We are Manchester Speculative Fiction, a writing group focussing on speculative fiction. We’re often asked by writers who are thinking of joining us what exactly we mean by ‘speculative fiction’.
So, here’s our definition of Speculative Fiction (which you might also hear referred to as Spec-Fic or Spec Fic).
Speculative Fiction: Definition
The thing that makes speculative fiction different from general fiction is that it focuses on things that don’t exist in the everyday world. It might:
- Include things that don’t exist in the real world and imagine what those things would be like.
- Change the laws of physics, or otherwise ignore what’s really possible.
- Alter human reality (e.g. change society, history, etc.).
But Isn’t All Fiction ‘Speculative’?
Yes, but not in the way we’re talking about.
Clearly, all fiction includes imaginary people and events that didn’t really happen—that’s the difference between fiction and non-fiction. But Speculative Fiction as a genre doesn’t include novels that ‘speculate’ about the fate of some imaginary characters.
For example, a romance novel is not speculative fiction, because romance is mundane—it exists in the everyday world.
Similarly, the author of a technothriller might have a ‘secret prototype aircraft’ in their novel, but although that aircraft is imaginary, aircraft are still common in the everyday world.
Speculative Fiction Genres
Speculative fiction is a ‘super-genre’, a category that includes several other genres. The three most popular genres that it includes are:
- Science-fiction
- Fantasy
- Supernatural Horror
In fact, in many bookshops you’ll often only see a section marked ‘Science Fiction and Fantasy’. Other speculative fiction novels get lumped in with those genres or in ‘General Fiction’ or even ‘Crime’.
Here are some other genres that are also included in Speculative Fiction:
- Ghost stories
- Fairy tales
- Superhero stories
- Utopian/dystopian/apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic stories
- Alternative History
- Cyberpunk
- Steampunk
- Magical Realism
- Weird Fiction
- Slipstream
Is Horror Really Speculative Fiction?
Our view is that only some horror counts as speculative fiction. That’s because horror shades into crime.
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris, for example, is a horror novel, but there’s nothing in it that isn’t ‘mundane’. The serial killer in the novel kills in horrific ways, but he kills using everyday objects, like knives. It’s not a speculative fiction novel.
In contrast, Carrie by Stephen King is both horror and speculative fiction because the protagonist kills using her telekinetic powers.
What About Literary Novels?
There are plenty of literary novels that are speculative fiction. Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, for example.
Similarly, slipstream as a genre exists on the border between literary fiction and speculative fiction, often having limited speculative elements. Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow is an example, as are some of William Gibson’s novels.
Some literary novelists don’t like their work being ‘pigeon-holed’ as speculative fiction, Margaret Atwood for example. But our view is if the writing meets the definition, then it’s speculative fiction and we’re happy to accept slipstream and literary/speculative fiction.
Interested?
If you’re interested in writing speculative fiction and you live within travelling distance of Manchester, then please contact us about coming along to one of our meetings.
