From a comment: The distinction between fantasy and science fiction

[azurelunatic]

Fantasy is what you have when you write fiction about things that do not, according to modern science, exist, and do not include in the 'suspension of disbelief' setup package that these things were arrived at by advances in scientific knowledge, or by implementation of current scientific knowledge beyond the scope of the currently possible.

One can write about neat human tricks like telekinesis and telepathy as either fantasy or science fiction. You'd have to explain why it can exist in a pseudoscientific manner (special brain powers, manipulation of now detectable energy field) to make it science fiction, or, you could just go with it, or explain it in a mystical fashion (harmony with Nature, deal with Dark Powers, gift from Nice Powers, freak of nature).

The distinction between fantasy and science fiction depends on the distinction between mysticism and science.

Comments

[fosfomifira.livejournal.com]

very neat definition. To me it's always been a matter of poetry v/s an essay, or feeling v/s knowing something, intuition opposed to factual truth. It's similar, but not quite the same. very interesting.

[azurelunatic]

For poetry in science fiction, may I suggest John M. Ford's Growing Up Weightless? It's delicious.

Re:

[fosfomifira.livejournal.com]

will most definetely keep it in mind next time I'm on the English-speaking world. thanks for the recommendations. I should know by now that polarity is an abstraction of reality.