Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Metaphysics - How Do You Define Genre?

An Examination of Similiarities and Differences in Fantastical Genres

As a fun exercise, look at the picture I've posted for this article. The photograph allows you to use your imagination.  It could be a blast of blue magic released from Harry Potter's wand.  It could be a picture of a spaceship just after taking a leap into interstellar travel.  Or it could be a creative expression of the energy flowing through the human mind.  Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Metaphysical - could you determine the genre of this photo? 

It’s difficult to really categorize any truly great piece of literature or art. There’s an extremely faint line dividing the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and the Metaphysical. For example, one might argue that the Fantasy genre is anything that includes magic, dragons, castles, and people who only fight with bladed weapons; however, this is only a sub genre of Fantasy. A few semesters ago I studied Fantasy literature in a class. While we obviously read the classics, such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. LeGuin, whose stories are filled with sword and sorcery, we also studied Octavia Butler’s Kindred, a novel that, except for the bit of magical time travel, seems far more suited to be in historical fiction. In short, Kindred is about an African American woman who gets shuttled back to the Antebellum south, when slavery was rampant. It deals with her life on a plantation of slaves. No swords. No grand, epic battles against dragons. Yet it’s considered a fantasy book due to its fantastical nature.

Hmm, clearly not all genre characteristics are what they seem.

So, what is Science Fiction? For simplicity’s sake let’s bring up some generalized points about the Science Fiction genre and how it differs from fantasy.

- Futuristic, rather than medieval
- Robots, space ships, and laser guns (as opposed to dragons, castles, and swords)
- Uses technology instead of magic
- Often deals with alien races with strange, long names. No elves, dwarves, or halflings.  (Sorry, Tolkien).