After
my first attempt at this blog i found that i still didn't really
understand what speculative fiction was so i did some more research and
found that there are still many different arguments about the definition
of speculative fiction compared to science fiction. One definition that
i found is that science fiction is usually based on science and technology of the future and is frequently set in
a different world such as space, or in the future (Read, write, think, 2005). I
understood this because i had heard of the science fiction genre
before. I then found another definition that stated Speculative fiction
is a term that covers all forms of
science fiction, and has an umbrella effect across many genres such as
science fiction, fantasy and horror (Lost books, 2011). I
was confused by this becuase if science fiction, fantasy and horror
already each have a genre definition then why use speculative fiction?
I found that speculative fiction also embraces work that doesn't fit neatly into genres that already exist such as horror, fantasy and science fiction. Stories that have been labelled weird, adventure or both horror and fantasy can be placed under speculative fiction (Lilly, 2002). Speculative fiction can also embrace alternate history which is a dominant theme throughout The Man in the High Castle.
I believe that The Man in the High Castle falls under speculative fiction as it does not use traditional science fiction and has other themes such as alternate history and a story within a story present in the book. Philip K Dick uses alternative history throughout the book by exploring what would have happened to the world of Japan and Germany had won the Second World War. Dick creates a different history and outcome of the world that we would live in.
After revisiting this blog and looking further into the definition of speculative fiction vs science fiction i feel that i have a greater understanding of it now and how it works throughout The Man in the High Castle.
I found that speculative fiction also embraces work that doesn't fit neatly into genres that already exist such as horror, fantasy and science fiction. Stories that have been labelled weird, adventure or both horror and fantasy can be placed under speculative fiction (Lilly, 2002). Speculative fiction can also embrace alternate history which is a dominant theme throughout The Man in the High Castle.
I believe that The Man in the High Castle falls under speculative fiction as it does not use traditional science fiction and has other themes such as alternate history and a story within a story present in the book. Philip K Dick uses alternative history throughout the book by exploring what would have happened to the world of Japan and Germany had won the Second World War. Dick creates a different history and outcome of the world that we would live in.
After revisiting this blog and looking further into the definition of speculative fiction vs science fiction i feel that i have a greater understanding of it now and how it works throughout The Man in the High Castle.
Lost Books. (2011). What is Speculative Fiction? Retrieved from http://www.lostbooks.org
N. E. Lilly. (2002). What is Speculative Fiction? Retrieved from http://www.greententacles.com/articles/5/26/
N. E. Lilly. (2002). What is Speculative Fiction? Retrieved from http://www.greententacles.com/articles/5/26/
Read, Write, Think.
(2005). Definition of Science Fiction.
Retrieved from
http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CEcQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.readwritethink.org%2Ffiles%2Fresources%2Flesson_images%2Flesson927%2FSciFiDefinition.pdf&ei=Be5XUMjVLIaOiAenloHYAw&usg=AFQjCNFpMZA-IjM2XQpHQtDJib52r8D60Q&sig2=e7sikgHNHWKCTYM0AuWxkw
I also copied and pasted this from word and mine went like this too, sorry!
ReplyDeleteEmily - I noticed that you didn't sign the register for the week 9 and 10 lectures, so I assume you didn't attend these. Unless there's some medical or other issue can you attend the lectures please, as they're an important component of the paper - and after all, you're here to learn stuff!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, what are the particular qualities in our novel which would qualify it as speculative fiction, rather than traditional Science Fiction? Did you attend the lecture where in which I spoke about the novel of ideas? What does the novel say about our world? Be specific in you answers, please.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
ReplyDeleteAlthough i think there is some traditional science fiction present in the novel and what our current world would see as being the future. For example when Mr Baynes flies in a rocket ship to meet Mr Tagomi and when he admits that he has been chemically changed to look like a Nazi. Traditional Science fiction is also shown when characters speak about Mars and space being taken over by Germany. These features i believe relate to traditional science fiction as Dick uses the future in the novel. However the underlying story within a story that is a major plot throughout the novel creates an alternative history at the end of the novel. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is introduced in the novel by Wyndham-Maston and each character is shown to have different opinions on the book. For example Juliana agrees with the book and thinks poorly of Germany and Japan, probably because her ex husband is a Jew. However other characters such as Robert Childan believe that the world they live in now is better than it would have been if the Grasshopper Lies Heavy was true. Other characters in the book such as Paul and Betty argue whether or not the book is science fiction and Betty believes that it is not because it deals with alternate present and not the future. The name of the book The Grasshopper lies Heavy also brings another book into the novel as it is derived from a Bible verse. The other part of alternate history that Dick brings into the novel is that Franklin Roosevelt was assassinated before the war ended and this is why Germany and Japan won the war. Dick has then created a different history in the book about what that world would be like if this were actually true and Japan and Germany were in control of the world. The I Ching is also used as a literary device throughout the novel and is used by many characters for advice. Because there are so many themes such as a story within a story, alternate history and other literature as well as some aspects of traditional science fiction i believe that the novel falls under speculative fiction, as there is more than just traditional science fiction as a theme throughout the novel.
I hope that this answer is more specific to the Novel, Thanks for your feedback Mike.