Wenham (Michael) Wang: "Glasses and Mirrors: The Difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy"

Glasses and Mirrors: The Difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy

By Wenhan (Michael) Wang

            Two objects play an integral role in my morning routine – the wire frame glasses that guide me to my bathroom, and the mirror above the sink that helps me comb out my bedhead. And while these two objects are profoundly different in their shape and function, they share the commonality of being cut from the same material. 

But how does my morning routine relate to science fiction or fantasy? Well, the same distinction between glasses and mirrors can be made for the two genres. 

(http://www.weonglasses.com/img/home_glasses.png)

Like a pair of glasses, science fiction is a lens the author provides the reader with, to help him view the world through the author’s perspective. This lens is crafted from imagination, and held in place by the wires of reason. Science and technology hone the reader’s gaze towards some extrapolation of the present world, be it the social aspects of human behavior (Alfred Bester’s “Fondly Fahrenheit”), or the philosophical issue of what defines humanity (Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). 

Grounded in the world that we live in, science fiction requires rational explanation, and just as the thickness of glasses is adjusted for the degree of the prescription, the level of scientific knowledge varies depending on the author’s desire to provide reason for every element in the story. Ironically, if the author does address the details of the science behind his world, he runs into the same danger that a pair of glasses faces over time – as the eyesight of the reader changes, the old pair of glasses he sported a decade ago is simply no longer applicable. As Philip Martin put it, “Today, the technology set forth in George Orwell’s once-frightening novel, 1984, where Big Brother used surveillance devices to eavesdrop on everyone, would hardly make today’s teenagers at the mall think twice.” 

And yet, there is a certain thrill that comes with trying on a new pair of glasses that reflects the attraction of the genre. “How will the world change?” asks the science fiction reader. The science fiction author replies, “Here, put these glasses on and take a look.”

     

  (http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0129203_PE283223_S5.JPG)

Though born from the same material of imagination as science fiction, fantasy takes on a completely different form – a mirror that reflects our inner beliefs. Just as my bathroom mirror helps me straighten my messy morning hair, fantasy novels allow us to untangle the complications we face in our daily lives and reach a better understanding of what we value. There are no explanations for disappearing monkeys, no reason behind flying monsters, and no biological basis for valiant, indestructible heroes. Magic replaces the laws of science. 

More importantly, fantasy is a leap of faith; it is not enough to view our reflection in the mirror, we must dive into the mirror to reach the magnificent world on the other side. While reading Harry’s journey in The Blue Sword from being kidnapped to accepting – and becoming – the prophesized heroine of the Hillfolk, I found myself riding beside her into battle to defeat the devilish Northerners. As Harry came to believe in the mystic visions and the importance of her role in the conflict, I came to believe in Robin McKinley’s fantastic world and its magical force called kelar strong enough to move mountains. I learned that there is strength in faith that helps one overcome even the harshest of odds – whether it is defending your nation against an army of demons, or tackling a math final that could jeopardize your entire high school career. 

Crossing this boundary between reason and belief is challenging, and we are afraid to let go of the inhibitions from the world we live in. Yet, learning to let go is often the first step to understanding fiction, and we do so by using fantasy’s mirror to peer into our past. The innocence and imagination we had as a child must be recovered, for it is the power to view the world with wonder that drives fantasy readers from the plane of our universe to the magical palace floating between words on the page. 

            Glasses and mirrors. Science fiction and fantasy. One serves to alter the user’s perception of the world, and the other helps him reflect upon his personal values. One is framed by reason, and the other relies on belief. Although the dualities of science fiction and fantasy help define the respective genres, one must remember that, like glasses and mirrors, they have a fundamental core component; they are both speculative fiction.