Science Fiction and Horror

This particular portion of the site is dedicated to science fiction and its relation to the field of horror. Although the two types of fiction are somewhat different in many regards, it is our particular belief that they possess more similarities than differences, and that, indeed, Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy are all sub-genres of the larger genre of what will be referred to as the fantastic.

So what exactly do Science Fiction and Horror have in common? One thing that they have in common is the great demand that is placed on the reader of such works. Both Science Fiction and Horror require a suspension of disbelief greater than that of any fiction story set in the world of the mundane. Because this heightened suspension of disbelief is similar for both Science Fiction and Horror, both categories are read by the same basic demographic of people. The appeal of the spectrally macabre and Science Fiction is generally narrow because it demands from the reader a certain degree of imagination and a large capacity for detachment from everyday life.

Another question that must be addressed is exactly what is meant by the term Science Fiction or Horror Fiction? This particular question is not easily answered and has been the focus of much speculation and investigation for years. In order to keep things simple, we will define these terms broadly: Science Fiction is any fictional work in which advanced science that is in the real world still out of reach, plays a major role within that work. Horror Fiction we will define as any fictional work which has been designed in order to produce a profound sense of dread in the reader / audience.

Once these perimeters have been established, it is easy to comprehend why there is substantial overlap in these two interrelated fields. Many visions of the future that are presented to the reader can seem very horrific, and there are quite a few horror masterpieces that are based in improbable science. Alien encounters, for example, are very horrific. Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, Stevenson’s Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde and other such works contain elements of horror but are based in scientific reason (at least of its day). Other, more modern horror epics, such as Stephen King’s The Stand, are based more in reason and science than ever before. Moreover, it is often contended that works that overlap multiple genres contain the best writing of all. In the end, there is only good writing and bad. Any other label we put on fiction (Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Romance, etc.) have been contrived, basically, for marketing purposes. The worst contents in all genres are those which are primarily "pure" genre, which are nothing more that a stringing together of the clichés of that genre.

More and more "crossover" works can be listed both in literature and film, from The Thing to Jacob’s Ladder to The Fly to the modern Science Fiction / Horror film Event Horizon. As the lines of the once-seemingly separate categories become more and more blurred, it becomes easier and easier to see how Horror and Science Fiction are integrally related. For links to Horror and Science Fiction sites, return to the home page.