What's the difference between fantasy and science fiction?

The word "fantasy" is the product of modern network literature. Its styles are bizarre, such as crossing, western magic, eastern immortals, martial arts, and even adapting movies and comics. Its title is complicated and confusing, which is difficult to define. Finally, it is gradually reduced to one word-fantasy.

Science fiction is short for Sci-Fi Science fiction has been defined as science fiction since its birth. Humans have been fantasizing about things other than science since ancient times, and there is a planet suitable for human survival somewhere in the universe; Humans can control weather changes and nature; Have an immortal body; Travel through time and space; Go back in time! To the future! This is all possible in science fiction! In the future, it may be realized soon!

From the current definition, science fiction should be the connotation of fantasy, which is fantasy in a nutshell. Science fiction is mainly based on science and technology, and fantasy is more bizarre and all-encompassing.

origin

The word "fantasy" comes from Huang Yi's works.

Fantasies can be divided into three types.

Large fantasy novel

The word "Great fantasy novel" comes from Japan and is represented by the works of Japanese woman writer Naoko An Fang. In Naoko's works, "It's a fantastic country, a world haunted by elves, where there are windows of foxes, where all branches are covered with white parrots, where girls' souls can be heard crying ..." Some people call Naoko's Great fantasy novel a' contemporary serial'. According to this reasoning, China writer Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio seems to be regarded as the originator of "Great fantasy novel".

Fantasy novel; Fantasy novel

As far as I know, the word "fantasy novel" comes from China and Hongkong. The earliest fantasy novel I have ever seen is Huang Yi's Moon Magic published by Juxiange 1988. At that time, Juxiange was also preparing to publish my works. The publisher, Mr. Zhao Shanqi, gave me a novel by Huang Yi, a local writer. Mr. Zhao Shanqi wrote in the preface: "A brand-new variety of metaphysics, science and literature was born. This kind of novel is called' fantasy' novel. " This is the first time that the word "fantasy novel" has appeared, and it has a clear definition.

Huang Yi's fantasy novels have formed a series, all featuring a character named Ling Duyu. Ling Duyu has a legendary experience. He grew up in Tibet, and then studied in the United States, where he got two doctorates. He also studied tantric Buddhism and had superhuman spiritual perception, so he was invited to explore many supernatural mysteries in the world.

Huang Yi's series of fantasy novels, each with100000 words, were printed into a small pocket book. Because fantasy novel in Huang Yi pays attention to suspense, twists and turns in stories and shows various strange metaphysical realms, his series became popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan after being published in fantasy novel.

Huang Yi's fantasy novels claim to be "a combination of metaphysics, science and literature", but how many scientific elements are unknown. However, metaphysics runs through the novel. Zhao Shanqi said, "Huang Yi is a master of metaphysics, who is proficient in geomantic numerology and astrology.".

Of course, Huang Yi's so-called metaphysics is only superficial "geomantic astrology", not the so-called "metaphysics" laid by the three books of "San Xuan", that is, metaphysics.

Huang Yi's fantasy novel view of "the trinity of metaphysics, science and literature" not only can't accurately reflect the works of contemporary Huang Yi, but also is far from fantasy novel, which is popular in China today. It can be said that there is neither science nor metaphysics nor fantasy novel in China today, represented by The Legend of Little Soldiers!

I think China's fantasy novels today just follow the fantasy novel style created by Huang Yi and abandon its core. In today's fantasy novel in China, "metaphysics" no longer refers to metaphysics, but can be interpreted as metaphysics.

Our ancestors endowed the word "Xuan" with magical and mysterious colors. Xu Shen's Shuowen is interpreted as: "Xuanyuan." The word' Xuan' comes from Laozi's Tao Te Ching, saying that' Xuan is both mysterious and mysterious, the gate of Wan Qi', which is profound and exquisite. "It is" Xuan "that means" profound and subtle ",so it also gives fantasy novel an infinite world of mysterious thoughts!

In Ye Yonglie's comments on fantasy novel fever, I once said: "fantasy novel is a contemporary rise. Based on metaphysics, it emphasizes the word "metaphysics", and its content goes further than that of fantasy novel. From the creative level, fantasy novel writers are more free to create than science fiction writers, not bound by scientific basis, and have more room to play. "

In addition to the legend of the little soldier, fantasy novels such as fighting against the mainland, going against the sky, stepping on the ancient times, the holy king and the proud god of war have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. From June 5, 2004 to 10, I attended the seminar "China Fantasy Literature Market" in Beijing. At the meeting, Oriental Publishing Center, a Chinese publishing group, suddenly launched 20 kinds of fantasy novel with the signature of "Huotianche", which shows the enthusiasm for fantasy novel.

Fantasy novel

I noticed that The Legend of Little Soldiers and The Charm Story are often called "fantasy novel". The terms "fantasy novel" and "fantasy novel" can be used interchangeably. This shows that the word "fantasy novel" can also be interpreted as "singularity", which has nothing to do with metaphysics.

