Meet at the Moon!
THE BIG SMACKDOWN - Science Fiction Vs Fantasy!
Friday 19th of July 2024 6pm onwards.
In its role as the arbiter of world-building genres, Eastworlders will host a tongue-in-cheek battle of the titans: Science
Fiction versus Fantasy. SF was first: therefore it's the mother of fantasy. It's more demanding, after all anything can be fantasy. Fantasy sells more books: democractically, it's better. (Also Scalzi says SF is just a subset of Fantasy.)
Just add a map in the front, that's fantasy.
Use the word quantum a lot and your magic becomes SF.
Can we throw more petrol on the genre bonfire? We get together in Cambridge for a face off between the BSFA (British Science Fiction Society) and the BFS (British Fantasy Society). We'll be at the Blue Moon pub for some good-natured talk about SF vs Fantasy and the rules for worldbuilding in each (if there really even are any).
(If you're in any doubt most people attending will be ardent supporters of both but there's no harm in a little rap-style shade throwing. After all SF may not even be in the top 3 of genres...)
Some ideas already thrown in the pit of Scantasy:
- Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun
- Elves with guns
- Cyberpunk evolution of pixies, ogres and angels
Want to come?
Great, just turn up, but it would be helpful if you let [Alex Cochran](https://linktr.ee/alexcochranwriter"Get in touch with Alex Cochran") know you're coming so we can ensure there will be enough seats at the Blue Moon. Maybe indicate which side you might be rooting for? Feel free to begin the tussle online on BSFA Discord or BlueSky.