Is reading speculative fiction just escapism? Or rather, is it just escapism?
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term for the genres of science fiction and fantasy, including their related off-shoots like steampunk and gothic horror.
And in answer to my question above, obviously reading speculative fiction is a form of escapism. And if that's the case, then writing it is even more so.
I have authored a few stories, both science fiction and fantasy (so far unpublished) and the joy I get from writing is so much more than any I gain from reading. Perhaps this is because of my initial reason for writing that first sentence of my first book all those years ago. And that reason was that I found everything I was reading at the time to be, I don't know, just a bit ordinary.
The sort of mind-numbing ordinary it was depressing to read. The sort of ordinary that didn't engage the imagination, and could hardly be called speculative at all.
And by this I am not implying that it was derivative - indeed, I consider all my writing to be derivative. Using the tools and tropes of established genres in new ways can be incredibly creative. No, my problem with what I was reading was that it was just bad.
There was no escapism there, so I found my own - and I'm seriously grateful I did.
And here is the answer to my reframed question above. Reading and writing speculative fiction can be mind-twisting, like when you finally get what Picasso was on about.
Escapism?
Yeah...
But nah.
Creative immersion in truly great speculative fiction is so much more than escapism. It is creation.
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