When did fiction become so Speculative?
Someone posed this question to one of my social networking
groups recently and though the topic was very popular, I don’t know that an answer
of ever given. I guess the question is a bit vague. It’s not like all fiction
has actually become speculative, but this genre has become very popular as of
late. The term speculative is so broad that it’s not too hard to understand it popularity.
There is something there to appeal to a great many people across the board.
Speculative fiction encompasses sci-fi, fantasy, horror,
supernatural, paranormal, and all sorts of alternative reality themes including
those with historical, romantic, and political undertones. The Speculative
fiction umbrella is so vast that many like it and don’t even know they do,
while some think they like and actually don’t. I think it’s the term itself that’s
really been getting the buzz lately.
As popular as the myriad of speculative genres are, fiction
still stand strong and stands strong all on its own. Depending on the circles in
which one travels, Speculative fiction may not even exist. I know lots of
people who read fiction and have no idea what Speculative is. These people read
historical novels, crime and suspense novels, romance novels, and so much more.
People do still write stories that tell the tales of ordinary every people
without any undertones of supernatural happenings, or creatures, or technological
wonders of the past, present, or future.
I think maybe that sometimes people get so involved in the happenings
of their social circles that they forget that everyone isn’t a part of their
world. I know I’ve been guilty of that many times. And while I’m content to
continuing working my series of Speculative spiritual fiction, that doesn’t
mean I don’t take the time to step out of that world and experience something
else from time to time.
