Speculative Fiction

The term spec-fic has been used on and off since the late 19th century in a variety of
contexts. For readers, writers, editors speculative-fiction is an inclusive term that
encompasses fiction genres like science fiction, fantasy, horror.

Spec-fic speculates about worlds unlike our own in important ways . . .

According to Orson Scott Card (See How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy,
Writer's Digest Books, 1990, p. 17), Speculative Fiction includes all stories that take
place in a setting contrary to known reality. This includes:


All stories set in the future, because the future can't be known. Out-of-date futures,
like that depicted in the novel 1984, simply shift from the "future" category to:

All stories set in the historical past that contradict known facts of history or "alternate
world" stories.

All stories set on other worlds, because we've never gone there. Whether "future
humans" take part in the story or not, if it isn't Earth, it belongs to fantasy and
science fiction.

All stories supposedly set on Earth, but before recorded history and contradicting the
known archaeological record—stories about visits from ancient aliens, or ancient
civilizations that left no trace, or, "lost kingdoms" surviving into modern times.

All stories that contradict some known or supposed law of nature. Obviously, fantasy
that uses magic falls into this category, but so does much science fiction: time travel
stories, for instance, or invisible-man stories.

In short, science fiction and fantasy stories are those that take place in worlds that
have never existed or are not yet known.


Christian or Biblical Speculative Fiction:

Christian and Biblical Spec-Fic then can be defined as speculative fiction that is
written from a Christian world view: entertainment + scriptural framework. It can be
overt in its message as exemplified in Biblical spec-fiction; or the message can be
subtle as in Christian spec-fiction.

See this Wikipedia article for more information and examples of both types.
Speculative Fiction
Subgenres:


Science Fiction
Fantasy
Horror

and the
(for lack of a better term)
Sub-Sub Genre list
compiled by Frank Creed

(he always adds the disclaimer
that the list is not exhaustive:
if you think a "sub-sub genre"
is missing, email Frank and tell
him about it!)
FANTASY

Arthurian
Bangsian
Contemporary or Urban
Dark Fantasy
Fairytale
High
Historical fantasy:
Celtic Fantasy,
Wuxia,
Historical high fantasy,
Medieval fantasy
Light Fantasy
Low Fantasy
Magic realism
Traditional Fantasy
Sword and sorcery
Sword opera

HORROR

Creepy kid
Classic monsters:
Devil/ demons, ghost,
lycanthropic, mummy,
vampire, zombie
Extreme or Gore or
Splatterpunk
Gothic
Haunting
Insanity
Lovecraftian
Noir
Quiet
Psychological
Satanic or occult
Slasher
Surreal or Bizarro
Suspense
Visceral
Witches or Warlocks
SCIENCE FICTION

AI
Alien invasion
Alternate Reality
Apocalyptic
Apocalypse or Holocaust
Astrobiology
Biopunk
Biorobotics
Cosy catastrophe
Cybernetic revolt
Cyberspace
Cyborg
Cyberpunk
Cyberprep
Dieselpunk
Edisonade
Extraterrestrial life
Hard
Hollow
EarthHyperspace
Light
Military
Multiverse
Mundane
New-wave
Parallel universe
Post-Apocalyptic
Post-cyberpunk
Post-Holocaust
Retro-futurism
Robotic
Soft
Space Opera
Steampunk: Clockpunk
Spy-fi
Time travel
Voyages Extraordinaires
Wetware computer
CROSSOVERS

Below is another list that can be done by
more than one genre, of combined with
one of the above sub-sub-genres to further
categorize a story. A crossover list is
necessary because an author can do with
magic or tech what another has done with
the supernatural. Example: while Godzilla is
big monster, it’s a sci-fi story.

Alternate history
Big monsters
Comic, or humor, or
satire
Coming of Age
Communalness
Dark
Dwarfpunk
Dystopia
Elfpunk
Erotic
Furry or fuzzy
Gothic
Heroic
High
Immortality
Japanese or
Oriental
Juvenile
Low
Lycanthropic or
shapeshifting
Mannerpunk
Mythic or folk
Paranormal
Philosophical
Psychic/ mind control
Science-fantasy:
sword & planet,
dying Earth
Slipstream/
new wierd
Social
Soulpunk
Superhero
Supernatural
Utopian
Weird or Pulp
Western