
For fans of utopian/dystopian stories.
Humans have conquered war, hunger, disease, and even death. They live in a perfect society controlled by artificial intelligence that never makes mistakes. Now, the only problem they’re dealing with is overpopulation. Citra and Rowan are chosen to be Scythes—a person commanded to kill to keep the size of their population under control.
3. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
For reading seeking stories connected to the environment.
Every few centuries, the continent known as the Stillness experiences catastrophe. Natural disasters regularly destroy societies. Orogones—people with the power to control the earth, can help mitigate the disasters but are persecuted out of fear and hate. When an apocalypse that can end all apocalypses occurs, Essun, an orogone, must find her daughter before it’s too late.
4. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
For readers who want slice-of-life stories.
Mateo and Rufus are total strangers who both get a call from Death-Cast, a company that predicts the deaths of individuals. Both of them are going to die today. Determined not to waste their remaining time, they meet through an app and attempt to live a lifetime in just a single day.
5. Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
For fans of friendship stories.
Jamal and Q, once inseparable best friends, are now estranged until Q dies attempting to save someone. When a mysterious man offers to resurrect Q for a few weeks using experimental technology, will they be able to have a second chance at their friendship?
Difficulties of the Genre
The definition of speculative fiction is still actively debated among scholars and authors. The fluidity of fiction makes categorizing some genres almost impossible.
Take Star Wars, for example. It is set in a highly-advanced world where faster-than-light technology is normal, yet exhibits a magic-like element called the “Force.” This places it into both the science-fiction and fantasy realms.
That’s just a simple example of what scholars and authors are dealing with when defining a super genre. Aside from genre-blending, different interpretations by well-known authors have further muddied the waters.
Speculate, Speculate, Speculate!
While the confines of this genre tend to be blurred, you can’t deny that this super-genre is fun to explore.
Human imagination and curiosity are constantly pushing the boundaries of speculative fiction. As we turn these things into discovering more about our world, what we believe to be nonsensical and impossible may just become reality. And the things we read about in this genre might just become facts.
What do you think about speculative fiction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- The Most Popular Fiction Genres: Definitions and Examples
- 12 Best Historical Fiction Books to Read Right Now
- 23 Best Dystopian Novels for a Thought-Provoking Read
- 21 Best Alternate History Books to Challenge Your Perspective
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
