What is SF/F?

[l_b_rex]

I want to take part in writing for the contests but I don't really know what sf/f is. Does this include ghost stories, monsters, aliens and psychos?

Can someone please explain it for me?

Thanks.

[Hobbit]

Science

Fiction /

Fantasy

(It's where we get our name from!)

We usually include Horror as part of Fantasy, so I would say that your examples in the post above are all possible.

Mark

[psikeyhackr]

ghost stories == Fantasy

monsters == Fantasy

aliens == usually Science Fiction

psychos == Could be either one.

psik

[Awesomov]

I give a good explanation here.

"To douse the flames of confusion, Rod Serling greatly put into one sentence what truly separates science fiction and fantasy, which is, “Science fiction makes the improbable possible; fantasy makes the impossible probable.” For those who don't quite understand, what this basically means is science fiction, while still unreal in its implications, is based typically on real concepts or concepts that could be real, and normally attempts to make them seem real. Fantasy, on the other hand, utilizes concepts that obviously aren't real, and can pretty much go any which way it wants because it is not bound by the laws of anything. The other major distinction is the use of soft and hard sciences and technology in science fiction, while fantasy uses magic and whimsy. Sometimes the genres mix, like with space operas and the aptly named science fantasy."

[steve12553]

I give a good explanation here.

"To douse the flames of confusion, Rod Serling greatly put into one sentence what truly separates science fiction and fantasy, which is, “Science fiction makes the improbable possible; fantasy makes the impossible probable.” For those who don't quite understand, what this basically means is science fiction, while still unreal in its implications, is based typically on real concepts or concepts that could be real, and normally attempts to make them seem real. Fantasy, on the other hand, utilizes concepts that obviously aren't real, and can pretty much go any which way it wants because it is not bound by the laws of anything. The other major distinction is the use of soft and hard sciences and technology in science fiction, while fantasy uses magic and whimsy. Sometimes the genres mix, like with space operas and the aptly named science fantasy."

In other words, by their very names, we admit Fantasy cannot be real, but Science Fiction could be real we just don't know how at this point.

[PeteMC]

We're light on entries for this month's Flash Fiction competion, come and have a go! Any of the things you mentioned above would be fine.