Defining science fiction

Some Facebook friends and I recently had a discussion sparked by an article posted on Tor’s Star Wars site. The author puts forth the argument that Timothy Zahn’s 1991 novel Heir to the Empire Heir to the Empiremoved Star Wars out of the realm of space fantasy and into the realm of true science fiction, setting the genre boundaries for the later Expanded-Universe novels. While I agree that Zahn’s work had a profound influence not only on the EU but on the franchise in general, I don’t think the author succeeds in making his case—Zahn’s work didn’t make Star Wars any more science-fictional than it already was.

Really, only two of the author’s points directly address his thesis. He argues that the ysalamiri* cast the Force in a more scientific light; rather than a spiritual power, the Force becomes a natural phenomenon that may be neutralized by another natural phenomenon. And he points out the centrality of cloning to the plot of the Thrawn Trilogy. His other points—that Zahn introduces a strong female character in Mara Jade and spends time discussing “space politics”—don’t really lend much to his argument.

Of the two points, I feel only the cloning argument holds much water. Despite the ysalamiri, Zahn still never really presents the Force in scientific terms. And the cloning alone isn’t enough, in my opinion, to make Heir to the Empire “hard science fiction” (the article suggests it is such), or even to make it more science-fictional than the films—after all, Obi-Wan mentions the Clone Wars in Episode IV. (Incidentally, it’s interesting to note that both cloning and a quasi-scientific interpretation of the Force resurface in the prequel trilogy.)

Our discussion did raise the question of what “science fiction” really is. Leaving the article aside, does Heir to the Empire qualify? If you strip “science fiction” down to its barest definition—fiction about science—then I’d argue it does, since it revolves around scientific concepts: space travel, cloning, et cetera. But does the definition of “science fiction” really stop there? The point was raised, in our discussion, that sci-fi should address the human condition on Earth by presenting what-if scenarios that force us to think about what it means to be human. (I recently read an article on dystopias that said much the same thing about dystopian fiction: it exists to give us a platform to address real-life social issues.) Ender’s Game does this; 1984 and Brave New World do this. Zahn’s books really don’t. If this is the criterion for determining science fiction, Heir to the Empire doesn’t meet it.

I’d contend that while this doesn’t have to be the criterion for qualifying science fiction, it should certainly be the criterion for qualifying great science fiction—just as it should be the criterion for great fiction of any sort, regardless of genre. It’s what elevates something like Brave New World to the pedestal of classic literature. As much as I love Heir to the Empire, I wouldn’t claim it reaches the same heights.

*“Creepy little slugs who negate the Force,” according to the author of the article. Sort of like Jedi Kryptonite.

  • https://mathewdmeyer.blogspot.com/ Mat Meyer

    I like when science fiction pushes us to think about what it means to be human (a lot of Kurt Vonnegut’s novels do this, and I love it), but I don’t think that should be the criteria for determining science fiction. Science fiction can bring a fresh perspective to philosophical questions, but I don’t think science fiction has to ask these questions.

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      Right; I don’t think that needs to be part of the definition. Science fiction may deal with philosophical themes, of course (and I like it when it does), but that’s not fundamentally what makes it science fiction.

  • https://Website I AM your Father

    It is SCIENCE fiction, not philosophical fiction or sociological fiction. To me the criteria for being science fiction is that it presents science and/or technology that is either completely new, never thought of; or pushes existing science/technology.

    Classically this has primarily involved space travel but could also involve medicine, communications, armaments, or even science or mathematical theory.

    Ideally, science fiction presents ideas or concepts that would benefit humanity. The ‘space race’ of the 60′s and 70′s, computer technology, cell phones, etc. are all examples of literature pushing invention.

    Science fiction novels do have to have a story, otherwise you are stuck reading something akin to a scientific or technical paper. But, the storyline is secondary. If it happens to be a great story that touches on other issues all well and good. But what makes it science fiction is the science, not the fiction.

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      Good point, though in my opinion science and philosophy are fairly closely related. And you’re right that science fiction doesn’t necessarily have to be about space travel and aliens; there are plenty of science fiction novels that take place on earth and are more immediately plausible.

