Comments on: Panel: Young Adult Speculative Fiction

By: Gwenda

Gwenda — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:48:21 +0000

For me, speculative fiction is a catch-all descriptor that includes all types of fantastic fiction, including science fiction and even horror. It sounds like what you’re writing might be what’s sometimes called “soft” or “social” science fiction, but I think sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down in terms. I like spec fic because it’s inclusive, but also use SFF a lot.

By: mclicious

mclicious — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:27:09 +0000

This is great! So glad I found it (through Malinda’s blog). I think you covered a lot of important stuff, and now I have to make my to-read list SO much longer (though thankfully next fall I’ll be taking a class on sci fi and fantasy for my children’s and YA lit master’s, so I’ll be able to catch up then). One thing I thought, though, when I saw the title of the panel, was that you might be talking a little about the nature of speculative fiction itself–what I’m writing is, I think, best described as speculative fiction, in that it takes elements commonly associated with SF but doesn’t science-ify them too, too much, and the focus is still more on the “literary” plot of character and emotional growth and development. I think that magic realism, you could say, is the fantasy version of speculative fiction, where as “straight” SF and F revel in those aspects much more.

You all talk a lot about how boundaries are blurring in YA, and that’s true. But if you had to define it, I’m curious as to how you each would separate the categories of SF, F, spec fic, and magic realism.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:44:08 +0000

And I agree with both Tanita and Phoebe! Thanks for the great discussion, all of you, and thanks, Malinda, for mentioning my blog.

I had lots of the books mentioned in my piles and on my list, but I’ve added more!

By: Tarie

Tarie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:01:07 +0000

Hi, Tanita!!! =D

By: tanita

tanita — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:01:19 +0000

I agree with Phoebe that discussions like these really are the first step in greater awareness. The YA Speculative Fiction world is pretty big, and sometimes readers who don't see anything for themselves in YA avoid the label on the basis of being not in the marketed age group. There's really so much more to it than age! I was happy to see TANKBORN and THE SHATTERING, and GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and many others highlighted - and I've got a few new ones for my TBR pile! Thanks, Charles! Please do something like this again!

By: Jessica Strider

Jessica Strider — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:54:58 +0000

Interesting discussion!

By: Carol Parsons

Carol Parsons — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:56:32 +0000

A lively and varied discussion. As a YA sci fi writer I’m interested in trends within the industry. I also liked hearing about some new authors and books I didn’t know were out there, as well as the Intergalactic Academy. Thanks for the links! Definitely bookmarked that one. Hope SF Signal will host more blogs like this one.

By: Phoebe North

Phoebe North — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:44:06 +0000

Thank so much to Malinda for the shout out to the Intergalactic Academy! We’re only a few months old, but it’s really a passion project of mine. As a YA sci-fi author debuting with Simon and Schuster in 2013 (as well as a rabid fan of the genre), I’m really interested in conversations about YA SF’s place in the wider genre. I think dialogues like these are a great first step to greater awareness.