Comments on: Science Fiction, Horror & More—Why Speculative Fiction Matters

By: Science Fiction—More than Just Gizmos - Kristen Lamb

Science Fiction—More than Just Gizmos - Kristen Lamb — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 17:21:43 +0000

[…] elbow-deep washing dishes. In an age of texting, wifi, virtual reality, and self-driving cars, humans are now faced with all those sticky moral questions posited by the original science fiction authors over a century […]

By: JazzFeathers

JazzFeathers — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 07:28:20 +0000

I’ve always been a writer (and of course reader) of speculative fiction, though recently I moved my writing from high fantasy to dieselpunk.
It has always saddened me how people (yes, even many readers) dismiss speculative fiction as somethig unrealistic and (especially in the case of fantasy) more suitable for children because it is ‘easier’.

You know? It is ‘easier’ if you take it superficially, I mean, what’s easier than doing what every you damn want? But when you really want to explore the possibilities of the genre (or genres included in the definition) it becomes very difficult. You have to be very realistic while using unrealistic elements. As Tolkine would say, you have to convince the reader that the sun is of course green.

I won’t say this is easy, but I’ll say that if we can do this, then speculative fiction, in all its incarnation, is a powerful form of storytelling, because it can address even very touchy matters in a way that is acceptable to readers and so more likely to touch them.
I’ve always believed that the power of speculative fiction is to show the truth through a mask… and as Oscar Wilde said, give a man a mask, and he will tell you the entire truth.

By: Lynn Kelley

Lynn Kelley — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 03:48:22 +0000

Thank you for clarifying what speculative fiction is. I had no idea I was a speculative fiction fan. Well, except for horror. Can’t handle that genre.

I’m obsessed with Wool and I even enjoy a lot of the short story fan fiction based on Wool. I love dystopian. Hunger Games and Divergent (as mentioned above in a comment) are two of my faves. I’ve been a sci-fi fan since I was a kid. I think time travel tales are my all time favorites. One of the WANAs, Jennette Marie Powell, has a time travel romance series, The Saturn Society. Romance isn’t my favorite genre, but it works great in this series. It intrigues me, and her writing style just pulls me in. It’s a series that I enjoy rereading. Same with Wool. And Susan Kaye Quinn’s Mind Jack series is a YA series that I’ve read more than a couple times.

I lov show you’re able to break stories down and pinpoint exactly what works and what doesn’t. Go Kristen!

By: Sunday Post – 30th July 2017 | Brainfluff

Sunday Post – 30th July 2017 | Brainfluff — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 12:02:31 +0000

[…] Fiction, Horror & More – Why Speculative Fiction Matters https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/07/science-fiction-horror-more-why-speculative-fiction-matters/ As a confirmed fan of speculative fiction, I was interested to see what Kristen Lamb had to say on […]

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 10:20:34 +0000

I personally love dystopian fiction and the moral questions explored within. Any sign of preachiness and I’m out. I want to allow the reader to make up their mind, even if their conclusion differs widly from mine. I won’t even mind if they hate the story, as long as it got a reaction from them. I’m currently remoulding my story ideas for a detective who lives in a dystopian world and is actually involved in crime herself. Looking forward to seeing the story grow from my copious notes.

By: Mandibelle16

Mandibelle16 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 02:08:36 +0000

Interesting piece. I’m thinking that Katniss from the Hunger Games and the main characters Tobias and Triss from the much better books (than movies) in Divurgent, both fit into this speculative fiction, within YA fiction. In some sense doesn’t Tolkien even in LOTR. Though the characters are many races and diverse, what happens when evil is allowed to flourish? When we do evil to get want we want the most the most, even though it’s bad for us. Such as Gollum and many other characters who could’ve taken the ring from Frodo bur overcame their desire for power? It’s an interesting thought most definitely ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Atwood and 1984 fit in here.

https://mandibelle16.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/friday-music-sunday-photo-fiction-ship-to-the-stairway-flashfiction-musicchallenge/

By: How to Unlock Raw Power & Write Stories Readers Love – From Kristen Lamb’s blog | Author Don Massenzio

Sat, 29 Jul 2017 16:27:09 +0000

[…] we brushed the surface of speculative fiction and why it can be such a powerful and world-changing genre when executed well. In my opinion (based on years of experience with new manuscripts) this genre […]

By: How to Unlock Raw Power & Write Stories Readers Love – Kristen Lamb

How to Unlock Raw Power & Write Stories Readers Love – Kristen Lamb — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:40:05 +0000

By: Top Picks Thursday! For Writers & Readers 07-27-2017 | The Author Chronicles

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:02:26 +0000

[…] Darren Croucher suggests 8 female-penned YA science fiction novels, while Kristen Lamb analyzes why speculative fiction matters. If you prefer something shorter, Louis Menand asks can poetry change your life? What do you […]

By: Gabriella L Garlock

Gabriella L Garlock — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:48:16 +0000

In reply to John R Lewis.

That’s true: some of my all-time favorite sci-fi has been 20-minutes-into-the-future stuff–and try explaining to the young’uns how brilliant it is. “So it didn’t end up happening like that? Thank a writer!”
On the other hand, one can easily transpose something amazing like Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 to current threats: disguising reality TV as entertainment looks a lot like the viewers who need stories all about them, no artifice appreciated anymore.