What is your fave genre? - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

SillyWabbit · 26th April 2002, 01:52 AM

Whats your fave genre and why?

SF?

HORROR?

FANTASY?

Hmmmm, I dont even know! LOL Depends on my mood, somtimes its fantasy, somtimes its SF

Im not a great fan of horror but like it somtimes if its very good

As of this moment in time I would have to say

1) Fantasy
2) SF
3) Horror

Abydos6 · 5th May 2002, 12:22 AM

usually head for the sci-fi end of things...been known to read one or two thrillers and i love fantasy....lately self -bloody -help and thrillers.....go figure...also like the tv tie-ins from time to time...you think you're confused lol

aby

kelsi · 8th May 2002, 04:34 PM

I like to read all three, less scifi, I think maybe

me, an avid SG watcher, but I tend to read fantasy the most, but only cos there's more around.

Technomage · 9th May 2002, 12:31 PM

I chose sci-fi as well. But my favourite sub-genre of sci-fi is what is called 'hard sf'. This type explores the technical aspects of the storyline in greater detail than standard sci-fi, which is something that really appeals to me.

kelsi · 10th May 2002, 09:31 PM

What do you mean, more technical?

Technomage · 11th May 2002, 12:27 PM

The 'hard SF' books tend to explain more of the science behind the technical elements of the story. These books are usually written by authors who have a background in one of the sciences, like physics or engineering, and as a result, the ideas they put forward are often technically possible.

Examples of this type of author are James P. Hogan and Robert L. Forward.

kelsi · 11th May 2002, 02:28 PM

Oh, right. Probably beyond me then, I go for more character stuff, aciton, romance, rather than theory.

Tabitha · 11th May 2002, 10:51 PM

What would you describe the Dune books as? SF or fantasy? They are probably my favourite books in these kind of genres - but I voted for SF, because overall that is what I would prefer to read.

When you say "hard SF" do you include authors like Kim Stanley Robinson? His Mars trilogy is nothing if not deeply scientific.
I had the feeling that most SF writers had some kind of scientific backgroud - the most obvious example is Arthur C Clarke, but other writers like Carl Sagan and Frank Herbert would fall under this description too. Hmmm, I also really like Iain (m) Banks - both his straight fiction and his SF stuff, I don't think he had much of a scientific background though...

Technomage · 12th May 2002, 09:15 AM

While a number of sci-fi authors do have scientific backgrounds, they tend to be in the minority. In general, many authors come from a literary background, or have had a career in some kind of technical field, like computing. Those that don't have a scientific or technical background simply carry out some research instead, or consult the relevant experts in the fields they are writing about. Therefore, most sci-fi books are 'scientific', but the ones written by people like Robert L. Forward have more 'real' science in them than the others.

All the authors you mentioned are writers of science fiction, but their books don't really fit the description of 'hard' science fiction. Of course this is not a hard and fast rule, and I'm sure many people would disagree with what I am saying. But as someone who has read the 'classic' authors like Clarke, Asimov and Heinlein, I do not consider their books to be as 'hard' as those by the likes of Forward, who is still a full time scientist in the field of advanced physics.

If you want to check out what I mean for yourself, then you should read Dragon's Egg, Starquake or Rocheworld, all by Robert L. Forward.

Tabitha · 12th May 2002, 10:35 AM

Thanks for the info Technomage - I haven't read anything in any of these genres for a few months (been reading Noam Chomsky's political commentary, among other things!), but I will try out some of your suggestions and see what I think. I did study maths and physics at uni for a few years, but I sometimes find great amounts of scientific data hard to process within a narrative.

sweetbabe · 3rd June 2002, 04:54 PM

i dont really have a fave, i like all kinds of genres

Bayleaf48 · 22nd June 2002, 07:50 PM

I'd have to say sci-fi as there's such a range of books within the genre & that means I can always find something to read :rolly2:

Krystal · 23rd June 2002, 03:49 AM

I vote scifi, but I have read all of them. Probably my favorites are scifi and horror, recently I have begin to read some fantasy and like it too.

Krystal

Bayleaf48 · 23rd June 2002, 12:01 PM

Haven't really got a favouite genre, but I prefer sci-fi though

imported_Data · 19th October 2002, 05:59 AM

I voted for sci-fi, but I really think that sci-fi and fantasy are tied as my favorite genres at the moment.

