Grace Dowden - SciFi/Man in HighCastle

What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science fiction and speculative fiction? Which is The Man in the High Castle?

Speculated fiction is a term that is based around imaginative genres. This kind of fiction is mostly considered as a different kind of science fiction that has more philosophical lines and difficult themes in the setting of its world (Brown, 2001). For example fantasy would fall under this umbrella. Speculative fiction is more artistic than science fiction in terms of literacy sophistication, appreciation of psychological depth and a highlighted social awareness (Brown, 2001). Science fiction however is based around futuristic advancements in different elements that relate not just to science but even technology and people as well as their world.  “By imagining strange worlds we come to see our own conditions of life in a new and potentially revolutionary perspective” (Roberts, 2006). This means that science fiction gives its audience a different world that is comparative to us and that we should see our differences and hopefully bring change in society.

One of the most memorable writers that specialized in that field is Phillip K. Dick and his creation of the novel ‘The man in high castle’ which belongs to science fiction. The reason for this is because science fiction is mostly based on writing between possible worlds and futures. ‘The man in high castle’ is based on the real history of World War II and mixed with some imagination. But this imagination is not beyond scientifically field. However, there are some imaginative speculation in this story but the main genre of this novel is science fiction. Brown (2001) explains that the mental cognition of the characters in the novel in intimate relationships cannot expect the fate of future without their understanding of each individual character. In conclusion, therefore one can say that the ‘The Man in the High Castle’ is a speculative novel due to its psychological depth and sophistication.

References:

Brown, E (2001). Introduction in Dick, P.K. The Man in the High Castle. London: Penguin.

Roberts, A. (2006). The history of science fiction. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.