What's This Science-Fantasy Garbage Anyway?

As a fantasy writer, having a non-fantasy reader look at your work is kind of like sky-diving—for someone who is afraid of heights and planes and trampolines.  And staircases with more than three steps.

Despite the ulcer-inciting anxiety this produces, I regularly ask non-fantasy people to beta read for me. And a question I get a lot—no, like a lot—goes something like this: "what's all this science fantasy garbage, anyway?"

Besides the obvious answer to that question (adamantium-grade awesome), I'm going to spend some time agonizing over the slippery edges of the genre, and I’m going to drag you along for the ride … because I’m sadistic like that.

First, Some Super Flexy Definitions:

Fantasy generally assumes the impossible is possible due to magic or some other largely inexplicable feature. Examples: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Twilight (oh yeah, I went there).

Science fiction often suggests that what seems impossible can be made possible by science.  Examples: Frankenstein, The Time Machine, Jurassic Park.

The real difference here is that dead bodies are resurrected in Twilight by some sort of inexplicable and unmeasurable "vampire-ness," whereas in Frankenstein those dead bodies (well, parts of dead bodies) are resurrected through electricity.  In Frankenstein, there is an explanation for the impossible becoming possible, one that correlates with at least some scientific facts, and that correlation allows the story to take place.

Science fantasy is a greedy genre that tends to employ tropes from traditional fantasy fiction but seeks to create scientific correlations.  If Mary Shelley had decidedly portrayed Frankenstein’s monster as a zombie (or any other specific fantasy trope), then the work would be much more recognizable as science fantasy rather than science fiction or horror.

A Totally Random Example:

Rather than representing witches as cranky moss-ridden women with supernatural powers who may or may not eat children, a science fantasy might offer any of the following explanations:  witches are actually cyborgs (who eat moss and maybe children); witches are actually genetically altered humans from the future (who would never eat children, but—due to their futuristic dietary needs—often eat moss); witches are intra-dimensional humanoids who learned, through trial and error, that children are not a suitable dietary staple.

There are quite a few alternatives to this, but the point is that witches and their powers are explained through some branch of science—robotics, genetic modification, the Many-Worlds interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Regardless of whether witches eat children or moss or both, their existence is introduced or explained through one or several branches of science.

Lastly: some science fantasy might just feature unicorns shooting laser guns . . . which is pretty much the best kind.

A Post Script: Just in case you’re one of the ultra-rare weirdos who is fascinated by all this genre talk, I’m including a link to an excellent piece by Randy Henderson at Fantasy Magazine.

Update: Final Revision on NINE LIVES

I finished my last round of revisions on NINE LIVES at 3AM this morning. Patting myself on the back turned into a 2 hour victory dance in Dr. Seuss boxer shorts and a hooded, green knit house robe that—despite my insistence that it looks exactly like the Ezio’s cloak from Assassin’s Creed—has become known as my “granny jacket.”

My Vampires Aren't Tough Enough; Or, the IRONMAN 70.3 and Other Paranormal Phenomena

A close friend of mine completed the 70.3 Ironman today, and after a brief glance at his racing stats, I was left with a single, unexpected realization: my vampires aren’t tough enough.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the 70.3 Ironman, just think about that number – 70.3 – and accept that it’s every bit as bad as it sounds.

70.3 miles.  These super-powered masochists (and I mean that in the best way possible) start out with a 1.2 mile swim, then transition to a 50+ mile bike ride, and top it off with a 13 mile run.

I spend a lot of time running, and that is the kind of mileage I put in over the course of a week.  13, not 70.  I cannot imagine what it would be like to run 13 miles at a 7 minute pace after I’d already traveled 50+ miles biking and swimming.  And anyone who’s spent some time in the pool knows that swimming 1.2 miles is no joke.  This Insane-A-Thon starts out with the swim for a reason—because if the race ended with a 1.2 swim, they’d need scuba divers to fish out the incredibly fit dead bodies.

70.3 miles in less than a day—approximately the same mileage it takes to cross the state of Massachusetts

If that’s not superhuman, I don’t know what is.  And maybe my vampires rip off arms and crush skulls and miraculously avoid contracting so much as the flu despite biting and/or kissing pretty much everyone, but they’re seeming less superhuman by the minute.

So, what I’m really thinking is that the difference between my Big Bad Bloodsuckers and my real life friend has nothing to do with superhuman feats.

Maybe it’s just the black leather body suits.

The Proverbial Nutshell; Or, an Introduction to Kit Colter

If you’re on this page it could mean one of three things.  1) You’re curious about me. 2) You’re curious about my work. Or 3) you’re lost in cyberspace.

Whatever the case, I’m going to take advantage of this situation – and maybe by the time you figure out how to get unlost in cyberspace, you’ll want to sign up for my newsletter.  ; )

So, Kit Colter in a Nutshell:

The Good: I have a Master’s degree in English and just received my first-ever acceptance letter to a PhD program.

The Bad: My predilection for exotic punctuation seems to be exacerbated by all this college stuff.

Verdict: Much like chocolate and gamma rays, prolonged exposure to higher education may have unforeseen consequences on one’s mental health.

Some Random Facts:

I live in New Mexico, and it really is the Land of Enchantment.  People like to say there are no sunsets like New Mexico sunsets – and it’s true.  My home is about 400 yards away from the edge of the Rio Grande River, where I spend an inordinate amount of time jogging and occasionally spotting coyotes.  They howl in the arroyo behind my house at night, which is pure awesome.

When I have spare time, I like to rock climb, snowboard, dance, and travel.  In the next month or so, I’ll be traveling to Louisiana to canoe around the swamps and wage a futile battle against the insects.

Some Ultra-Random Facts:

I read everything but Westerns.

I’m slightly obsessed with Michelle Pfeiffer.

I can’t write without peppermint lip balm.

And now, dear reader, you know everything about me.

As a Post Script: I primarily write science fiction, fantasy, and horror.  My characters are flawed people in extraordinary circumstances.  I try to make good decisions more difficult and bad decisions more interesting.  Also – bending the laws of physics is kind of addictive.  For more about that, check out my blog post: What’s This Science-Fantasy Garbage Anyway?

PSS: If you sign up for my newsletter, I’ll send you a newborn unicorn in the mail. Promise.