Speculative Fiction Definition and Examples
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term that many different genres fall under. It's writing that's based on ideas outside the realm of possibility. What exactly does that mean? In this blog, we're going to explore examples of speculative fiction, which subgenres are grouped under that umbrella, and where to find inspiration for your own storytelling.
What is Speculative Fiction?
Speculative fiction is a term most writers have heard of but may not know exactly what i means. I would also pose the thesis that not many readers know the term at all. So, let's break down what speculative fiction is with some examples.
According to the Masters over at Masterclass, speculative fiction is a literary "super genre" which encompasses a host of different fiction genres where each holds speculative elements based on a "what if" factor that doesn't exist in the real world. Sometimes they're even called "what if" books because speculative literature changes the laws of what's real or possible as we know them and then speculates on a perceived outcome.
Book genres like "sci fi" or "fantasy" are often grouped under the term "speculative fiction." Other examples include cyberpunk, steampunk horror, and magical realism.
Of course, each of these subgenres has its own specific tropes inherent to those worlds. They're huddled under the speculative fiction umbrella because each asks "what if" questions that imagine a broader world much more distinct than our current reality.
Science Fiction asks "what if" using science and technology (often future-based).
Fantasy asks "what if" using magic, mythical creatures, and expansive world-building.
Horror asks "what if" often using supernatural occurrences coupled with dark themes.
Magical Realism asks "what if" using magic and supernatural occurrences with real-world problems.
Speculative fiction is an exploration of ideas that exist through the lens of a world that does not, anc could not, exist given the world as we know it now. Perhaps in the future, actual science will catch up with its science fiction predecessors but for now most scie-fi is a dreamworld created by an author's imagination.
Other than setting a story in the far future on an alien planet, or in a world where dragons roaming is the norm, speculative fiction stories can be told in our world however there is always a distinct distortion of reality.
For example, Men in Black is set in a version of New York City except there are aliens running around it. The tech used to catch them isn't necessarily based in reality either. It's an extension of a known world but adds in the spec fiction factor asking "what if there were an organization that hunted alient beings in New York...oh and they always wear black suits.
Is Dystopian Considered Speculative Fiction?
Dystopian, apocalyptic, and utopian fiction are their own sub-categories that most often fall under science-fiction. But as we've discussed, sci-fi is a type of speculative fiction making utopias and dystopias part of that branch as well.
Frank Herbert's Dune (1965), Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games (2008), Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (1985) are all examples of speculative fiction. Each examines directions humanity could take on its march towards their supposed utopias. Often, their "progress" in this direction can have monstrous setbacks. Which then begs the questions at the heart of a dystopian story.
What if the world were split up by class and grouped by districts? How would the lower classes survive? What if the higher class forced the children of the districts to fight to the death to keep them in line? How long would people in the districts put up with it?
What if societal hiearchy forced women to perform as sex slaves to be surrogates for those that rule? How would they fight back? Would they fight back?
What Speculative Fiction Is Not
Questions form the basis of any good story but novels that are purely romance, contemporary, action, crime fiction, and so on, aren't considdred speculative fiction. Why? Because they're stories about events that could possibly happen in the world as we know it.
It's worth noting that it can get a little tricky when trying to define speculative fiction. You'll likely not see novels grouped under that title in a bookstore or library. Many authors aren't even fans of the term. Sci-Fi icon Ursula Le Guin was concerned it watered down hard science-fiction and tried to make it "more palatable" to a mass audience. Though much of her work, such as the Earthsea series, explored life for humans within fictional galaxies.
Other Examples of Speculative Fiction:
Studio Ghibli
The Chronicles of Narnaia
Ted Chiang
George Orwell
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Philip K. Dick
Haruki Murakami
N.K. Jemisin
Speculative fiction is always shifting and impossible to nail down, but the term is a useful tool for understanding fiction's relationship to reality, and its flexibility allows for exciting experimentation.
Is there a favorite speculative fiction story or author you would recommend? Leave a comment!
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