Readers have long picked up science fiction and fantasy as a way to look beyond the mundane. Whether exploring a fantastical world or soaring beyond the stars, both genres offer an escape from everyday life, and inspire minds to consider new and wonder-filled possibilities.
While both science fiction and fantasy stories compel readers to imagine new worlds, they do so in different ways. What exactly is the difference between fantasy and science fiction? Do they have distinct purposes? Such questions have been subject to debate for decades, and (spoiler alert) there’s no one right answer. But here are some ideas that can bring a new layer of understanding.
In the 1970s, writer and professor Darko Suvin pioneered a way to explain the differences between science fiction, fantasy, and realistic fiction. In his research, he settled on two terms: cognition and estrangement.
He explained that fantasy primarily relies on estrangement to imagine new worlds. In other words, fantasy stories draw the reader away from reality and into a story that can play by its own rules.
For example, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series (1954) involves complex histories, geographies, and societies that make perfect sense within the context of his world, Middle-earth. However, because the reader knows that elves, dwarves, dragons, and hobbits don’t actually exist (unfortunately!), they experience estrangement from their own reality.
In contrast, a story that relies on cognition follows the rules of the real world in a normal or plausible environment. Under Suvin’s definition, a purely cognitive story would be realistic or literary fiction. Think historical fiction, such as Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, or contemporary fiction, like The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Sci-fi occurs when writers combine cognition and estrangement. They use ideas and technologies that already exist, in a world that already exists, to invent a new reality — in other words, cognition that still results in the experience of estrangement for the reader. The estrangement can be subtle, such as when Octavia Butler imagines what the world will look like in the 2020s in her 1993 novel Parable of the Sower. Or they can be drastic, as in the case of Frank Herbert’s Dune, which examines humanity over 20,000 years into the future.
As a writer, you have the freedom to choose how much cognition or estrangement to include in your story, which creates a wide range of possibilities when writing sci-fi or fantasy. Consider: How far do you want to estrange your reader’s imagination when you introduce them to fantastic new settings? How realistic will the cognitive aspects of your world mechanics be?
Another difference between fantasy and sci-fi is the aspects of humanity that they focus on. While fantasy often highlights peculiar settings and particular cultures, science fiction tends to orient around a unified human spirit of progress.
Fantasy stories usually exhibit specific (and often historical) aesthetics, making use of ancient legends, supernatural beings, and mythical creatures in order to emphasize that estrangement component. Many of the most popular fantasy books today take inspiration from diverse traditions and mythologies around the world. Some recent bestsellers include The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and Children of Blood and Bone by former Write the World writing competition guest judge Tomi Adeyemi.
When you write fantasy, take the time to research your sources of inspiration. What traditions are you drawing from? What exciting or unknown details can you include? How can you blend different environments, cultures, and societies into one unique story?
Science fiction, in contrast, tends to examine a unified human spirit of survival, innovation, and progress. Humanity is often pitted against something ‘inhuman’ — such as a hostile environment, a rogue AI, or an alien species. To overcome these obstacles, sci-fi stories might use a new technology or an unexpected revolution.
When you write sci-fi, consider what propels your characters and their world forward. What idea or discovery might bring radical change? How might you solve a seemingly impossible problem? What type of disaster or environment would be difficult to survive?
It’s easy to disregard fantasy and sci-fi as imaginative stories that have no impact on the real world. But these genres carry real potential for calling out systemic injustices that mirror our own lives. In fact, many sci-fi and fantasy authors include a deeper layer that offers social commentary or reflections on the human condition.
In his essay “On Fairy-Stories,” Tolkien writes: “It is part of the essential malady of such days— producing the desire to escape, not indeed from life, but from our present time…” Tolkien, a World War I veteran, included themes of suffering, fellowship, and hope in his stories that resonate with many, and could help his readers to escape or heal from past traumas.
Fantasy offers a remedy for present times and a reimagination of the world itself. When you write fantasy, how can you tap into deep aspects of the human psyche? Even as you create a whole new world, are you able to find universal relatability about hardship and healing?
Octavia Butler said that “Science fiction frees you to go anyplace and examine anything.” In Parable of the Sower, Butler presents a near future impacted by climate change, wealth discrepancies, and class struggles—issues she observed during her own time. And while the Star Wars screenplays explore “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,” writer George Lucas was strongly influenced by the Vietnam War. And when the powerful Sith manipulates his followers and overthrows democracy, the viewer can’t help but think of real-life democracies that have descended into dictatorships.
When sci-fi is used to extend the realities already experienced by the human race, it creates opportunities to present serious critique, warning, or guidance. When you write sci-fi, think about where you are going and why? How can you use speculation to examine current issues?
Science fiction and fantasy are complex genres with many nuances and differences, but they stand together as beloved forms of storytelling that inspire readers every day. Hopefully, dear writers, you can now apply a new and deeper understanding to the fantasy and sci-fi stories you create and enjoy.
About Madison Zuñiga:
Madison Zuñiga recently graduated from university with degrees in creative writing and studio art. She never wants to stop learning about the craft of writing, and finds that the best way to do so is to read the work of others. She’s always loved both fantasy and science-fiction, and has recently been enjoying stories from Jorge Luis Borges, R.F. Kuang, and George MacDonald. She wholeheartedly believes that everyone has a valuable story, and works to inspire people to share them.