Hanna Flatness: "Dear Bridget Smith: The Classic and "Classic" Elements of SFF"

The Classic and “Classic” Elements of SFF

by

Hanna Flatness

            Many elements of science fiction and fantasy literature are easily distinguished.  Futuristic technology, space or time travel, and extraterrestrial life are all classic elements of science fiction. On the other hand, magic, supernatural components and imaginary worlds are key factors of fantasy stories. Throughout time, certain elements have stayed unchanged, while others are fairly different. SFF actually plays one of the largest parts of fictional entertainment today. Modern books and movies, such as, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games series, Interstellar, The Host, etc., share the same or similar elements to “classics” such as, Fahrenheit 451, Slaughterhouse-Five, Animal Farm, The Lord of the Rings, etc. Throughout this literature, it is evident that old and new SFF share many similarities and differences that the young readers still appreciate and emphasize today.

A majority of science fiction and fantasy novels focus around an alternate universe. As I have previously mentioned, although this is a common characteristic of SFF, old and new, current novels tend to be a more dystopian setting, which is not ordinary of classic stories. Dystopian tales tend to focus more on the control of the government, and the suppression of the people, whereas the setting of classic stories focuses much less on the government, but rather a major crisis which is the driving factor behind the plot. In Speculative Fiction, we have read stories across several decades. Many older stories were focused in space. For example, “Reason” by Isaac Asimov, written in 1941, uses the setting of space to advance the plot and as their form of futuristic technology. At this point in time, space was a mysterious aspect to much of society.  Because of current technology, space is no longer as futuristic as it once was, so, in order to maintain that foundation, that have had to create new, unknown aspects of technology.

Innovative machinery and magic are the most necessary and identifiable factors of SFF literature. As aforementioned, both of these characteristics are trademarks of their respective genres, which have been present consistently in older and new science fiction and fantasy novels. Although young readers still appreciate the use of an alternate universe, this has ultimately changed. On the other hand, from tracker jackers of The Hunger Games, to the monster himself in Frankenstein, unreal technology has been present in the work of science fiction for centuries.

            Throughout the semester, a majority of the stories we have read have had some type of either revolutionary technology or magic involved. Written in 1954, “Fondly Fahrenheit” by Alfred Bester is one of the biggest examples of technology in science fiction. “Fondly Fahrenheit” focuses around a defective android, turned murderer. It largely influences the way that its owner begins to behave, so much as they soon become one, twisted mind. Similarly, “Passengers” by Robert Silverberg was written in 2012, and also creates a story around androids, although invisible, which are able to take control of humans across society. Although written nearly sixty years apart, both stories still rely on similar fictional elements to drive the plot.          

            While I have mainly spoken about science fiction, throughout time fantasy consistently uses magic, the way SF uses technology, as a trademark of the genre. The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin written in 1968, uses classic fantastical elements such as magic and a variety of mythical creatures. On the other hand, published in 2008, Kjj Johnson’s story of “26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss” features a much more playful story, focused around a circus act of vanishing monkeys. These animals are the highlight of the story, as this magic is used throughout the entire plot. As it is seen, for decades fantasy has reliably used magic throughout its story, allowing readers a sense of imagination.

            As a young SFF reader I place a lot of emphasis on certain classic elements of the literature. The trademark elements, such as futuristic technology or magic, are vital to a respectable science fiction or fantasy story. Clearly, I am not the only booklover who believes this, as these foundations have basically stayed the same throughout time. On the other hand, there are elements of long-standing SFF works which, although still pleasant, are able to change without causing an uproar from loyal readers. Overall, I and young readers in general still place a large emphasis on the foundations of science fiction and fantasy, but search for unique details in finding a new obsession.