Different from fantasy novel, fantasy novel is not confined to China, but also exists abroad, and is often confused with fantasy novel. Even Harry Potter is classified as fantasy novel. People trace the history of fantasy novels back to1Greek mythology at the beginning of the 9th century or even earlier. The representative works of foreign fantasy novels are The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by British writer Tolkien. When Taiwan Province translator Zhu translated it into Chinese, he created the word "fantasy novel". Since then, the word "fantasy novel" has become popular in the Chinese-speaking world. Zhu founded Taiwan Province Fantasy Culture and Art Foundation.

There is no strict definition of fantasy novel. Xu Qingwen of Taiwan Province Province wrote the opening declaration for Muse Fantasy Museum: "We need imagination, not to motivate us to escape from reality and drown in nothingness, but to encourage us to change our horizons and broaden our minds. The unique mysterious nature and infinite fantasy space of fantasy stories are the source of imagination. " This passage was once thought to give a broad definition to "fantasy novel". In my opinion, fantasy novel's characteristic is "strangeness", which runs through the novel with magical, bizarre and peculiar fantasies. This fantasy has nothing to do with science.

Science fiction can be divided into three types.

First of all, lyric science fiction

Lyrical science fiction is characterized by prose. Not good at subject matter, but characterized by beautiful writing and euphemistic feelings. Ray. Bradbury is a representative of lyric science fiction. Many of his works, such as, < Chronicle of Mars > and so on, everyone has a nostalgic tendency. Lyric style is the true expression of this tendency.

James. Gunn's is also a typical lyric science fiction. With the arrival of the new ice age, human beings moved near the equator, and most parts of the north were uninhabitable. Reid, the hero, stayed in his hometown and watched the glacier approaching day by day. The body of a girl in the glacier became the spiritual sustenance of his life. There is nothing strange about the whole article. The main space is used to describe Reid's homesickness.

Terry? Bison's has the same effect. It describes a foreign colonist's nostalgia for the earth. The plot was diluted to the extreme. Jiang even directly called it science fiction prose, not science fiction.

There are few lyrical works in China's sci-fi works. An example that can be cited is Pigeons Flying over the Strait written by He Haijiang and Rao Jun. ..

Second, absurd science fiction

Absurdity is an important feature of western modernist literature. This kind of works reflects the absurdity of the real society itself in an anti-logical narrative way. In science fiction, absurd techniques are rarely used. Most sci-fi works have clear "self-design logic". And express it clearly in logical language.

James. Gunn is a representative of using absurd techniques. His, < Green Thumb >, < Teddy Bear > and so on, time and space are complex and unpredictable. Comparing these novels with his traditional narrative style of sci-fi works, such as "Voice of Man", we can clearly see the difference between them.

Among the science fiction writers in China, Han Song is a representative figure who uses absurd techniques. Almost all his short stories are difficult to sort out the logical context, and more are depicting a messy, grotesque and inexplicable atmosphere. Escape from the Mountain of Sorrow is a masterpiece of absurd science fiction. Others, such as the last subway, red illusion, beyond reality and so on. There is also a strong absurd color. At the same time, Han Song also created realistic sci-fi works, such as the novel Red Star over China 2066 and the short story The Rise and Fall of Youth. Comparing these two kinds of works together, we can see that the author's pursuit of absurd style is a kind of creative consciousness.

Third, humorous science fiction

It is not easy to give science fiction a relaxed and humorous style. But there are some good examples. Vonnegut wrote this report on the Barnhouse effect in a short space. A bitter satire was made on war maniacs. Shinichi Hoshino is good at miniature science fiction. Humorous brushwork is essential for making beautiful fist movements within one square inch. Zheng's is also a rare humorous science fiction. Its style is almost nonsense. Wang Jinkang's works are rich in style. It's so relaxing and interesting, which is especially prominent in < Perfect Earth Standard >. Zheng Jun's Insect Flying Ants Scare: It is also a representative of humorous science fiction.

Science fiction becomes reality

With the development of science and technology, some scientific fantasies are becoming reality, and their mysteries will be gradually revealed. For example, in the American sci-fi blockbuster "Fantastic Flying" released in 1987, scientists injected people and spacecraft reduced to a few nanometers (one nanometer equals one billionth of a meter) into human blood vessels, so that these ultra-small "visitors" could directly watch the organization and operation of various organs of the human body. Nanotechnology was just a scientific fantasy at that time, but now it has appeared in the real world. The successful research and development of nano-robot is the perfect embodiment of this new technology. Experts predict that it won't be long before the magical nano-robot with molecular size will continue to enter human daily life. Professor Zhou Haizhong, a Chinese scientist and futurist, even predicted in the article "On Robots" published by 1990 that by the middle of the 20th century, nano-robots would completely change people's work and lifestyle.