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Speculative fiction is an umbrella phrase encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres , specifically science fiction , fantasy , horror , supernatural fiction , superhero fiction , utopian and dystopian fiction , apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction , and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts.
It has been around since humans began to speak. The earliest forms of speculative fiction were likely mythological tales told around the campfire. Speculative fiction deals with the "What if?" scenarios imagined by dreamers and thinkers worldwide. Journeys to other worlds through the vast reaches of distant space; magical quests to free worlds enslaved by terrible beings; malevolent supernatural powers seeking to increase their spheres of influence across multiple dimensions and times; all of these fall into the realm of speculative fiction.
Speculative fiction as a category ranges from ancient works to cutting edge , paradigm -changing, and neotraditional works of the 21st century. It can be recognized in works whose authors' intentions or the social contexts of the versions of stories they portrayed is now known. For example, Ancient Greek dramatists such as Euripides , whose play Medea (play) seemed to have offended Athenian audiences when he fictionally speculated that shamaness Medea killed her own children instead of their being killed by other Corinthians after her departure. The play Hippolytus , narratively introduced by Aphrodite , is suspected to have displeased contemporary audiences of the day because it portrayed Phaedra as too lusty.
In historiography , what is now called speculative fiction has previously been termed "historical invention", "historical fiction ," and other similar names. It is extensively noted in the literary criticism of the works of William Shakespeare when he co-locates Athenian Duke Theseus and Amazonian Queen Hippolyta , English fairy Puck , and Roman god Cupid all together in the fairyland of its Merovingian Germanic sovereign Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream . In mythography it has been termed "mythopoesis" or mythopoeia , "fictional speculation", the creative design and generation of lore, regarding such works as J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Lord of the Rings . Such supernatural , alternate history , and sexuality themes continue in works produced within the modern speculative fiction genre.
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Selected profile
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – c. 1914 ) was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and American Civil War veteran. His book The Devil's Dictionary was named one of "The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature" by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration . His story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge " has been described as "one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature", and his book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (also published as In the Midst of Life ) was named by the Grolier Club one of the 100 most influential American books printed before 1900.
A prolific and versatile writer, Bierce was regarded as one of the most influential journalists in the United States and as a pioneering writer of realist fiction. For his horror writing,
Michael Dirda ranked him alongside
Edgar Allan Poe and
H. P. Lovecraft .
S. T. Joshi speculates that he may well be the greatest satirist America has ever produced, and in this regard can take his place with such figures as
Juvenal ,
Swift , and
Voltaire . His war stories influenced
Stephen Crane ,
Ernest Hemingway , and others, and he was considered an influential and feared literary critic. In recent decades, Bierce has gained wider respect as a
fabulist and for his poetry. (
Full article... )
Selected work Burning Rangers is a 1998
action game developed by
Sonic Team and published by
Sega for the
Sega Saturn . Players control one of an elite group of
firefighters , the Burning Rangers, who extinguish fires and rescue civilians in burning buildings in a futuristic society. Most of the tasks involved collecting energy crystals to transport civilians to safety. In lieu of an in-game map,
Burning Rangers features a voice navigation system which directs players through corridors.
Development began shortly after the release of Christmas Nights in November 1996. Producer Yuji Naka wanted to create a game which involved saving people rather than killing them. Sonic Team used firefighting as they thought it was an effective way of having players identify with heroism. (Full article... )
Selected quote
“
The poet is in command of his fantasy, while it is exactly the mark of the neurotic that he is possessed by his fantasy.
”
—Lionel Trilling (1905-1975), The Liberal Imagination (1950).
Selected picture
Three Little Pigs, by Leonard Leslie Brooke
Illustration for a 1904 adaptation of the Three Little Pigs fairy tale, depicting the big bad wolf blowing down the straw house of the first little pig.
Did you know...
Upcoming conventions
Selected article Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by American author
Stephen King , who has appeared in at least nine of his novels. Described as "an accomplished sorcerer and a devoted servant of the Outer Dark", he has
supernatural abilities involving
necromancy ,
prophecy , and influence over animal and human behavior. His goals typically center on bringing down civilizations through destruction and conflict. He has a variety of names, usually with the initial letters "
R. F. " but with occasional exceptions, such as
Walter o'Dim and
Marten Broadcloak in
The Dark Tower series.
