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The Power of Speculative Fiction - Why Sci-Fi and Fantasy Matter
By Dan Levinson
What
is it that draws you toward speculative fiction? Is it the incredible battles
waged with uncanny powers? The unfamiliar, fantastical landscapes? I started
reading fantasy novels as a boy, drawn in by the tales of sword-wielding
heroes, of magic and dragons, of worlds in which what is impossible in our
reality only scratched the surface of what both saviors and villains alike
could achieve.
As
a fantasy lover, it comes as no surprise that I am overjoyed to see HBO’s Game
of Thrones—based on George R.R. Martin’s epic A Song of Ice and Fire
series—ascend to the zeitgeist of today. Many are those who have never read a
whit of fantasy themselves, yet find that they are drawn in to this land of
blood, and tragedy, and betrayal, and, yes, dragons. What is it that holds
their interest so?
Martin
has confided that he was inspired by the Wars of the Roses—a bloody battle for
England’s throne that saw the rise and fall of multiple monarchs over a
decades-long period in the latter half of the 15th century. Though the names
and locales may be of Martin’s own invention, the themes that run throughout
his stories are universal; they echo down from the past, and they speak to our
hopes and fears for the future.
There’s
often an instinct to lump speculative fiction, as a whole, into what some would
call “popular” fiction, or “commercial” fiction. There’s no doubt plenty of it
falls into this category, which is not to say there’s anything wrong with that.
There’s something delightfully scrumptious about reading a great book that was
written for pure entertainment value. Be it YA, paranormal romance, or a
fast-paced techno-thriller, these books bring joy to readers around the world.
Yet
it’s when speculative fiction brings in deeper themes that it truly shines,
elevates itself beyond the trappings of its genre. It’s interesting to me to
see the massive success of a property such as The Hunger Games and think about
how it speaks to our basic humanity. It deals with issues of freedom and
oppression, of the heavy cost of working toward a “greater good”; issues of
loss, of family, and what we would do for the ones we love. Despite its
dystopian sci-fi trappings, or its classification as “young adult,” The Hunger
Games shines a light upon our own society, and provokes thought and
conversation both, in readers old and young alike.
The
foreign landscapes presented in most speculative fiction are often what most
separate those worlds from our own; and yet I cannot help but feel that it is
that distance which makes our efforts as writers to evoke a sense of
familiarity all the more effective. Literary fiction is often set upon a
pedestal, reflecting both the joyous and the tragic, exploring both the small
and subtle turns and the earth shattering moments that impact all of our lives.
At its heart, I think the greatest misunderstanding in regards to the gap
between literary and speculative fiction is that the former is a facsimile of
real life, while the latter is a departure from it, but this is not necessarily
so. In the best of speculative fiction—though the stakes may be grander, and
rife with fantastical elements—the conflicts of the characters reflect common,
universal human experiences.
Nevertheless,
there has grown between the two designations a vast chasm, across which only
the flimsiest of bridges has yet been built. As analysts wail and decry the
death of brick-and-mortar bookstores, of hard copy literature, there is an
extraordinary movement growing—a symbiotic relationship between the literary
and entertainment worlds. Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones . . .
All of these properties exemplify the growing appreciation audiences have for
the powerful thing that is speculative fiction.
We,
as writers of sci-fi, of fantasy, horror, dystopian, paranormal—whatever you
write, and however you wish to classify it—are entering a golden age, and with
it comes great opportunity. Ours is the literature of today, and though it may
be “popular” or “commercial,” we have a chance to elevate it beyond such labels.
We have a chance to craft deeper stories, tales that speak to our readers every
bit as much as the exceptional pieces of literary fiction that have brought us
smiles and tears through decades and centuries. Literary fiction and
speculative fiction are not mutually exclusive, I feel, and we are now gifted
with the chance to raise our work beyond mere entertainment, just as Rowling,
Collins, and Martin have begun to do.
We
have a voice—a voice that the industry now eagerly wishes to hear. So let us tell
stories that speak truth, that illuminate the human experience in which we all
take part. Let us build the bridge between the literary and speculative, and
let our stories echo down through the ages.
Fires of Man
By Dan Levinson
Psionic
Earth, Book 1
Publisher: Jolly
Fish Press
Release
Date: June 1, 2014
Genre:
Science Fiction – Adventure
Length:
393 Pages
ISBN:
978-1939967329
ASIN:
B00KK6BB8Y
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add
to GOODREADS
About the book:
In
a world where a gifted few can manipulate reality with their minds, two great
nations—Calchis and Orion—employ these psionic powers in a covert war for
global superiority.
In
the heart of Calchis, a powerful young psion named Aaron Waverly is kidnapped,
and forcibly conscripted. To the north, in the capital, a plan is hatched to
decimate Orion, to be carried out by the ruthless operative known only as
“Agent.”
In
Orion, fresh recruit Stockton Finn comes to terms with his incredible new
powers, and learns firsthand how dangerous they can be. Meanwhile, officers
Nyne Allen and Kay Barrett navigate the aftermath of their shattered love
affair, oblivious to the fact that Calchis draws ever closer to destroying the
tenuous peace.
Finally,
in the arctic land of Zenith, Calchan archaeologist Faith Santia unearths a
millennia-old ruin. This lost temple might just hold the hidden history of
psionic powers, as well as hints of a deeper mystery . . . that could shake the
foundations of all mankind.
Dan Levinson
Born
and raised on Long Island, NY, Dan grew up immersing himself in fantastical
worlds. While other kids dreamed of being astronauts and cowboys, all he ever
wanted was to be a novelist. Now, he’s living his dream.
Website: http://www.danlevinsonwriting.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReadDanLevinson
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