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Speculative Fiction

Speculative and Fantastic Fiction

Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre of fiction encompassing all the subgenres that depart from realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic or other highly imaginative realms or beings. This catch-all genre includes, but is not limited to, fantasy, science fiction, social science fiction, science fantasy, superhero fiction, paranormal and supernatural horror, alternate history, magical realism, slipstream, weird fiction, utopia, dystopia, and apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction.

Facts
Place of Origin
The term speculative fiction is usually attributed to the American writer Robert A. Heinlein, who used it in a 1947 editorial in The Saturday Evening Post, with an earlier 1889 use traced to the American periodical Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. 1
Notable Example
Frankenstein is listed as a genre example under the science fiction subgenre in the article's own genres table, alongside works such as Halo and The Time Machine. 1
Defining Trait
Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre encompassing every subgenre that departs from realism, presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or other highly imaginative realms or beings. 1
FAQs

Who first used the term speculative fiction?

Usually credited to Robert A. Heinlein in a 1947 Saturday Evening Post editorial.

The term is usually credited to the American writer Robert A. Heinlein, who used it in an editorial in The Saturday Evening Post in 1947. Heinlein used it as a synonym for science fiction, and in a later article said his use of the term excluded fantasy. Earlier uses exist, so he may have invented it independently rather than first.
Connections

Features Author

Margaret Atwood, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid's Tale, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Handmaid's Tale
William Gibson, Authors
Source Wikipedia: William Gibson
Sources
1. Speculative Fiction (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • lead section, paragraph 1
    umbrella genre of fiction that encompasses all the subgenres that depart from realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or other highly imaginative realms or beings
  • Genres table, Science Fiction row
    Frankenstein, Halo, The Time Machine
  • History section, paragraph 1
    the term speculative fiction has often been attributed to Robert A. Heinlein, who first used it in an editorial in The Saturday Evening Post
  • In Group: Umbrella and Cross-Genre Speculative Fiction, Lead
    Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre of fiction that encompasses all the subgenres that depart from realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or other highly imaginative realms or beings.
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Handmaid's Tale
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Handmaid's Tale, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Handmaid's Tale, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Dystopian novel, Speculative fiction, Tragedy
View the Source
Wikipedia: Margaret Atwood
Features Author: Margaret Atwood, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Margaret Atwood, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Historical fiction, speculative fiction, climate fiction, dystopian fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: William Gibson
Features Author: William Gibson, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: William Gibson, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Speculative fiction, science fiction
View the Source
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