Flagg first appeared in King's 1978 novel
The Stand as a
demonic figure who wreaks havoc after a
plague kills most of the world population. He makes his second appearance in the 1984 novel
The Eyes of the Dragon as an evil wizard trying to plunge the fictional
medieval city of Delain into chaos. Flagg was a primary antagonist in King's epic series,
The Dark Tower , who tries to keep protagonist
Roland Deschain from reaching the Tower - the linchpin of existence - so he can claim it for himself and become a god.
The Dark Tower expanded on Flagg's background and motivation, linking his previous appearances. Flagg was portrayed by
Jamey Sheridan in a 1994
television miniseries adaptation of The Stand , by
Matthew McConaughey in a 2017
The Dark Tower film adaptation, and by
Alexander Skarsgård in a 2020-21
television miniseries adaptation of The Stand . He has additionally appeared in adaptations of
The Dark Tower and
The Stand by
Marvel Comics . (
Full article... )
On this day...
Possible futures
Possible events in the future as suggested by science fiction:
The Committee of Public Safety seizes power in Nouveau Paris and takes control of the government in 4007.
Around the year 18,000,000, a "half-plastic denizen" of the interior of a planet beyond Pluto exchanges his mind with the Great Race of Yith.
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Here are ideas for how you can help improve the coverage of speculative fiction topics on Wikipedia:
Join a WikiProject or task force:
Science fiction (task force ): The 4400 , Babylon 5 , Battlestar Galactica , Doctor Who , Firefly , Futurama , G.I. Joe , Heroes , Hitchhiker's Guide , Life on Mars , Lost , Pokémon , Red Dwarf , Star Trek , Star Wars , Stargate , Superman , Transformers , Twilight Zone .
Fantasy : Artemis Fowl , Discworld , Fabelhaven , Harry Potter , Highlander , His Dark Materials , Inheritance Cycle , Lemony Snicket , Middle-Earth , Narnia , Oz , Percy Jackson , Redwall , Roald Dahl , Shannara , A Song of Ice and Fire , Warriors .
Horror : Buffy , Twilight .
Other and related: Animation , Anime and manga , Balzac , Children's literature , Comics , Disney , Machinima , Games (Board and tabletop games , Warhammer 40K , RPGs (D&D ), Video games (Square Enix )).
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Note: If no articles are shown below, please work on those found in the Archive .
This list was generated from these rules . Questions and feedback are always welcome ! The search is being run daily with the most recent ~14 days of results. Note: Some articles may not be relevant to this project.
Rules | Match log | Results page (for watching) | Last updated: 2024-08-03 21:56 (UTC)
Note : The list display can now be customized by each user. See List display personalization for details.
Beyond Fest ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Grenz (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 100
Making a Stand ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Mjks28 (talk · contribs · new pages (31) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 20
Night Has Come ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by SafariScribe (talk · contribs · new pages (202) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 40
Amar Chadha-Patel ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Starklinson (talk · contribs · new pages (13) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 80
Sunburnt Unicorn ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bearcat (talk · contribs · new pages (81) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 20
Lost in the Moment and Found ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 40
Vina: Sebelum 7 Hari ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bocahgabut (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 40
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 60
Lost In the Moment and Found ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 60
Across the Green Grass Fields ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-31, score: 60
Kibaraka (Swahili folktale) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KHR FolkMyth (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 20
28 Days Later (film series) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Ozzie10aaaa (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 120
RZR (TV series) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Sugarrayeverymorning (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 40
Addio fottuti musi verdi ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Alienautic (talk · contribs · new pages (47) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 65
Ali K. Mulford ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nosferattus (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 40
The Fantastic Four: First Steps ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 2A0A:EF40:26:CF01:A138:22C7:9984:62D0 (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 60
Come Tumbling Down ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 80
In an Absent Dream ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 60
Beneath the Sugar Sky ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 60
Down Among the Sticks and Bones ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 80
Every Heart a Doorway ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Significa liberdade (talk · contribs · new pages (100) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 85
Judith C. Vogt ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-25, score: 40
Wolfman's Got Nards ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by CFA (talk · contribs · new pages (433) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 40
Outside (2004 film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bovineboy2008 (talk · contribs · new pages (21) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 40
ParaNorman (soundtrack) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.85.232 (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 40
To The Stars Inc. ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by WiinterU (talk · contribs · new pages (12) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 25
Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Notcharizard (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 20
The Oppenheimer Alternative ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bruce1ee (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 40
Kaijū-iro no Shima ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by SimonLagann (talk · contribs · new pages (13) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 20
Crusade (Anderson novel) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Woodensuperman (talk · contribs · new pages (28) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 20
Crusade (Lowder novel) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Woodensuperman (talk · contribs · new pages (28) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 20