      I agree that sci-fi should be about ideas/innovations that ideally benefit humanity, though I think the best science fiction deals with what happens when this is flipped on its head—when technology and progress become the enemy, whether overtly (2001, Terminator, The Matrix, ad infinitum…) or covertly (as in 1984 or Brave New World).

      I think your point about the emphasis on science is spot on. That should be the basis for categorizing “science fiction.” That’s why I have a hard time considering certain novels (McCarthy’s The Road, for instance) science fiction, though they’re sometimes classed as such; yes, McCarthy’s novel is set in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, but I think a total of two sentences are devoted to explaining that. The rest of the novel is pretty unscientific.

  • https://agrmoore.blogspot.com A.G.R. Moore

    I agree with some of the points made. I don’t like the road science fiction has taken itself down, it’s all gone a little bleak for bleak’s sake. Yes we shouldn’t see the world as some rose-tinted, whimsical, Disney-ladened universe where good always triumphs over evil but pushing scientific boundaries has for the most part been served as a positive thing for mankind. Something sci-fi as a genre in film and literature as slipped away from in recent time. That said it makes for good reading and viewing 90% of the time.

    Take Jules Verne for example, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea it pushes home the idea of new technologies (can be credited for conceiving the idea of submarines) and the dream of exploring the unknown, something that Star Trek adapted to space from the 60s onwards.

    Whereas Star Wars is a funny one, I don’t consider it overly sci-fi in the strictest view. It borrows a lot from westerns, samurai films & traditional fantasy. The fact it’s set in space and alien worlds is circumstantial in most aspects.

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      I personally don’t consider Star Wars sci-fi either. I’m happy to call it space fantasy. :)

      You make an interesting point about the darker turn the genre has taken lately—the vast majority of recent sci-fi is dystopian (especially in YA, and to the point of indistinguishability… I’ve given up trying to keep track of all the teen-girl-fights-repressive-regime-while-trying-to-decide-between-two-hot-boys series clones). I think steampunk is the one subgenre that still maintains a positive attitude towards innovation and progress (and steampunk pretty much owes its existence to Jules Verne).

      • https://agrmoore.blogspot.com A.G.R. Moore

        Totally agree on the steampunk comment, it’s something that’s poured over into my own writing, even though I’ve yet to properly tackle science-fiction as a genre. When I find the right story I will though : )

        • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

          I keep wanting to try my hand at sci-fi. I feel I should probably read more before I do, though; I’m more well-versed in sci-fi film than in sci-fi lit. Apart from Orwell and Huxley, really the only classic sci-fi author I’ve read is Philip K. Dick.

  • https://mjohnsonstories.net mary

    I’m inclined to agree with you that “Star Wars” isn’t SF, but rather science fantasy, or space fantasy. It’s also true that some of the “science-fictional” aspects people point to - the clone wars, for example - were present from the very first film. But I think what’s really going on here with this argument (and I did read the essay about Zahn’s book) is that the Force is not spiritual, but physical. It’s been taken out of the metaphysical realm. Therefore, it’s become SF.

    If that really is the thrust of the original argument (and I think it is), needless to say, I have some problems with it. :) It is a fallacy to assert that SF can’t or shouldn’t deal with metaphysics, philosophy, or even theology. All my favorite SF does exactly that. It’s like the tired old argument that religion and science must necessarily be in conflict. Must they? Why? For much of human history, they weren’t in conflict at all. As to what SF is, or should be, I guess you and most of the commentators are saying, “It’s speculative fiction about scientific concepts”. That - as you know from my earlier blog post - is a stricter definition than I would use, but it makes sense. I’m inclined to define SF as speculative fiction that could actually happen. No magic! Which is what I keep coming back to.

    But it’s interesting, this about showing progress in a positive way. I guess that you could say that “Frankenstein” was the first true SF novel? Or one of them? And the trope of the “mad scientist” meddling with nature and bringing on disaster is strong with it - I believe. I’m going to try to actually read it: I’ve been avoiding it for years because I don’t like horror. The point is that a negative depiction of progress has been a theme in SF from its earliest days.

