How is science fiction different from fantasy, according to LeGuin?
Credibility is what keeps the reader’s attached and absorbed in any fictional work. According to LeGuin (2005b), fiction is validated by plausibility, meaning fiction has the ability to happen in reality. If there are improbable events or elements in the fiction work, they are usually plausibly explained in order to keep the reader's consent for the work.
Science fiction correlates with realistic fiction, which uses actuality as a ground to insert fictional characters and events in. Because science fiction bases its fictional elements on true events and setting, science fiction works are usually set in the future, while pretending it’s the readers’ present or past. Rarely are they set in the present unless for satirical purposes, since readers would try to apply the events and characters into reality and the contradictions of fact would result in the story failing to convince the readers due to its lack of plausibility.
Fantasy, as LeGuin (2005b) stated, boldly takes on fictionality. Realistic details are still used to ground the story e.g. how Ged (LeGuin, 1968) has a realistic family - but only at a minimal level just to keep the readers from having to process too many improbable details. In other words, to keep the reader’s attention on significantly fictional works such as those from fantasy genre, coherence is the key (LeGuin, 2005a).
The differences between science fiction and fantasy can be seen through this example from A Wizard Of Earthsea by LeGuin (1968). In the story, the form and existence of the island of Gont is described in a geographically possible manner: “a single mountain that lifts its peak a mile above the storm-racked Northeast Sea”. This helps the reader to imagine the setting of the story more easily, as they can use factual geography information to create a vision of the fictional island of Gont in their mind while reading. In other word, the island has the possibility to exist due to its geographical realistic description, therefore it bears the trait of realistic fiction. However, the island of Gont is “a land famous for wizards” (LeGuin, 1968). Wizards are clearly imagined characters, which means they do not have the probability to exist in real life. This categorizes A Wizard of Earthsea into fantasy genre.
Reference
LeGuin, U. K. (2005a). Plausibility in Fantasy. Retrieved from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityinFantasy.html
LeGuin, U. K. (2005b). Plausibility Revisited. Retrieved from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityRevisited.html
LeGuin, U. K. (1968). A Wizard of Earthsea. In The Earthsea Quartet. Retrieved from https://autonline.aut.ac.nz/bbcswebdav/pid-3448988-dt-content-rid-3451455_4/institution/Papers/166104/Publish/Reader_Weeks%203%20and%204.pdf
Ok Elenor. Not nearly as convincing as your first blog-post. But you seem to have understood some of Le Guin's points from the secondary reading. Keep an eye on your clarity of language - a couple of your sentences were hard to follow.
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