Exodus (White and Meier novel) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Woodensuperman (talk · contribs · new pages (28) ) started on 2024-07-30, score: 105
Bertrand Méheust ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rjjiii (talk · contribs · new pages (6) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 20
Yūsha Party o Tsuihō Sareta Shiro Madōshi, S-Rank Bōkensha ni Hirowareru ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Tebus19 (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 20
Kate Lethbridge-Stewart ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Flabshoe1 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 50
Download (OVA) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Beqwk (talk · contribs · new pages (80) ) started on 2024-07-29, score: 20
Valerie LaPointe ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by PrinceArchelaus (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-07-28, score: 20
The Arrest (novel) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Jessamyn (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 40
Et in Arcadia ego ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by AjaxSmack (talk · contribs · new pages (15) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 40
Mitochondrial Eve (novelette) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 40
Chaff (novelette) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 40
Gears of War: E-Day ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by OceanHok (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 40
Bōkyō Tarō ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Xexerss (talk · contribs · new pages (32) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 40
Dead Sea (film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Abskiee (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 80
The Tragedy of Macbeth (soundtrack) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.86.5 (talk · contribs · new pages (17) ) started on 2024-07-26, score: 20
Sorry for My Familiar ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Xexerss (talk · contribs · new pages (32) ) started on 2024-07-22, score: 20
Mona Farnsworth ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Gamaliel (talk · contribs · new pages (36) ) started on 2024-07-17, score: 40
I Don't Understand You (film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Abskiee (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-07-13, score: 60
The Long Walk (upcoming film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KingArti (talk · contribs · new pages (6) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 100
Battle of the sexes in science fiction ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 100
The Source (disambiguation) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 162 etc. (talk · contribs · new pages (26) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 40
Alyad Palyad ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Morekar (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 60
Floriane Soulas ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 80
2073 (film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rickyurs (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 30
Across the Universe (Sargent and Zebrowski novel) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Woodensuperman (talk · contribs · new pages (28) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 75
Silencer (Bishop novel) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Woodensuperman (talk · contribs · new pages (28) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 80
Temple Solaire: l'enquête impossible ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by PARAKANYAA (talk · contribs · new pages (24) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 20
Maria J. Pfannholz ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Fixer88 (talk · contribs · new pages (57) ) started on 2024-07-24, score: 40
Smile (franchise) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Twinkle1990 (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 80
The Old Man at the White House ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by TheFairyTaleLover (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 20
The Black Phone (soundtrack) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.85.206 (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 40
Sachi's Monstrous Appetite ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Xexerss (talk · contribs · new pages (32) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 20
The Haunted House Special: Joseon Exorcism Annals (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Shockingman173223 (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 30
Heidrun Jänchen ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 40
71st Sydney Film Festival ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bearcat (talk · contribs · new pages (81) ) started on 2024-07-23, score: 45
Can I Get a Witness? ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bearcat (talk · contribs · new pages (81) ) started on 2024-07-22, score: 80
If You Find This World Bad, You Should See Some of the Others ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Viriditas (talk · contribs · new pages (10) ) started on 2024-07-22, score: 40
Outside (2024 film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Abskiee (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-07-22, score: 120
Aiki Mira ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-22, score: 40
Tavern Talk ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by CoffeeTalkBarista (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 20
Man's Rights; Or, How Would You Like It? ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 40
Sara Doke ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 40
Founders Day (film) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by ElizabethOrrt (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 60
Yumiko Shirai ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 40
Ratu Sihir ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Dorothy Schnapp (talk · contribs · new pages (6) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 40
Kuro (manga) ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Xexerss (talk · contribs · new pages (32) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 20
Lucie Chenu ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Fixer88 (talk · contribs · new pages (57) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 120
Estelle Faye ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-21, score: 100
Le Goût de l'immortalité ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nattes à chat (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-07-20, score: 40
IRaH ( | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Sunderdam (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-07-20, score: 40
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