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26th April 2002, 01:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
SillyWabbit Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London Posts: 11	What is your fave genre? Whats your fave genre and why? SF? HORROR? FANTASY? Hmmmm, I dont even know! LOL Depends on my mood, somtimes its fantasy, somtimes its SF Im not a great fan of horror but like it somtimes if its very good As of this moment in time I would have to say 1) Fantasy 2) SF 3) Horror

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5th May 2002, 12:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Abydos6 Confused? Totally!! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Ireland Posts: 502	usually head for the sci-fi end of things...been known to read one or two thrillers and i love fantasy....lately self -bloody -help and thrillers.....go figure...also like the tv tie-ins from time to time...you think you're confused lol aby

8th May 2002, 04:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
kelsi Expert Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sitting in front of my computer, at home, on Chulak. Posts: 1,411	I like to read all three, less scifi, I think maybe me, an avid SG watcher, but I tend to read fantasy the most, but only cos there's more around.

9th May 2002, 12:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Technomage Chocolate Connoisseur. Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 148	I chose sci-fi as well. But my favourite sub-genre of sci-fi is what is called 'hard sf'. This type explores the technical aspects of the storyline in greater detail than standard sci-fi, which is something that really appeals to me.

10th May 2002, 09:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
kelsi Expert Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sitting in front of my computer, at home, on Chulak. Posts: 1,411	What do you mean, more technical?

11th May 2002, 12:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Technomage Chocolate Connoisseur. Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 148	The 'hard SF' books tend to explain more of the science behind the technical elements of the story. These books are usually written by authors who have a background in one of the sciences, like physics or engineering, and as a result, the ideas they put forward are often technically possible. Examples of this type of author are James P. Hogan and Robert L. Forward.

11th May 2002, 02:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
kelsi Expert Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sitting in front of my computer, at home, on Chulak. Posts: 1,411	Oh, right. Probably beyond me then, I go for more character stuff, aciton, romance, rather than theory.

11th May 2002, 10:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,638	What would you describe the Dune books as? SF or fantasy? They are probably my favourite books in these kind of genres - but I voted for SF, because overall that is what I would prefer to read. When you say "hard SF" do you include authors like Kim Stanley Robinson? His Mars trilogy is nothing if not deeply scientific. I had the feeling that most SF writers had some kind of scientific backgroud - the most obvious example is Arthur C Clarke, but other writers like Carl Sagan and Frank Herbert would fall under this description too. Hmmm, I also really like Iain (m) Banks - both his straight fiction and his SF stuff, I don't think he had much of a scientific background though...

12th May 2002, 09:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Technomage Chocolate Connoisseur. Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 148	While a number of sci-fi authors do have scientific backgrounds, they tend to be in the minority. In general, many authors come from a literary background, or have had a career in some kind of technical field, like computing. Those that don't have a scientific or technical background simply carry out some research instead, or consult the relevant experts in the fields they are writing about. Therefore, most sci-fi books are 'scientific', but the ones written by people like Robert L. Forward have more 'real' science in them than the others. All the authors you mentioned are writers of science fiction, but their books don't really fit the description of 'hard' science fiction. Of course this is not a hard and fast rule, and I'm sure many people would disagree with what I am saying. But as someone who has read the 'classic' authors like Clarke, Asimov and Heinlein, I do not consider their books to be as 'hard' as those by the likes of Forward, who is still a full time scientist in the field of advanced physics. If you want to check out what I mean for yourself, then you should read Dragon's Egg, Starquake or Rocheworld, all by Robert L. Forward.

12th May 2002, 10:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,638	Thanks for the info Technomage - I haven't read anything in any of these genres for a few months (been reading Noam Chomsky's political commentary, among other things!), but I will try out some of your suggestions and see what I think. I did study maths and physics at uni for a few years, but I sometimes find great amounts of scientific data hard to process within a narrative.

3rd June 2002, 04:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
sweetbabe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lancashire Posts: 230	i dont really have a fave, i like all kinds of genres

22nd June 2002, 07:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bayleaf48 Hero Of Time Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Barnstaple, North Devon Posts: 3,126	I'd have to say sci-fi as there's such a range of books within the genre & that means I can always find something to read :rolly2:

23rd June 2002, 03:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
Krystal Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 2,264	I vote scifi, but I have read all of them. Probably my favorites are scifi and horror, recently I have begin to read some fantasy and like it too. Krystal

23rd June 2002, 12:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bayleaf48 Hero Of Time Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Barnstaple, North Devon Posts: 3,126	Haven't really got a favouite genre, but I prefer sci-fi though

19th October 2002, 05:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
imported_Data 'meba Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Alaska Posts: 360	I voted for sci-fi, but I really think that sci-fi and fantasy are tied as my favorite genres at the moment.