4 ms·

I think there are two axis there. An axis of "hardness" and an axis of realness. With hardness being how scientific the approach is, and the other axis is how c

by GuB-42 3y ago

I think there are two axis there. An axis of "hardness" and an axis of realness. With hardness being how scientific the approach is, and the other axis is how close the world is to the real world. For example: - Hard science fiction: The Martian Mars is real, the laws of physics are the same as in the real world and are followed as closely as possible. - Soft science fiction (here called science fantasy): Star Wars The setting is presented like an unexplored part of the world we live in rather than something completely made up. The difference with the real world is that there are no strict rules, the laws of physics can be broken at any time if the story calls for it instead of making the laws of physics a plot point. - Soft fantasy: The Lord of the Rings Not only the world is made up, there is unexplained magic, but it doesn't have consistent rules. You are free to do as you like, to tell a good story is the only thing that matters. - Hard fantasy: Mistborn series The world is made up, there is magic, but the magic is essentially alternate laws of physics. A dragon may be present, but expect its anatomy, biology and "power source" to be explained in great detail.

fastball 3y ago
The limitation in the case of science fiction is that something could be hard, we just don't understand the underlying rules of the universe that would make it possible. The authors of course don't know this, as they are limited by current human understanding, but they could inadvertently be writing hard fiction that sounds soft to us.
ck425 3y ago
> - Hard fantasy: Mistborn series How do you square that when Mistborn become scifi?
- GuB-42 3y ago
  It is a scale, not a pigeonhole. It seems that Mistborn is veering towards sci-fi, so I guess it will become fantasy-ish sci-fi compared to the more pure fantasy of the first book. I didn't read the latter books, but I guess it will never be pure, since it involves a magic system that is taken as an axiom, and I don't think there is any intention to tie it to the real world.

by GuB-42 3y ago

fastball 3y ago

The limitation in the case of science fiction is that something could be hard, we just don't understand the underlying rules of the universe that would make it possible. The authors of course don't know this, as they are limited by current human understanding, but they could inadvertently be writing hard fiction that sounds soft to us.

ck425 3y ago

> - Hard fantasy: Mistborn series How do you square that when Mistborn become scifi?

GuB-42 3y ago
It is a scale, not a pigeonhole. It seems that Mistborn is veering towards sci-fi, so I guess it will become fantasy-ish sci-fi compared to the more pure fantasy of the first book. I didn't read the latter books, but I guess it will never be pure, since it involves a magic system that is taken as an axiom, and I don't think there is any intention to tie it to the real world.