    Sorry for the length here, but, getting back to the animosity to spirituality, what do you think of McCaffrey? SF or fantasy? Most people define the “Pern” novels as SF, in spite of the strong fantasy elements, because they are set on an alien world. And also, I think, because she was absolutely determined to avoid depicting any kind of spirituality or religion. OTOH, there have been true SF novels ( “Liebowitz”, to give just one example) that have handled religion well.

    To sum up this long comment in two sentences, I’d say: Some people think SF must avoid religion and spirituality at all costs. I think they’re wrong.

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      That’s a great point—by no means does the Force have to be “scientific” for Star Wars to be considered science fiction. I agree that science and religion don’t have to be in conflict—they’re not mutually exclusive, and science fiction should reflect this.

      I have read Frankenstein; I have to admit I’ve never read either McCaffrey or A Canticle for Leibowitz, though the latter’s been on my to-read list for a while. Just out of curiosity, have you read The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell? I haven’t, but a friend recommended it to me. It deals with religious themes in a sci-fi context, though I’m not sure exactly how it handles them.

  • https://www.surlymuse.com Daniel Swensen

    I always found the ysalimiri risible, and the Zahn trilogy itself barely tolerable. I’ve never really understood the love for it. This blog post actually helped me realize why.

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      At this point I should probably give the disclaimer that it’s been several years since I’ve actually read Zahn, and if I went back and read him now I might not be quite as much a fan as I was when I was 14. :-/

      That said—there are certainly cheesy elements, and some clunky writing (IIRC Zahn does tend to use the “As you know, Bob…” tactic quite a bit), but I think the reason I like Zahn is because his books still feel like classic Star Wars to me. The later novels tried too hard to be dark and edgy, and by the time everyone had gotten done falling to the Dark Side, the power of Darth Vader’s redemptive arc in the OT had just been squelched.

  • https://mjohnsonstories.net mary

    I haven’t read “The Sparrow”, though I’ve been thinking of doing so. Checked out reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and some of them were dismaying, to put it mildly. I might still give it a try.

    The “Pern” novels are, to my mind, adequate potboilers - good fun, but not great literature in any way. I adore “A Canticle for Liebowitz” in spite of its grimness, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing what you think of it if/when you get around to it.

    Speaking of that (and changing the subject - sorry!), did we recommend Elizabeth Wein’s books to you? Both Deirdre and I are reading her Ethiopian novels now, and they are tremendous. Highly recommended to all Megan Whalen Turner fans!

    Getting back to the subject now: I do think SF should include good science. (One of the negative reviews of “Sparrow” said that it didn’t.) I’m not sure it needs to be groundbreaking, or never thought of. If those are the criteria, my book certainly isn’t SF. ;) Although I don’t know if anyone has devised those solar/electric catamarans Niki observes (and will later sail - a possible bit of New Terra fluff for the blog?). If they haven’t, I don’t know why not!

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      Ack, Wein’s books are more of those that I hope eventually to read, but haven’t gotten around to yet. I wanted to read “The Winter Prince” long before I even heard the buzz about “Code Name Verity.” Now I’m eager to read both, because I’m as much a WWII buff as a historical fantasy buff. :)

  • https://Website Zeke

    I don’t think Star Wars can really be classified as Science Fiction. In my opinion it’s just a story as old as time, which happens to be set in space, and happens to include blasters and aliens, and really cool people who can levitate things, control other peoples minds, and wield glowing blue and red swords. And I don’t think Heir to the Empire made it any more Science Fiction-ish. One of the best things about Zahn’s works, is that he can take everything you know and love about the Original Trilogy, and give it a new storyline, which is just as compelling as the Original.

    • https://amandamccrina.com Amanda

      I agree. If we’re going by strict, conventional genre classifications, I do think “Star Wars” is more fantasy than sci-fi, and owes just as much (if not more) to the classic works of that genre as it does to those of the sci-fi genre. Tolkien had glowing blue swords long before Lucas did!

      • https://Website Zeke

        I agree that it is more of a fantasy, and I think you could also make a case that it is a Western set in space. But even I admit there are elements in Star Wars that are definitely Science Fiction-ish (like the space-ships). I would say that Star Wars pretty much created its own genre of movie (you can come up with a name for it if you wish), and the works of Timothy Zahn did nothing to move it out of that unique genre, and make it a Science Fiction.