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

Speculative Fiction definition:

Speculative fiction is a word that was coined to collectively describe works in the genres of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. The term speculative fiction is used to address fiction that includes fantastic fiction, weird tales and amazing stories. It can also include other genres “such as mysteries, alternate stories and historical fiction. Speculative fiction can be a collective term to describe works of science fiction, fantasy and horror” (Lily, 2002). The term often also encapsulates works that don’t fit into one specific genre, stories that are classed as ‘weird’ or ‘adventure’ and other stories that are on the fringe.

Speculative fiction involves the author speculating on the results of changing what is real or possible. “Therefore, the thing being speculated upon must be more elemental than character or plot. Speculative fiction is any fiction in which the “laws” of that world (explicit or implied) are different than ours” (Neugebauer, 2014).

Science Fiction definition:

Science Fiction is the literature of ideas and philosophy, and often answers questions such as “what if?” “Science fiction is the literature of of the human species encountering change, whether it arrives via scientific discoveries, technological innovations, natural events, or societal shifts” (University of Kansas, 2015).

So what is the difference between the two?

Whilst both fall under the fiction category, there is one major difference between the two. Neugebauer, 2014 states that the defining line between science fiction and speculative fiction lies within what is being speculated. She gives a great example when she says:

“So dropping a bad guy into a nest full of alligators, while thrilling, isn’t “speculative” because it could really happen in our world. Dropping a bad guy into a nest full of mutant alligator-sharks is “speculative” because it isn’t possible in our world; the author must “speculate” on how that would go. (And I’m guessing the answer is “not well.”)”

I think that ‘The man in the high castle’ falls under both categories. The main reason for this is that it is based around world war two, a true historic event, but it also has some of the author’s imagination mixed in with it. Some of this imagination is not beyond scientific capability, hence why it could fall under the science fiction category. However, it more strongly represents speculative fiction, due to it’s conflicting themes of totalitarianism and eastern philosophy. “Dick suggests that the world presented in The Man in The High Castle is but an illusion, that other, better worlds might exist.” (Brown, E.)  Dick has speculated a lot of the plot, by creating a world that is so different to the one we live in, as opposed to speculating more on the characters. This psychological depth and sophistication suggest that ‘The Man in the High Castle’ also falls under the category of speculative fiction.

References:

Annieneugebauer.com,. (2014). What Is Speculative Fiction? | Annie Neugebauer. Retrieved 2 October 2015, from http://annieneugebauer.com/2014/03/24/what-is-speculative-fiction/

Dick, P.K. (2001; 1962). The Man in the High Castle. London: Penguin

Eric, B. (2001). Introduction. In Dick, P.K., The Man in the High Castle (p. x, xii). London: Penguin.

University of Kansas. (n.d.). Defining Science Fiction. Retrieved from http://www.sfcenter.ku.edu/SF-Defined.htm

Lily, N. E. (2002, March). What is Speculative Fiction? Retrieved from www.greententacles.com/articles/5/26/