What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science fiction and speculative fiction? Which is in Man in the High Castle?
Before reading the Man in the High Castle I had never heard of the term 'speculative fiction'. I had no idea what it meant or how it was different from science fiction. But while reading the book I did some research on what this kind of 'fiction' was all about.
Before doing some research I thought why do we need yet another genre description? I mean we already have science fiction, fantasy and horror and so on. But I found that speculative fiction can encompass literature ranging from hard science to epic fantasy. It can demonstrate a whole range of different genres while keeping the storyline strange and intense. And it can also introduce alternate history. Which is main plot in Man in the High Castle.
I believe Man in the High Castle is speculative fiction because it takes a different path from usual science fiction. The story is set in an alternate history world, where Nazi Germany and Japan win WW2.
Man in the High Castle represents a rare theme where there is a 'story with a story'. The novel within the book is The Grasshopper Lies Heavy by Hawthorn Abensden. The book within a book shows an alternative universe where the Axis lost WW2 to the allies, following a sequence of events. By having two false realities the idea of false and true reality becomes inaccurate, because more than two realities exist.
Even though Man in the High Castle is speculative fiction both genres are capable of pushing the boundaries of our imaginations. Both genres often borrow inspiration of real-life events or experiences.
References:
Dick, P. K. (2001; 1962) The Man in the High Castle. London: Penguin
N.A. The Man in the High Castle Themes. Retrieved from http://www.bookrags.com
Nice work, Hannah! You've really given this answer some thought and it shows
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! Yeah im glad I now understand speculative fiction. Very interesting looking at the difference between the two!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I had never heard of "speculative fiction" before. Your entry gave me a bit of an insight of it, since I admit that I had missed Week 8's entry. I have though, gotten an overview of what the story is about, and I agree that it is speculative fiction. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah,
ReplyDeleteGood insight into what speculative fiction is. It was good to read your views on speculative fiction as I didn't know speculative fiction existed. You provided good links with the examples from man in the high castle and you drew upon some different points in the story that showcased your knowledge of speculative fiction is. I like that you mentioned that both genres are 'capable of pushing the boundaries of our imagination'. I think that this is true because after reading The man in the high castle you are left to wonder what true reality really is. Good job for an awesome insight :)